By April KarbowskyVeterinarySchools.com Editor & Staff Writer
April 25, 2005
Veterinary technologists & technicians work under the supervision of a veterinarian, most often in a small-animal veterinary practice. The duties of their job are diverse and can include obtaining and recording patient case histories, taking blood or tissue samples, performing laboratory tests (i.e.: urinalysis and blood counts), assisting in the analyzing of test results, performing x-ray services, cleaning and dressing wounds, and providing specialized nursing care. Many experienced Veterinary technologists & technicians are responsible for discussing recuperative patient care procedures and medication dosing instructions with owners upon an animal's release from a clinic.
Working in research facilities is another option available to veterinary technologists/technicians. In this environment, they may be responsible for the records of an animal (diet, weight, food intake, medications, indications of pain or discomfort, etc.). They may administer medications, prepare laboratory samples (blood and tissue), ensure proper sterilization of surgical and laboratory equipment, and provide pre- or postoperative care. They may be required to euthanize animals as needed.
Like veterinarians, Veterinary technologists & technicians also can work in fields that relate to human health. They can assist veterinarians who work with other scientists in fields such as wildlife medicine, livestock management, biomedical research, or pharmaceutical sales.
For students who wish to pursue careers as veterinary technologists/technicians, there are three options. They may earn a diploma, associates, or bachelor's degree in animal health or veterinary technology.
Students can earn a diploma in less than two years of study. Diplomas prepare students for entry-level positions as veterinary technicians. Employment opportunities for these individuals include work in zoos, retail and exotic pet centers, veterinary practices, farms, and some animal research facilities. Job options for these graduates may be limited, as many states require veterinary technicians to be licensed for employment and approximately one-third of these states require an associates degree for licensure.
An associate's degree takes two years to complete and usually requires an externship to gain hands-on experience with procedures learned in the classroom. These students take courses in math, chemistry, animal anatomy, and physiology in addition to courses covering basic office management skills. Students who earn associates have more options for employment than those who have earned a diploma. Some interesting choices include wildlife rehabilitation, pet nutritionist, animal caretaker, and veterinary office supervisor.
In addition to the courses listed above, students who are pursuing a bachelor's degree typically spend the first two years of a program taking core courses in science and liberal arts. They then spend the third and fourth years completing advanced courses that emphasize the application of medical technology, plus they must complete an externship. They learn to perform more advanced tests and procedures that will allow them to assist veterinarians in settings such as private veterinary practices, research facilities, critical care centers, or in an animal production programs.
For more information on applying to veterinary schools, see Getting in: Testing and Other Requirements for Admission to Veterinary Programs.
Cost of obtaining an education for a career as a veterinary technologist or technician can vary widely. The type of school and the length of its program can play a large part in the cost of study. Generally, state-funded schools are less expensive than private colleges or universities. Resident status plays into the costs as well. If you are a resident of the state in which your school is located, the tuition costs are less than they are for non-residents, sometimes by quite a large margin. Vocational schools that offer this type of program can be somewhat expensive, in some cases more so than state schools, because they design their programs to concentrate studies on the veterinary sciences to enable students to graduate in as little time as possible.
In addition to these considerations, it is important to understand the effect that a student's state of residency may have on their overall educational costs. Most schools charge higher tuition and fees to students from out-of-state. With the high demand for education in this field, and a limited number of openings for freshman every year, a student's chances of getting into a school in their home state may be difficult. If they need to attend school in another state (or if they simply choose to do so), they can expect their overall expenses to be higher, sometimes markedly so.
Some examples follow:
Veterinary Technology Programs:
Eastern Wyoming College charges $2,768 per semester for tuition, room & board, and other fees to residents and $4,088 per semester for non-residents. The program requires studying for four semesters plus the completion of clinical experience. This means that in order to earn their associates degree in this field, the cost for a resident of Wyoming would be $11,072 and it would be $16,352 for a non-resident.
A similar program offered at Vermont Technical College costs $29,730 for residents and $42,698 for non-residents to complete.
Veterinary Technician Programs:
Kirkwood Community College in Iowa offers an associate degree that takes two years to complete. The cost for residents is $5,340 for residents and $10,680 for non-residents to complete this degree program.
Pima Community College in Arizona has a vet tech program that takes two years to complete, allowing its students to earn an associates degree. Their program costs $3,024 for residents and $5,184 for non-residents.
Assistance in paying for your education can be found in various ways. Students are advised to start with Federal funding sources that are available through the U.S. Department of Education. This site explains the many ways in which the government can help students obtain funding, including a link to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other resources that are important to check into. Students should be sure to check out veterinary professional associations (see link at top) as they often provide scholarships or grants to individuals looking to get into a specific field. Once students have decided on a school to attend, they should contact the school's financial aid office which will often have other financial resources that can be applied for.
According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual income for veterinary technologists and technicians was $22,300 in 2001.
Of the population surveyed, the highest paid individuals earned nearly $16.00 per hour and the lowest were paid approximately $7.75 per hour.
Individuals who worked in government positions earned the highest hourly amounts, followed by those who worked in the drug industry. Most technologists and technicians worked in the veterinary services sector and earned an average of $13.43 per hour.
BLS has estimated that between 2000 and 2001, employment for individuals in the field is expected to grow from 49,400 to 68,800 jobs - a growth rate of 39 percent. Most of these jobs are expected to be in the veterinary services industry (offices, clinics, animal hospitals), but more jobs are expected to open up in humane societies, drug manufacturing companies, diagnostic facilities, and biomedical centers.
Plenty of choices are available for getting a sound education in this field, and with dedication, an excellent job forecast, and competitive wages, a career as a veterinary technologist or technician can be a wise choice for students who want to work with or around animals.
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