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If you have loved cats, dogs, goats and frogs since childhood, becoming a veterinary technician can be a very rewarding job for you. Learning how to become a veterinary technician is the first step to an exciting career working with people and domestic or exotic animals. Wet Tech high school requirements include math, science and communications courses. Completing a veterinary technician program at an accredited two-year community college will prepare you for the state exams and licensing requirements you must meet to qualify in your field.
Schooling To Become A Vet Tech
Days are less predictable in a busy veterinary clinic where anything can happen. Depending on the facility, veterinary tech duties may include scheduling routine and emergency appointments, recording animal health care histories, taking x-rays, collecting and analyzing body fluid samples, and performing veterinary examinations. Calming frightened animals. Veterinary technicians, under the supervision of a veterinarian, provide first aid to injured animals and also administer prescribed medication. During surgery, veterinary technicians can help monitor reactions to anesthesia and provide veterinarians with the necessary surgical instruments.
Credentialed Vet Tech Vs. Vet Assistant: What To Know
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the minimum requirement to be a veterinary technician is now a two-year associate’s degree. In general, students must pass a state examination that is required for licensure, certification, or registration in a given jurisdiction. High school courses in algebra, chemistry, biology, and physics provide a solid foundation for this challenging science-based career. Advanced high school biology courses can be especially helpful in college courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, radiology, and animal nutrition. It may also help to take classes in communication and psychology, as you will be dealing with callers and visitors who may be concerned about their animal being injured or ill.
As of 2016, 91 percent of veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal services, such as local veterinary clinics that treat small animals or livestock. Other opportunities include caring for animals in research laboratories or for non-profit organizations such as humane societies. Occupational hazards include being bitten, scratched or crushed by rabid animals. It can also be emotionally draining and difficult when the animal cannot be supported or held. Hours may include evenings, weekends, holidays and on-call shifts.
Most veterinary technicians enter the field after two years of university studies. In 2016, the vast majority of the 221 veterinary technician schools accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association offered a two-year associate degree. Students looking for in-depth training or specialization can instead opt for a four-year degree in veterinary technology, available at 21 of the 221 AVMA-accredited schools. Examples of specialties include internal medicine, zoology, clinical pathology, dentistry, and equine nursing. Veterinary technicians and technologists earned a median annual salary of $33,400 or $16.06 per hour in 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS does not distinguish between salaries for veterinary technicians and technologists.
Veterinary technicians can look forward to a very favorable job market, as evidenced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projected growth of 20 percent from 2016 to 2026. This compares to an expected increase of 7 percent for all occupations combined. The growing number of pet owners will drive continued demand for animal health care, vaccinations, surgeries and diagnostics.
How To Become A Vet Tech And More About This Career
Mary Dodd has a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s degree in counseling and student affairs from Minnesota State Mankato. Helping students succeed was her passion, serving in many areas of student affairs and related teaching. She is currently the dean of students at a large public college. The experience of Dr. Dpwda with writing includes published research, training materials and hundreds of practical online articles.
What is a veterinary pathologist? What are the prospects for getting a veterinary technician job in the future? What are the qualifications to be a Vet Tech? Vet Tech Jobs Facts About Degrees Needed to Become a Vet Tech Responsibilities Vet Tech Careers Veterinary Veterinary Nutrition How Many Years of School Do You Need to Become a Vet? How much do animal scientists earn? How To Become A Foreign Avian Veterinarian Equine Nutritionist Salary What are the good and bad things about working as a veterinary technician? Are you interested in becoming a veterinary assistant? Because it doesn’t require a college degree, it’s a decently accessible career. That being said, how long it will take you to become a veterinary assistant depends entirely on the path you take to gain your education and practical experience.
While no state currently requires formal education for veterinary assistants, these options can help you gain the foundational knowledge and experience you need to land a job. Most employers will also require you to have some type of education before they will allow you to work with animals. Everyone’s timeline is different, and most are self-paced, meaning you can learn at a pace that’s comfortable for you and fits your schedule. By obtaining a formal education, you increase your chances of entering a field at a higher income level.
There are many vet assistant schools across the country that offer a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training. Unfortunately, schools are generally more expensive and time-consuming than online schools, but they offer a more robust curriculum, deeper learning, and the opportunity to work with a variety of animals.
Vet Tech Schools In Bakersfield, Ca
Many potential veterinary assistants opt for online education. The biggest advantage of an online program is that you can learn at your own pace. Unfortunately, these programs offer minimal hands-on opportunities, so you’ll have to get that experience.
The next best option is to find a mentor within the industry and learn from them, usually as an unpaid intern. In this case, the timetable for your training will depend on the availability and discretion of your mentor. They will train you at the pace they think you are ready to learn and take time off from their clinic duties when they are available.
Although certification is not required to work as a veterinary assistant, it can serve as proof of your expertise and increase your chances of finding a long-term, high-paying position in the pet care industry.
By entering school, you end up with a certificate, but if that’s not possible, many states offer a certification exam (without a license). Check out the Missouri Certified Veterinary Assistant exam. If you choose to do an apprenticeship or some other form of on-the-job training, you will most likely have to study for the exam in your own time. This can take a few weeks to a few months depending on your speed.
Diploma In Veterinary Technology (t45)
Once you have completed your education and found work as a veterinary assistant, you may need several years of experience before you are fully confident in your skills.
Not only will you develop your skills while working with patients, but you will also be exposed to different races, ethnicities, temperaments, and medical conditions. Every new patient is a learning opportunity, so don’t rush the process.
Our practical program is designed to give you the classroom and hands-on education you need to start your career as a veterinary assistant. For more information, please fill out the form below or visit our Missouri facility.
Are you interested in working with animals? Find out how you can start a rewarding career in dog training, pet care or veterinary assistance at the Pet Careers Academy. Submit the form and explore your options!
Veterinary Technician Degree
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Top 10 Books For Kids Wanting To Be A Vet
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site and the most popular pages. Vets cannot do their jobs effectively without a strong team to support them. Veterinary assistants typically do everything from assisting with surgeries to feeding, bathing, and exercising the animals.
Vets cannot do their jobs effectively without a strong team to support them. Veterinary assistants typically do everything from assisting with surgeries to feeding, bathing, and exercising the animals. They need a compassionate eye, a healing touch and a keen eye for detail. And most of all, they need a love for animals and a desire to make the world a better place.
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