The Difference Between a Veterinary Technician & a Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary offices are busy places. Pet owners bring their animals in for everything from nail trims to complex medical procedures and surgeries. A veterinarian often needs the aid of a trained technician during procedures such as teeth cleaning or chemotherapy, while an assistant prepares an examination room for the next patient. As pet ownership increases—up 6 percent between 1988 and 2010—the need for veterinary technicians and assistants is also growing.
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Veterinary Technician Role
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In veterinary offices, clinics and emergency care centers a technician works closely with the vet and the animals. He assists with physical examinations, dental procedures and immunizations, as well as with births, spaying and neutering and the administration of euthanasia. Other duties might include interviewing owners for the patient’s history, collecting specimens and running the laboratory tests, preparing animals and equipment for surgery, and post-operative nursing care.
Laboratory Research
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A veterinary technician might also work in a research laboratory under the supervision of a veterinarian, research scientist or veterinary technologist. In this situation the technician’s primary responsibility is to carry out duties assigned by the supervisor, which might include observing and recording animal behavior, recording the animals’ genealogy, and noting such details as diet, appetite and activity. The technician might also be responsible for the sterilization of surgical areas and equipment or the post-operative care of the animals, as well as the daily feeding and exercise of the laboratory’s animals.
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Technician Training Requirements
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Most technicians have completed a two-year community college program in veterinary technology leading to an associate’s degree. As of 2009, there were about 160 such programs in the United States that had received accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Following graduation technician candidates in all 50 states must also pass a credentialing exam before they can work in a clinic, hospital or private practice; most states require the National Veterinary Technician exam, but a few have chosen an alternate test. For a laboratory research position most employers prefer that the technician be certified by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS).
Veterinary Assistant Duties
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A veterinary assistant provides additional support to a veterinarian in a clinic or private practice by handling a variety of tasks. These might include cleaning and sanitizing cages, surgical areas and examination rooms, giving food and water to the patients, and restraining or holding pets during exams. An assistant may also be assigned clerical and administrative duties such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and checking patients in and out.
Difference in Requirements
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At first glance it may appear that a veterinary assistant and a veterinary technician are the same and, in many cases, their duties do overlap. However, a veterinary assistant is not required to have a license or certificate to perform his or her job duties; most assistants receive their training on the job rather than through a formal training program. For this reason an assistant’s job is restricted to those duties that do not require specialized knowledge of veterinary procedures.
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References
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