What Does It Take to Be a Veterinary Technician?
If you enjoy being around animals, veterinary technicians are in high demand. While working around dogs, cats and occasionally other animals on a daily basis, you can earn a good income in a stable job as a veterinary technician and have a lot of fun in the process.
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Definition of a Veterinary Technician
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As a veterinary technician, you will be trained to work with and care for domesticated animals in a licensed veterinarian's office. You will be responsible for collecting blood and other samples for testing. Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians during surgical procedures and often provide anesthesia to the animals prior to and during surgery. You will also give pet owners instructions on follow-up care at home and instructions on administering medications. Veterinary technicians also work to help calm stressed and frightened animals during examinations.
Education Requirements
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Training programs for veterinary technicians are commonly found at many community colleges where you will receive a two-year associate's degree. A few programs may also be found in four-year universities. Training for veterinary technicians consists of classroom studies, lab work and a clinical internship, usually conducted inside a private veterinarian's office. Upon completion, veterinary technician candidates must sit for an exam to obtain a license from the American Veterinary Medical Association.
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Courses and Qualities Needed
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Areas of study will include animal anatomy and physiology, veterinary surgical procedures, animal disease and nutrition, veterinary clinic practices, animal pharmacology, and anesthesia and x-ray procedures. In most veterinary technician programs, you will also learn about the care and habits of exotic animals such as birds, reptiles and rodents. Prospective veterinary technicians should have good interpersonal skills, as they work closely with pet owners, many who are often upset over their pet's condition and need consoling.
Other Requirements
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Training to become a veterinary technician is not for the faint of heart. As part of the program, you may be required to dissect a dead animal for learning purposes. Once on the job, you will subjected to sick and often injured animals. It can be very emotionally demanding to many, particularly those who love animals. As a veterinary technician, you will also be required to assist in the practice of euthanasia--putting animals down permanently. On occasion, you will be in contact with aggressive dogs or cats who may even bite. It is imperative that as a veterinary technician you are not threatened by such encounters.
Pay and Job Outlook
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According to an August 2009 survey conducted by Payscale.com, the median starting salary for a first-year veterinary technician is between $8.71 and $12.05 an hour, or more than $25,000 annually. For those veterinary technicians with one or more years of job experience, the median pay range is between $9.79 and $13.23 an hour or $27,500 per year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for veterinary technicians are expected to be better than average through the year 2016 with more job openings available than students graduating.
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