Veterinary Technician Job Description Information

Vet techs (veterinary technicians) are an important part of any veterinary office. Not to be confused with veterinary assistants, veterinary technicians perform specific jobs in the veterinary office and require training for the position. This article will outline what a vet tech is, what they do, how long training takes and what kind of education is required, as well as the potential for jobs in the field.

 

Identification

• A vet tech is an individual who works in a veterinarian's office and is trained in various skills to assist the veterinarian. A vet tech is somewhat like an animal nurse. They help take care of the animals and are qualified to perform certain procedures and tests, but may not treat or diagnose any animals without supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

Function

• A vet tech assists the veterinarian in various ways. Vet techs typically have skills to: take patient history, collect urine samples, provide treatment for routine concerns, record temperature, take and develop radiographs (x-rays), administer medication, dress wounds, and perform intravenous feedings and tube feedings. They may also brush teeth, clip nails and counsel owners on good health and nutrition for their animals. Most vet techs also assist in an administrative capacity, maintaining and filing records, handling inventory and providing up-keep of equipment in the office.

Time Frame

• The minimum education requirement to become a vet tech a two-year program accredited by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). This may or may not result in an associate degree, and some people may continue for a four-year bachelor's degree. For all students in any vet tech program, clinical experience is also required--an externship or practicum, which is typically a period of one to three months working in an established veterinary practice under a licensed veterinarian. After receiving the clinical hours, most candidates must also take the Veterinary Technician National Exam, or VTNE, to become properly licensed. Regulations for certification and licensing vary among states.

Misconceptions

• The greatest misconception about vet techs is that they are the same as veterinary assistants. In fact, a veterinary assistant does not have to be certified or licensed to practice and they cannot perform the wide range of duties and procedures that vet techs can. A vet assistant is there simply to assist the veterinarians and technicians in a very basic capacity and do not have the education necessary to administer medical care to animals.

Potential

• Most vet techs are employed in private veterinary offices, but there is a rapidly growing demand for vet techs in other employment opportunities. Vet tech graduates may find jobs in a biomedical research lab, zoos and wildlife refuges, humane societies, and veterinary supply sales, among others. Vet techs who acquire a four-year bachelor's degree have the most favorable job opportunities and higher salaries available.

Read more: Job Description & Duties of a Vet Tech | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4570138_job-description-duties-vet-tech.html#ixzz1gnkb8blj

Veterinary Technician Salary Information

Most veterinary technicians work in clinics and animal hospitals. Salaries are relatively low, considering the educational requirements, stress of the work and some odd work hours, including evenings and weekends. Higher pay and more regular hours are available for vet techs working in research facilities.

 

Starting Salary

• Median starting salary for vet techs as of 2009 is about $28,000 annually, with an increase to $30,000 with 5 years of experience.

General Range

• Although veterinary technologists generally have a bachelor's degree while technicians have an associate degree, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics research shows that the two jobs generally have the same duties and pay rate. BLS statistics indicate that about 80 percent of vet technicians and technologists earned between $20,000 and $42,000 in 2008.

Considerations

• Sometimes only part-time positions are offered that can pay as low as $10 an hour and do not include benefits. Vet techs typically must work one or two evenings a week, as well as some weekend hours.

Location

• Pay is on the higher end of the scale in large practices located in metropolitan areas, but vet techs must then consider the higher cost of living as well.

Higher-Pay Opportunities

• Vet techs working for universities, private industry or the federal government can earn more, generally between $40,000 and $60,000. These jobs are typically in the area of animal-lab research technician.

Read more: About Vet Tech Salaries | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5017616_vet-tech-salaries.html#ixzz1gnjiznIo

How to Become a Veterinary Techhnician

You must have a high school diploma and be passionate about animal welfare to become a veterinarian's assistant. Start your career by taking up a summer job in the local veterinary clinic or animal hospital. Bachelor's degree is not mandatory but will add to your professional credentials and competence. It will enable you to move up the career ladder faster and get better monetary compensation. Career prospects are excellent for people who opt to become a veterinarian's assistant, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

1. Enroll in a veterinary assistant certification program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) after completing your high school diploma. The duration of the certification program varies from nine months to one year, depending on the state in which you reside. It is offered at many universities across the United States.
2. Find out the licensing, certification or registration requirements to be a veterinarian's assistant in your state by browsing through the website of the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (NBVME). Laws governing veterinary assistants differ in each state.
3. Visit a veterinarian's clinic or animal shelter in your neighborhood and volunteer to offer assistance in running the clinic. You will get hands-on experience with the various functions to be performed by a veterinarian's assistant by working in the clinic for a few weeks.
4. Learn as much as you can about the proper way of handling various animals such as cats, dogs or horses. Become familiar with the standard operating procedures in the clinic by assisting the veterinary doctor in carrying out laboratory tests, treatments and surgical procedures.

Read more: How to Be a Veterinarian's Assistant | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7707974_veterinarians-assistant.html#ixzz1gKNPG6DZ