Veterinary Technician

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Become A Veterinary Technician

As a child, did you idolize Dr. Doolittle? Was James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small one of your favorite books? If you have a scientific mind, a love of animals and the emotional stamina to cope with pets in pain, you might consider a career as a veterinary technician.

Veterinary Technician in a Nutshell

Veterinary technicians offer the same level of staff support for veterinarians that nurses do for physicians. (Veterinary technicians and veterinary technologists fulfill many of the same duties; however, technologists have more educational requirements than do technicians.)

While working under the supervision of veterinarians, veterinary technicians perform such duties as executing medical tests and x-rays, handling sick and injured animals and diagnosing and ministering to diseases and medical conditions. Veterinary technicians can also be found working in laboratories, providing research in fields such as gene therapy and cloning.

Education Requirements for Veterinary Technicians

Most aspiring veterinary technicians earn a 2-year associate's degree from a veterinary technology program, which are usually offered through vocational schools or community colleges and are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. During these programs, in addition to performing the required classroom work, students gain hands-on experience with live animals in clinics and laboratories.

All states require veterinary technicians to become licensed or certified. While exams vary by state, the most common one is the National Veterinary Technician exam. Veterinary technicians who wish to work in research facilities are encouraged by employers to become certified by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.

Day in the Life of a Veterinary Technician

Veterinary technicians work under the direction of veterinarians in animal clinics, hospitals and zoos to provide care for sick and injured animals. Among other duties, they clean cages, handle animals in examination and operating rooms and take blood samples. If they work in a research facility, they may also administer medications and provide postoperative care for animals.

Veterinary technicians most likely keep a 40-hour workweek; however, depending on the employer, they may be required to work night and weekend shifts.

Working to improve the health of animals can be both extremely satisfying and tremendously challenging. Caring for sick pets, working in uncomfortable settings and euthanizing old or suffering animals can be emotionally and physically draining. However, as with all positions that deal with the sick and infirm, the rewards that you receive when your patients return to health can last a lifetime.

Job Growth for Veterinary Technician

A growing need to replace retiring veterinary technicians (and technologists) is prompting employment in this field to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014 - 27% or more.