What does it take to be a veterinary technician

Certified veterinary technicians have to attend typically a two-year or three-year program in any American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) approved school. This typically leads to the ordering of an associate’s degree in veterinary technology. A bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology is also available through participation in a four-year accredited program. In Canada, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) is responsible for accrediting schools that offer either an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree.

Distance Learning Requirements
A great amount of the educational requirements that must be met by our disciplines in an accredited training program include practical clinical experience. Although some aspects of training to become a veterinary technician can be accomplished through online Internet offerings, a great deal of hands-on training will be needed in a working, clinical veterinary medicine setting such as a small animal hospital or other appropriate facility. And, faculty members need to be practicing veterinarians or credentialed veterinary technicians in order to sign off on all clinical tests performed by students and submit approval records to that participant’s school.

State Licensing is Required
Although the primary requirement for becoming a veterinarian technician is to gain a degree in veterinary technology, this is only a partial requirement. The selected program that participants choose to obtain a degree in veterinary technology must also compare them for whatever required local or state examination must be taken in order to obtain a license to practice in that jurisdiction. The exam given that his universal throughout the United States is the Veterinary Technician National Exam. There may also be an additional exam administered by a state governing body that bestows credentials to veterinary technicians in their jurisdiction.

Designations Vary from State to State
The type of credentials that are granted to veterinary technicians also vary from state to state and are typically differentiated by the designated initials that accompany the local licensing. These could include LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician, LVMT (Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician), RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician and CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician). These designations are included in the licensing approved by the various state boards indicating that the bearers of these licenses are indeed permitted to perform the necessary tasks of a veterinary technician. In effect, the licensing is a registration list that the governing board keeps of people who have met the specific requirements to perform the functions of a veterinary technician but not necessarily limits or to find those actions of people who are registered as veterinary technicians. Licensing is registration. Certification comes from the accredited schools where the licensed veterinary technician gained their education. So, a certified veterinary technician is not necessarily a licensed one. Certification is granted in certain states by that state’s veterinary technician association where there are no laws or medical associations requiring technicians to be credentialed. Additionally, the term Animal Health Technician (AHT) is used in Canada and was once used in the US before being replaced by veterinary technician (VT). There are other variations that either used to exist or do exist now including RAHT (registered), LAHT (licensed) and CAHT (certified).

Formal Education Soon the Standard
It used to be a common practice that people who became employed by a veterinarian and accumulated several years of experience could sit for a state licensing exam to become a vet tech. This practice will be phased out in the year 2011 in all states that use the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Exam).

Vet Tech Assistants Do Not Exist

When you compare veterinarian technician schools vs. vet assistant programs you are really comparing preparation for requiring very different levels of post-secondary education.

There is roughly a 10K difference in salaries, and vet tech training necessitates a formal degree that takes 2 to 4 years to complete. Getting certified to be a veterinary assistant, however, only takes about a year. A lot of confusion exists around the two terms “veterinary technician” and “veterinary assistant,” and the misnomer “vet tech assistants” is often applied interchangeably. 

There is no such thing as a “vet tech assistant.”  Graduates of veterinary technician schools are the only individuals who may use the title “vet tech.”  The vet tech salary is higher than that of a vet assistant because vet assistants, while they may be certified, do not require a degree.  

A veterinary technician must complete 2-4 years of school at an American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) approved school. These Veterinary technician schools offer Associates or Bachelors degrees, which allow the graduate to take the National Veterinary Technician Examination.

Upon completion of the exam, the graduate is awarded the title Registered Veterinary Technician, Certified Veterinary Technician or Licensed Veterinary Technician (dependent upon state title).

Veterinary Technician Require A Degree

Veterinary technicians must be a graduate of an AVMA-approved program. This means, at minimum, a 2-year Associate’s degree in veterinary technology or animal science. Hands-on training is a mandatory part of degree programs of this type. Veterinary technician students must work a specific number of hours at a veterinary hospital, learning how to execute a variety of tasks, including obtaining blood samples, taking X-rays, assisting in surgery, client education and more. Hands-on training not only provides realistic insight to the daily operations of a working clinic, it also teaches students how to calmly and professionally handle stressful situations that occur in veterinary hospitals. After successfully completing the program, the graduate is eligible to take a state or national board examination to become a registered or certified veterinary technician. Graduates are also well positioned to continue their schooling and enroll in 4-year Bachelor of Science program in animal science or pre-veterinary studies. Some veterinary technicians continue on to become veterinarians.

Veterinary Technician – Continuing Education

Many states mandate that veterinary technicians must complete Continuing Education (CE) for a total of 20 hours of study every 2 years, and show documentation of completed AVMA-approved classes in order to maintain their license. If the technician does not complete this necessary task, then the license in question will be suspended until proof of further education is garnished. This policy is to ensure that all veterinary technicians are able to provide the most up-to-date care and treatment to all patients under the care of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), allowing prevention of malpractice and negligence.

Veterinary Technician – Responsibilities

Veterinary technicians hold multiple roles while working in a veterinary hospital/clinic, which include: anaesthetist, surgical assistant, radiograth technician, laboratory technician, pharmacist, dental technician and much more. Additional to the role that a technician must play, the technician is also the eyes, ears and hands of the veterinarian. While the DVM is responsible for diagnosing and selecting the care necessary for the patient, the technician must then perform the selected treatment plan on the patient. This can include wound care (including suturing in some states), surgical prep and nursing, vaccinations, ear cleaning, collecting laboratory samples and preparing medications. As well as monitor all in-hospital patients (those staying with the hospital for a prolonged period of time), by making sure all veterinary assistants are following treatment plans correctly and punctually.

How to know if being a Veterinary Technician is for me?

Becoming a veterinary technician is a long and a somewhat difficult process, as it requires long hours of school work and hundreds of hours spent at externship locations learning the more difficult aspects of working at a veterinary hospital. Before branching into the world of veterinary medicine, you need to first determine if you have the mental fortitude to work in this industry. While many hospitals staff get to enjoy spending time with puppies and kittens and checking in on the basic well-being of a patient, there are also the negative experiences staff must account for. A veterinary technician must be able to assist with a patient’s end of life plan, assist with animal abuse cases and in emergency situations with dire outcomes.

In order to determine if this is the field for you, potential students should first attempt to volunteer at a veterinary location to see if this endeavor is a possibility. If you feel that you will be able to work in a somewhat stressful, but rewarding environment, you may then want to take the next step to completing the basic school requirements to enter into a veterinary technician program.

Vet Tech Salary

Veterinary technicians do not have to take a vow of poverty to do something they love. They enjoy the opportunity to work closely with animals while simultaneously earning a living wage. Depending on where you live, vet techs can make up to $30,000 – $42,000 a year. Nationwide, the average vet tech salary is around $35,000.

Accredited Vet Technician Schools

Depending on the school you have selected, programs first require a potential student to complete general education studies: math, English, biology, chemistry, etc. If you do not need to complete this before starting your core classes, these will need to be completed prior to allowing you to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). Additionally, as each AVMA- Accredited program is priced differently, you will need to determine how you would like to pay the tuition for your school of choice. Prices may vary and could range anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 depending on school and degree path taken.

What is the best way to determine if veterinary technician school is for me?

It can be quite challenging entering into the veterinary world at a student level! Students who choose to become a veterinary technician often times will first take a job at a veterinary hospital or clinic as a kennel technician or receptionist, to learn the basics. Other potential students may decide to enroll in a National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) approved Veterinary Assistant Program, which is structured similar to a technician program. Getting started as a veterinary assistant allows students to determine if an AVMA-approved technician program is ultimately the right choice.

When completing a NAVTA – approved veterinary assistant program, students are able to complete studies that inform them of the various tasks, procedures and challenges they may face at a veterinary hospital. In addition, all students must complete a mandatory 100 hour externship experience at a veterinary hospital or clinic.

Due to course structuring, you will be able to see a sneak peak into what a veterinary technician program entails and if this is a goal that you wish to pursue. Additionally, once you have completed your studies with a NAVTA – approved school, you will have a distinct advantage while in technician school, as you will have first-hand experience and will better understand the topics discussed with your future professors