Q. I want to eventually become a veterinary assistant. I called my local college and they said it takes 1 1/2 years - 2 years (depending on math skill, etc.) along with work study (where the vet trains you). Then about 5 years working to become a veterinary technician. Does anyone think the college thing is a waste of time or a benefit? And does anyone know how much a vet assistant and technician make? Thanks!
A. Ok, I am wondering where you are located because I know of no state in the US that requires 5 years to become a veterinary technician. I would be concerned about the quality of the information that you were given by whomever you spoke to at the college.
The difference between a veterinary techician and a veterinary assistant are the education and credentialling requirements.
No state in the US has any educational requirements for working as a veterinary ASSISTANT. This is an entry level-position in a veterinary facility and training is generally done on the job. There are voluntary educational opportunities, however these are not equivalent to a college degree program and are instead basic vocational training. There is no over-sight by a professional body to ensure that the majority of these programs provide adequate or correct information. There is no requirement for hands-on training and instructors often have little or no experience or education in the veterinary field. There are a handful of certification programs that are designed and approved by veterinary professional organizations or that are offered by colleges which also offer accredited veteirnary technology programs and these are better choices for someone who wants to be a veterinary assistant. This is an entry level position for working in the veterinary field and is not a recognized profession in any state.
Veterinary technicians are required (in most states) to have a 2 year degree in veterinary technology from an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program, to have passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam and a state exam in order to be credentialed. It is possible to get a 4 year bachelors degree in veterinary technology but it is NOT required in any state in the US in order to become credentialed or work as a veterinary technician.
The American Veterinary Medical Association maintains a list of accredited degree programs on their website: Inhttp://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_programs/vettech_programs.asp
In some states, the use of the title "veterinary technician" and the practice of veterinary technology is recognized as profession and licensure is required. In other states, veterinary technicians are registered or certified. The laws that govern veterinary technicians vary from state to state so for specific information on the laws a person should check their state veterinary practice act or contact their state veterinary licensing board.
Whether your state REQUIRES credentialing to work as a veterinary technician, the education is never "a waste of time". Consider that veterinary technicians make life and death decisions concerning the care of your (and other clients') pets every day. Don't you think that the people being paid to make those sorts of decisions and provide health care for your pet should actually KNOW about veterinary care and nursing?
Veterinary assistants tend to make close to minimum wage. Veterinary technicians will generally make more due to their education and increased abilities, but it is still not a great paying job. To find out numbers for your state, you should contact your state veterinary technician association or veterinary medical association as pay scales vary from state to state.
I would also contact your state veterinary technician association or veterinary medical licensing board to find out the TRUE story about the exact requirements for working as a veterinary technician in your state. They may require nothing at all or they may require a degree in veterinary technology but they won't require a 5 year degree.
If you happen to be in Texas, you can email me with questions.
The difference between a veterinary techician and a veterinary assistant are the education and credentialling requirements.
No state in the US has any educational requirements for working as a veterinary ASSISTANT. This is an entry level-position in a veterinary facility and training is generally done on the job. There are voluntary educational opportunities, however these are not equivalent to a college degree program and are instead basic vocational training. There is no over-sight by a professional body to ensure that the majority of these programs provide adequate or correct information. There is no requirement for hands-on training and instructors often have little or no experience or education in the veterinary field. There are a handful of certification programs that are designed and approved by veterinary professional organizations or that are offered by colleges which also offer accredited veteirnary technology programs and these are better choices for someone who wants to be a veterinary assistant. This is an entry level position for working in the veterinary field and is not a recognized profession in any state.
Veterinary technicians are required (in most states) to have a 2 year degree in veterinary technology from an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program, to have passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam and a state exam in order to be credentialed. It is possible to get a 4 year bachelors degree in veterinary technology but it is NOT required in any state in the US in order to become credentialed or work as a veterinary technician.
The American Veterinary Medical Association maintains a list of accredited degree programs on their website: Inhttp://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_programs/vettech_programs.asp
In some states, the use of the title "veterinary technician" and the practice of veterinary technology is recognized as profession and licensure is required. In other states, veterinary technicians are registered or certified. The laws that govern veterinary technicians vary from state to state so for specific information on the laws a person should check their state veterinary practice act or contact their state veterinary licensing board.
Whether your state REQUIRES credentialing to work as a veterinary technician, the education is never "a waste of time". Consider that veterinary technicians make life and death decisions concerning the care of your (and other clients') pets every day. Don't you think that the people being paid to make those sorts of decisions and provide health care for your pet should actually KNOW about veterinary care and nursing?
Veterinary assistants tend to make close to minimum wage. Veterinary technicians will generally make more due to their education and increased abilities, but it is still not a great paying job. To find out numbers for your state, you should contact your state veterinary technician association or veterinary medical association as pay scales vary from state to state.
I would also contact your state veterinary technician association or veterinary medical licensing board to find out the TRUE story about the exact requirements for working as a veterinary technician in your state. They may require nothing at all or they may require a degree in veterinary technology but they won't require a 5 year degree.
If you happen to be in Texas, you can email me with questions.
What are the responsibilities of a veterinary technician?
Q. I am thinking of going to school to be a veterinary technician. I am looking for any certified vet techs out there to give me some feedback on what the course work is like, what responsibilities you have once you are in the work environment, and what the average salary is. Thank you!
A. Most states in the US require that you have a 2-year degree from an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited veterinary technology degree program. You can find a list of these programs through the AVMA website http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vette�
Courses covered include veterinary anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, diagnostic modalities such as radiology and ultrasonography, animal care in a hospital setting, nursing care, surgical assisting, laboratory procedures, medical terminology, etc
The daily workload can vary greatly depending on the type of practice you work in and the area of the country you are in. Most often the workload will be variable in any practice--some days will be like a wild rollercoaster ride while others are so boring and slow that you have a hard time staying awake.
A very general list of things that a veterinary technician would do would include collecting patient histories, collect biological samples (blood, urine, feces, etc), running diagnostic tests, monitoring and medicating hospitalized animals, assisting in surgery, administering and monitoring anesthesia, performing dental cleanings, providing treatment for outpatients as prescribed by the attending veterinarian, filling prescriptions, answering client questions on preventative medicine, disease processes, medications, etc, maintaining inventory, caring for surgical and medical equipment such as anesthesia machines, taking radiographs, entering medical records, etc.
Pay and benefits generally are low and make it hard to get by. You have to really pick and choose your jobs in order to make a comfortable living. I was single and working as a "well-paid veterinary technician" for many years and still had a hard time just making ends meet. Licensed veterinary technicians average about $17 per hour, but you have to take into account the cost of living in the states where technicians are licensed. In states where licensure is not practiced the pay even for credentialed technicians is lower than that.
I enjoy my job, but I don't just recommend it to everyone. It takes a certain type of personality to really do well and enjoy the profession. I always recommend that anyone interested in veterinary technology take a job or volunteer at a veterinary facility and really see what the work (and workload) is like. It is a stressful job and the daily load can vary from looking for something to stay busy to running yourself silly for 2 hours past the time you were supposed to get off.
Courses covered include veterinary anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, diagnostic modalities such as radiology and ultrasonography, animal care in a hospital setting, nursing care, surgical assisting, laboratory procedures, medical terminology, etc
The daily workload can vary greatly depending on the type of practice you work in and the area of the country you are in. Most often the workload will be variable in any practice--some days will be like a wild rollercoaster ride while others are so boring and slow that you have a hard time staying awake.
A very general list of things that a veterinary technician would do would include collecting patient histories, collect biological samples (blood, urine, feces, etc), running diagnostic tests, monitoring and medicating hospitalized animals, assisting in surgery, administering and monitoring anesthesia, performing dental cleanings, providing treatment for outpatients as prescribed by the attending veterinarian, filling prescriptions, answering client questions on preventative medicine, disease processes, medications, etc, maintaining inventory, caring for surgical and medical equipment such as anesthesia machines, taking radiographs, entering medical records, etc.
Pay and benefits generally are low and make it hard to get by. You have to really pick and choose your jobs in order to make a comfortable living. I was single and working as a "well-paid veterinary technician" for many years and still had a hard time just making ends meet. Licensed veterinary technicians average about $17 per hour, but you have to take into account the cost of living in the states where technicians are licensed. In states where licensure is not practiced the pay even for credentialed technicians is lower than that.
I enjoy my job, but I don't just recommend it to everyone. It takes a certain type of personality to really do well and enjoy the profession. I always recommend that anyone interested in veterinary technology take a job or volunteer at a veterinary facility and really see what the work (and workload) is like. It is a stressful job and the daily load can vary from looking for something to stay busy to running yourself silly for 2 hours past the time you were supposed to get off.
What all can you do having your Doctorate In Veterinary Medicine?
Q. I am going to college to become a veterinary pathologist, i was just wondering the degree i am working toward is my D.V.M. What all can i do with a doctorate in veterinary medicine?
A. You can do a LOT with a DVM degree.
You can always go into general practice and work as a primary vet seeing people's pets. Or you can choose to become a specialist (like a pathologist). This requires additional training though after your DVM. You could also work in a zoo or aquarium or in a wildlife rehab center, but these jobs also require additional training and are extremely competitive.
You can go into research and work at a university. You can actually get your PhD in addition to your DVM and do first hand research. Or you can become a lab animal veterinarian where you would oversee the healthcare and needs of those animals used in research (mostly rodents).
You can work as a veterinary rep for a drug or food company. Any company that sells products for veterinarians (pfizer, bayer, novartis, purina, etc) has vets on staff to answer questions about the product's efficacy, uses, side effects, etc). They also travel around to universities and clinics and talk to the vets and students about new products or improvements to existing ones.
You can also work for the government in a variety of ways. Many federal agencies hire vets to work in public health and food safety capacities. The army also employs veterinarians. They typically work on large army or air force bases and are responsible for the service dogs on base as well as any pets for military families. Overseas these doctors would play a role in food safety and public health in foreign herds.
If you like law at all, you can work on the regulatory side of things for the AVMA. You can help play a role in AVMA policies and state and federal laws.
Basically, there are vets out there doing a wide variety of things. NASA has accepted veterinarians into the space program. Some write books, appear on animal planet, write columns for local or national newspapers and magazines. Your DVM degree opens a lot of doors for you. If you are thinking of getting a PhD or master's, completion of your DVM makes admission to those programs a piece of cake and often times you can do them in conjunction with your DVM.
Don't worry, in the 4 years of vet school you will have many many many people talk to you about all the different doors a DVM degree can open.
Good luck.
You can always go into general practice and work as a primary vet seeing people's pets. Or you can choose to become a specialist (like a pathologist). This requires additional training though after your DVM. You could also work in a zoo or aquarium or in a wildlife rehab center, but these jobs also require additional training and are extremely competitive.
You can go into research and work at a university. You can actually get your PhD in addition to your DVM and do first hand research. Or you can become a lab animal veterinarian where you would oversee the healthcare and needs of those animals used in research (mostly rodents).
You can work as a veterinary rep for a drug or food company. Any company that sells products for veterinarians (pfizer, bayer, novartis, purina, etc) has vets on staff to answer questions about the product's efficacy, uses, side effects, etc). They also travel around to universities and clinics and talk to the vets and students about new products or improvements to existing ones.
You can also work for the government in a variety of ways. Many federal agencies hire vets to work in public health and food safety capacities. The army also employs veterinarians. They typically work on large army or air force bases and are responsible for the service dogs on base as well as any pets for military families. Overseas these doctors would play a role in food safety and public health in foreign herds.
If you like law at all, you can work on the regulatory side of things for the AVMA. You can help play a role in AVMA policies and state and federal laws.
Basically, there are vets out there doing a wide variety of things. NASA has accepted veterinarians into the space program. Some write books, appear on animal planet, write columns for local or national newspapers and magazines. Your DVM degree opens a lot of doors for you. If you are thinking of getting a PhD or master's, completion of your DVM makes admission to those programs a piece of cake and often times you can do them in conjunction with your DVM.
Don't worry, in the 4 years of vet school you will have many many many people talk to you about all the different doors a DVM degree can open.
Good luck.
What are somethings I should know about working at a veterinary hospital?
Q. So I am starting my first (real) job at a a veterinary hospital as a veterinary assistant. I have always and still do want to become a vet and since I was 5 I've been asking our vet if I could work there. Well, I'm finally old enough and was recently hire as a state-of-the-art animal hospital. It seems really promising and I've worked with animals for years but mostly on farms. Are there any little tib bits I should know about that may help me out my first day (week, month)on the job? Or anything that isn't so obvious but I should be aware about when working there? I really can't screw up working here and I want to do the best I can because I know this will be one of the best things I could put on my college application come next fall when I apply to vet school in the UK. So any extra little tips or thing you guys could let me in on I would more than appreciated it! Thanks all!
I'd especially love to hear from vets or people who work or have worked in a vet's office! ^^
I'd especially love to hear from vets or people who work or have worked in a vet's office! ^^
A. I have been a vet tech for over 20 years and I still love it! :)
What I look for in a new employee? A strong willingness to jump in and help with whatever needs to be done. A hard worker! Someone who asks a lot of questions, is polite to the rest of the staff, doesn't talk about anyone else behind their backs or listens to those who do. Someone who has a strong desire to learn and try new things. Is the first to clean out a messy cage rather than waiting for someone else to do it. Smile! There are a lot of people in the world who have bad attitudes, and you'll find them every where. You have to be willing to rise above them, and not let them affect your attitude or hopes for the future. They may be jealous of you. Above all, love the animals and still have fun, no matter what kind of day you are having. :) Good luck.
What I look for in a new employee? A strong willingness to jump in and help with whatever needs to be done. A hard worker! Someone who asks a lot of questions, is polite to the rest of the staff, doesn't talk about anyone else behind their backs or listens to those who do. Someone who has a strong desire to learn and try new things. Is the first to clean out a messy cage rather than waiting for someone else to do it. Smile! There are a lot of people in the world who have bad attitudes, and you'll find them every where. You have to be willing to rise above them, and not let them affect your attitude or hopes for the future. They may be jealous of you. Above all, love the animals and still have fun, no matter what kind of day you are having. :) Good luck.
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