How to Become a Vet Tech in Washington
A veterinary technician is responsible for working directly with animal patients and their owners, obtaining patient history, collecting specimens, performing lab duties and providing nursing care. For a person who loves working closely with animals and desires to see them healthy and happy, becoming a vet tech may just be the perfect career choice. In Washington, there are several steps you must go through to make this your job path.
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Instructions
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Decide if this is really the career you want to possibly spend the rest of your life at. Depending on the state, it can take several years of schooling and training to become a vet tech, which costs not only time but money. It will also cost money to pay for your licensing exam and your vet tech license. While some veterinary offices will hire techs who have not completed their exams and licensing yet (but are preparing to do so), others will require you to wait until you are fully licensed.
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Enroll in a school with an accepted veterinary technician program. Choose a program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Association. You can choose to take classes at a traditional college or community college campus, or you can look into a distance learning or vocational/trade school program. It is important to choose the program that fits your schedule and budgetary needs, to improve your chances of being able to not only finish the program, but complete it with high grades and glowing recommendations.
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Graduate from your chosen vet tech program. This can take two years if you are going for an associate's degree or four years if you are seeking a bachelor's degree. Usually those that receive the two year degree are veterinary technicians, while those that go for four years become veterinary technologists. If you are looking to work in a research lab, then you should be seeking the four-year degree. If you are interested mainly in working in veterinary offices, the two year degree should suffice. To complete your program, you will be required to study course that include animal care and nutrition, laboratory procedures, pharmacology, and more. You will also be required to learn in a practical environment, such as a veterinarian's office. In the state of Washington, it is also preferred (though not necessarily required) that you complete an AIDS Education and Training program in order to receive your license, so if the school you are attending does not offer this class you need to find a school that does and take it there.
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Take the Veterinary Technician National Exam. This is required in Washington and given by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. Submit an application with them for the next upcoming exam, which they usually give twice a year, and pay the required examination fee. Once you have applied, study all materials they give you as those will cover what will appear on the exam. This will include sample questions and the material you will see in the test.
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Apply for, and receive your license from, the Veterinary Board of Governors. Your application must be turned in no later than 60 days before you take your examination. Ensure that you have included all requested forms, photos, copies, letters and fees with the application so that it has the best chance of being approved.
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