Veterinarian Technician Career
Individuals who have a genuine love and passion for
taking care of animals may want to consider getting a
career as a veterinarian technician. As a veterinarian
technician, your role is to provide assistance to a
licensed veterinarian; much like a nurse provides
assistance to licensed medical doctors. This career can
provide you with an excellent opportunity to handle a
wide range of animals and work alongside veterinarians
in providing quality veterinary care. As more people
become engaged in pet ownership, the demand for reliable
veterinary services also increases and this contributes
to the employment growth of this occupation.
Veterinarian technicians are usually employed in
veterinary clinics, but they can also work in animal
shelters, animal hospitals, veterinary research
facilities, and in government branches as well. They are
generally responsible for performing a wide range of
clinical work and laboratory procedures which are
designed to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of
diseases in animals. Vet techs may collect blood and
urine samples, take x-rays, administer certain
medications or vaccines, maintain animal profiles,
provide dental care, and assist veterinarians in other
veterinary procedures. They may also help in ensuring
that the veterinary office runs smoothly and
efficiently, performing tasks such as organizing animal
records, processing of bills and insurances, and
monitoring of supply inventories.
The work environment of a veterinarian technician may
not be very pleasant, and most occupations it also comes
with some physical and emotional demands and a few
hazards as well. You can expect to get your hands dirty
while working as a vet tech – picking up animal waste,
holding animals, cleaning cages and shelters, spraying
insecticides or germicides. It is also not unusual to
constantly struggle with the unusual odor that different
animals give off and the very noisy environment of most
working environments. The risk of being bitten or
scratched by animals is also among the common hazards of
this occupation, which is why one must always follow
specific precautions when handling animals.
In order to pursue a career as a veterinarian
technician, one must first complete a 2-year Associate’s
degree program in veterinary technology that has been
accredited by the American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA). There are also 4-year bachelor’s
degree programs available which are more comprehensive
in scope. Only by taking an AVMA-accredited training
program can an individual be eligible to apply for
credentialing as a veterinary technician. It is
advisable to have solid background in as many science
and mathematics subjects as possible in order to have a
smoother transition into the vet tech training program.
In all States, a veterinarian technician is required by
law to successfully complete a credentialing examination
prior to practicing his profession. This is important so
as to assure the proficiency and competency of an
individual in performing the duties and responsibilities
of a vet tech. Successful completion of this
credentialing exam can lead the vet tech into becoming
licensed, certified, or registered depending on State
regulations. For those who wish to find employment in
research facilities, certification from the American
Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) is
required. There are three levels of certification
granted by the AALA, the lowest being Assistant
Laboratory Technician (ALAT), the mid-range
certification referred to as Laboratory Animal
Technician (LAT), and the highest certification is given
the designation Laboratory Animal Technologist (LAT).
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