What Is a Vet Technician?
Veterinary technicians are an integral part of any veterinary practice. Technicians serve as assistants to the veterinarian and perform much of the work that is required to care for the animals and keep the practice moving. This is a popular career choice for animal lovers and is a fairly easy career to pursue.
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Duties
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Veterinary technicians work closely with veterinarians in caring for animals. They assist the veterinarian and perform other specific duties. These duties are varied and include performing various tests, drawing blood, administering medication, taking x-rays and sonograms and dental cleaning. Veterinary technicians also care for animals staying at the clinic by feeding and bathing them. Technicians work with an animal's owners to get a medical history and discuss treatment options.
Required Education
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Most veterinary technician programs are associate's degrees that are completed in two years. These programs are usually offered at community colleges and technical schools rather than traditional universities. Some schools offer a bachelor's degree, but there are less than 20 colleges with this program.
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Considerations
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Veterinary technician is a desirable career choice for animal lovers. Many veterinarians start their career as a technician before pursing graduate education. It is important to understand the physical and emotional requirements of this job. Veterinary technicians are exposed to many different species of animals and allergies may be a concern. It is also a physically demanding job, requiring handling aggressive animals, and technicians must be able to lift and carry large dogs. One of the most difficult parts of working in a veterinary office is the need to euthanize an animal. This is a very emotional duty that many people cannot perform.
Job Outlook
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The demand for veterinary technicians is expected to grow quite a bit over the next few years. Pet owners are becoming more willing to spend money to keep their animals healthy, and the veterinary business has enjoyed rapid growth. Most of these jobs will be in traditional veterinary offices, but there will be other opportunities in shelters and kennels. Competition for these jobs is low due to the small number of graduates of veterinary technology programs.
Pay
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Veterinary technicians can expect to make anywhere from $8 to over $18 an hour depending on how much experience they have and how long they have been working in the field. The pay rate will also vary with location. Urban areas are likely to have higher hourly rates than smaller rural towns.
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