A Complete Guide – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

If you’re an animal lover who craves a career with variety and hands-on experience, a certified veterinary technician job may be for you. Vet techs often take on many tasks and work with different types of animals.

As a vet tech, your typical workday might include:

• Discussing a pet with the pet owner during appointments: You ask questions to get a detailed history of the pet. You build rapport with the pet owner and their pet. When the vet enters, you help stabilize the pet for the exam.
• Acquiring medical data: You examine X-rays and labs, collect blood and analyze urine. These tasks help you understand animals’ health more deeply so you can identify health issues and treatment options.
• Prepping for and assisting with surgeries: You play a crucial role in animal surgeries. For example, you may prep IV fluids, prepare surgical areas and sanitize surgical instruments for procedures. During surgery, you monitor pets’ vitals so the vet can focus on the operation.

However, duties vary by job. In addition to veterinary offices, certified vet technicians can work in a variety of environments with unique animals. Read on to find out how to become a certified veterinary technician.

What Is a Veterinary Technician?

A veterinary technician cares for animals professionally. They work alongside vets to assist in health and wellness procedures. They cannot diagnose, prescribe medicine or perform procedures.

In addition to vet offices, vet techs can work in laboratories, private industries, zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, livestock farms and the military. Like vets, certified veterinary technicians can specialize in caring for pets, farm animals or exotic animals.

To become a certified veterinary technician, you need formal training, which takes two to four years. These training programs often result in an associate or a bachelor’s degree. Prospective vet techs are also required to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)® to achieve professional certification.

How To Become a Veterinary Technician

Here are the steps involved in the typical vet tech career path.

Understand Your State’s Licensing Requirements and Prerequisites

Every state has different requirements, so check with your state’s licensing board before pursuing training to become a veterinary technician. Typically, most states require a high school diploma or equivalent to enroll in a vet tech program.

Attend an Accredited Vet Tech School

When choosing a certified veterinary technician training program, choose an accredited institution. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredits veterinary technology schools. The typical vet tech program leads to a two-year associate degree. However, some institutions offer bachelor’s degrees in the field, which usually take four years of full-time study.

Complete Required Clinical Hours

Each state maintains its own requirements for clinical hours. Make sure your institution helps you satisfy these stipulations. Many accredited veterinary technician programs include clinical hours as a preceptorship, practicum or externship.

Pass the VTNE

Many states ask you to take an exam to become a certified veterinary technician. For most states, this test is the VTNE, a three-hour computer exam with 170 multiple-choice questions in the following areas:

• Critical care and emergency medicine
• Diagnostic imaging
• Pain management
• Animal care
• Anesthesia
• Lab procedures
• Dentistry
• Surgical nursing
• Pharmacology
• Communication and support services

Veterinary Technician Salary and Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for veterinary technicians was $38,240 per year as of 2022. States with the highest average wages for vet techs include Washington, California, and New York.

The BLS also projects a 21% growth in vet tech jobs from 2022 to 2032—much faster than the average projected growth for all jobs. Around 90% of vet techs work inside veterinarian practices.

Veterinary Technician Specializations

Vet techs can specialize in areas such as:

• Dental technology
• Anesthesia
• Emergency and critical care
• Internal medicine
• Behavior
• Zoological medicine
• Equine nursing

You can add a specialization during your initial educational program or pursue additional training while on the job.

Certifications for Veterinary Technicians

Certifications and credentialing for vet techs go by different names across states. You may see the following titles when researching vet tech certifications:

• Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT)
• Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician (LVMT)
• Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)
• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)

In most states, earning a professional vet tech credential requires you to complete an AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program, pass the VTNE, and fulfill other state requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Certified Veterinary Technicians