How to Become a Certified Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Technician employment is expected to increase faster than the average occupation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not only is there a demand in the current career capacity, but veterinary assistants are expected to be replaced by more educated veterinary technicians in the near future. Additionally, there are a wide variety of locations that employ veterinary technicians. You can find employment in animal clinics and hospitals, zoos, aquariums, boarding kennels, humane societies, shelters and laboratories.
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Instructions
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How to Become a Certified Veterinary Technician
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Decide if a career as a veterinary technician is for you. Becoming a veterinary technician can be a rewarding profession for those who love animals and receive great satisfaction from helping them on a daily basis. On the other hand, you need to be prepared to lift large animals or bags of food, be quick on your feet to avoid bites and scratches, and be able to manage assisting with a large range of medical procedures.
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Complete the educational requirements. Most veterinary technicians begin with a 2-year degree program. There are many accredited programs throughout the United States, and some programs are offered through distance learning for your convenience. You will want to seek a program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
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Take and pass the state licensing exam. Although each state differs in the way they administer their state licensing exam, one is required in each state. Each state requires oral, written and practical examinations administered by the state the technician will practice in. Most (but not all) states utilize the National Veterinary Technician (NVT) exam and allow transfer of exam scores between states.
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Take and pass Laboratory Animal Science Exam (optional). If you plan to work in a research facility, an additional certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) is recommended. There are three levels of Laboratory Animal Science Certification: Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT), Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) and Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG). Each of these certifications requires a different level of experience and training.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Benjamin Earwicker
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Comments
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cindyrvt
Sep 14, 2009
Actually, not all states license veterinary technicians. There are actually 3 different types of credentials granted to veterinary technicians and the one used depends on the statutes governing veterinary technicians in a particular state. Veterinary technicians may be licensed, registered or certified. The requirements for all 3 generally include a 2 year degree from an AVMA accredited program and a passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Exam and many also include a state exam that may cover both medical and legal aspects of the profession. Of these 3 credentials, the only one that has any legal validity is licensure (be careful there are a couple of states that mix the terms and use licensure and registration or certification to indicate a licensed individual). Licensure confers a legal right to do something that unlicensed individuals are not allowed to do. Bes...
