Published March 10, 2013 | 
If you have a great love for animals and a nurturing personality, a career as a veterinary technician might be just right for you. Understanding your role as a veterinary technician, however, will entail a bit more than just a love for animals.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Veterinary techs can be expected to perform a wide range of duties, depending on the size and type of practice, which employs them. They work under the direction of the veterinarian, and perform a variety of duties, both directly with the animals and in other capacities.
They may give medications and/or IV fluids, feed animals, and clean cages.
They may assist in surgeries and be responsible for the sterilization and maintenance of surgical tools and equipment. They may also provide dental care and cleaning for their animal patients.
Laboratory duties may include drawing blood, preparing and running samples such as urines and fecals, and accurately recording the results.
Vet techs may interact with the public by communicating with their patients’ owners and doing front desk duties such as answering phones and making appointments.
In a large animal practice, vet techs may find themselves accompanying the veterinarian to farms and ranches in all kinds of weather and times of the day or night!
WORKING CONDITIONS
Understanding your role as a veterinary technician should also include the knowledge that there are certain aspects of the job that are unpleasant, unsanitary, and even dangerous. They can also be emotionally difficult.
For instance, an injured and frightened animal is very apt to bite or scratch the person restraining or helping it. Large animals especially are very strong and able to inflict serious injuries. Cleaning cages which house sick or diseased animals can be physically strenuous or require precautions against infections. An inevitable part of a veterinary practice is the necessity to euthanize sick, aged, or diseased beloved pets, which can be doubly distressing – both the process itself and dealing with distraught owners.
EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS
If you are exploring a vet tech career, your next consideration might be employment opportunities. The good news is that this field is expected to grow as much as 52% by 2020, so job prospects are excellent, especially if you want to live in a rural area. Pay ranges around $30,000 per year, varying of course by area and experience.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Veterinary technicians must complete a 2-year Associate’s Degree program and fulfill their state’s requirements of credentialing examinations, certification, and/or licensing.
Published March 3, 2013 | There are numerous opportunities in this country for career minded individuals, and one of the most rewarding professions is in the amazing field of veterinary medicine.
If you have a love of animals, then a veterinary technician may be just the career for you. It can be a stepping-stone if you want to further your career towards being a full fledge veterinarian.
Your job as a technician is typically an assistant to the veterinary conducting clinical work in a private practice. Some of your responsibilities will include:
· Physical Examination
· Animal’s history
· Administering Medications
· Performing lab procedures
· X-rays
· Assisting in surgery
· Office management
These procedures are all performed under a licensed veterinarian.
Some of the best technical schools in the country offer veterinary technician courses including:
Miami Dade College: This course is six semesters and the graduate will earn 73 credits, which result in an Associate of Science degree. Within this course there is approximately four hundred hours of clinical exposure.
North Dakota State: This University offers a study that enables you to work with cattle, pigs horses, birds, etc, as well as laboratory animals. The topics that are available will include technical nursing, pathology, microbiology, animal diseases and will well prepare you for the veterinary technician program as well as any other NDSU major.
Mercy College – New York: This four-year baccalaureate degree leads to the title veterinary technologist. This program is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and qualifies the student to take the Veterinary Technician’s National Exam.
Purdue University – Indiana – Offers an Associate as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in this science-based program.
Of course, credentialing is something that most states require by passing a national or state exam.
So if your desire for the future is to be an everyday hero to an animal in need, then maybe the world of veterinary technician is the career for you. There are few people who are perfect for this type of vocation. It belongs to those who get great satisfaction from working, caring and helping animals when the job sometimes can be demanding, dangerous, but always rewarding.
A two-year course can bring you the fulfillment of a lifetime for you and the animal in need.
Published May 8, 2012 | A veterinary assistant is a dream job for animal lovers. These professionals assist veterinarians by performing administrative and clinical responsibilities in an animal hospital or veterinary office. They ensure pets and their owners who visit the veterinarian are taken care of. Veterinary assistants can start their career by obtaining training from one of many schools or colleges.
Requirements for veterinary assistants vary by state. Some states don’t require a license or formal training, while others require formal training and passing an exam. Although requirements vary in each state, employers prefer those who obtain training for this occupation. A variety of vocational and two-year degree programs are available to choose from. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) accredits many programs. Currently, there are programs in 45 states accredited by the AMVA. Coursework includes general education such as mathematics, English composition, computer applications and biology. Students are introduced to animal anatomy, clinical pathology, laboratory animal sciences, as well as animal diseases and immunology. Students also learn administrative skills related to veterinary office management.
Students are prepared for the veterinary technician exam to obtain certification before graduating from a veterinary technician training program. Most states’ Board of Veterinary Medicine requires the National Veterinary Technician exam. Passing the exam leads to certification as a veterinary technician or technologist. This credential can increase job opportunities and a veterinary assistant salary because it encompasses all of the important skills required to care for animals and maintain a veterinary clinic successfully. Many training programs also prepare students to successfully find employment and work with veterinary employers looking to hire graduates.
Along with training, veterinary assistants should have excellent communication skills and the ability to multitask. They’re often the first person pets and their owners see when they go to a veterinary office. Even though the work is enjoyable for those who love animals, it can also be emotional at times. For many pet owners, their pets are their family and veterinary technicians provide the emotional support when pets are ill or injured.
Salary can vary for this occupation, depending on the employer. Veterinary technicians commonly work at veterinary clinics, but can also work for research and social advocacy organizations, as well as government agencies. The starting veterinary assistant salary is generally between $10 and $12 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average salary was about $14.50 per hour. Experienced veterinary assistants earn over $21.50 per hour.
Published April 25, 2012 | Someone who loves caring for animals may want to consider an occupation as a veterinary assistant. Veterinary assistants work in animal hospitals or veterinary clinics. A person who becomes a veterinary assistant is generally someone who loves animals of all kinds. He or she has a patient nature and a way of calming a pet that’s feeling nervous about being at the vet. The following looks at some other details involved in a career as a veterinary assistant.
A veterinary assistant has a number of responsibilities. Mostly, his or her work revolves around helping the veterinarian. For instance, if a person brings a dog in for its yearly vaccinations, the veterinary assistant records necessary information such as the dog’s weight as well as any problems that the owner has noticed. The veterinary assistant looks at a dog’s ears, eyes, and teeth. When the vet arrives, the veterinary assistant gives him or her the examination notes. In addition, a veterinary assistant holds a pet still while the vet does a more thorough examination. When veterinary assistants aren’t helping with patients, they are cleaning cages in the kennel, preparing exam rooms for patients, and taking dogs outside that are staying overnight at the vet’s office. A veterinary assistant plays an important role in ensuring that the activities in a veterinarian’s office or animal hospital run smoothly.
A high school diploma is a minimal requirement for the job of veterinary assistant. A person is more likely to be hired by a veterinarian if he or she has training in dealing with animals and administering basic care. In addition, to a person’s education he or she will learn on the job as well. Someone who is calm around animals, intrigued by animal medicine, and willing to do the necessary cleaning jobs in a veterinary office would be ideal for the occupation of veterinary assistant.
Finally, anyone considering the occupation of veterinary assistant should look at the career as a whole. A person in this career has the opportunity to play a part in helping dogs, cats, and other animals to heal from injuries as well as illnesses. Also, a veterinary assistant must be prepared emotionally to handle situations when animals are severely injured or terribly ill. The occupation of veterinary assistant is ideal for someone who loves to learn about and care for animals.
Published November 25, 2011 | Those who are looking in to getting into more fulfilling careers can consider taking a veterinary technician career. This job does not only provide a sufficient salary but also provide a lot of fulfillment. However, in order to become a recognized veterinary technician, one must study the right course and get the required accreditation and certificates.
There are certain methods that one can use in order to become a fully certified veterinary technician. One must have a license that allows him or her to operate in all the fifty states of the United States of America. Below are three methods that one can use to receive the required certification:
•By applying and receiving a job as a veterinary technician before receiving the required certification can provide one with the opportunity to receive hands on training. This is a common approach that is used by many employers who want to personally train their staff in a bid to provide high quality service.
• Its possible to attend a community college and get the proper certificates that are required by the State. The role of such institutions is to ensure that they impact knowledge to those interested in various fields. As a prospective student, take time and discuss the requirements and details of the program so as to gain a deeper insight on the same.
• Technology has made it easy for people to advance their education online. The same case applies to the veterinary technician certification, which can be easily acquired online. It is worth mentioning that the option of taking the course on the web usually has a caveat. This means that you do not know exactly the quality of education that you are buying on the web. It is therefore necessary to carry out a background check of the online course that is being provided. The basic point is to ensure that it is fully accredited by the Association of American Veterinary Medical, which is the governing body in relation to veterinary technician certifications.
In order to become a veterinary technician, the three approaches that have been mentioned above can be of great assistance. It is also advisable to research well on the other options that are available in the area where you reside. By contacting the office of a local veterinary in your location, it becomes easier to get the information required. It is important to maintain integrity.
Published November 2, 2011 | Veterinary technicians are to veterinarians what nurses are to doctors. The public expects quality veterinary services for their pets. Veterinary technicians ensure that medical services for pets are rendered correctly and efficiently to give pets the long lives their owner’s desire.
There were approximately 80,000 veterinary technicians and technologist employed in the United States in May of 2010. Of the employed, the average annual wage earned was $14.92. The lowest 10% earned $9.85 and the highest 10% earned $21.17 per hour. The amount earned depends on many variables including the type of employment, the amount of experience and the area of the country where the technician was employed.
Technicians in the lowest 10% of pay earned $20,500 a year salary. The average salary of veterinary technicians in 2010 was $31,030. The highest annual salary for technicians was $44,030.
About 73,000 technicians in the field worked in veterinarian’s offices. Those working in veterinarian offices earned about $30,450 a year. That averages out to be about $14.64 an hour. However, there are other job opportunities available and the amount of salary changes depending on the place of employment.
Approximately 2,270 technicians worked in colleges, universities and other professional schools. The average hourly salary of these technicians was $17.95 an hour. Yearly, this hourly compensation rate averages out to about $37,330 a year for technicians working in an educational setting.
About 1,230 technicians worked in the field of scientific research firms. These technicians earned about $37,700 a year on average. Hourly, their wages were about $18.12 an hour.
There were about 603 federal government jobs for veterinary technicians as of 2010. These technicians earned a higher wage at $23.28 per hour. Their average yearly wage amounted to $48,430. There were only about 90 jobs for technicians with various state governments. These technicians earned $22.62 which amounted to $47,060 a year.
Technicians working in Connecticut averaged the highest average salaries at $36,680 a year. Closely behind Connecticut technicians were New York technicians who earned about $17.57 or $36,540 a year. The lowest state earners were in Texas. Veterinarian technicians in Texas earned $13.45 an hour or $27,980 a year on average.
Specific regions around the country were better or worse for technicians, as opposed to the overall state averages. Technicians in the White Plains, NY area earned the highest for specific regions at $37,820 a year or $18.18 an hour. Technicians in Atlanta, GA earned the least with an average salary of $26,330 a year or $12.66 an hour.