Veterinary Technician : Education, Career Outlook & Salary

Like pharmacy technicians work under licensed pharmacists, veterinary technicians work under licensed veterinarians. Veterinarians guide and supervise veterinary technicians as they perform the routine task at the clinic laboratory. As veterinary technicians , professionals have the responsibility of taking care of animals and their owners. Though the job of a veterinary technician is attending to animals, it is never devoid of challenges. To make the most of their career, professionals need to put in effort both physically and mentally. The roles and responsibilities of a veterinary technician may vary from place to place. Animal lovers are distributed worldwide. With the number of pet owners growing at a rapid rate, more and more career opportunities are being created for certified and well versed veterinary technicians.

Job Description

The duty of a veterinary technician happens to be similar to a nurse. Usually, the veterinary technicians include taking blood samples of animals, conducting a variety of medical tests and doing the analysis of patients (animals). A veterinary technician has the responsibility of comforting frightened animals, delivering remedy to them and attending to other needs as per the advice of the veterinarian. While look at the profession of a veterinary technician, you may find it a bit risky and unpleasant. There is other side of the coin too. During your career as veterinary profession, you have the opportunity to learn animal as well as human behavior. The profession gives you expertise into how animals may react under a specific situation. Therefore, the veterinary technician profession does not only let you have an insight into the behavioral attributes of different animals but also gives the opportunity of knowing their owners and the bond that they share with their pet animals.

Those who are fond of animals and are keen to see animals improve in their health are the right candidates for this profession. The veterinary technician's career brings with it a number of responsibilities that need to be taken care with much dedication. On the one hand, the veterinary technicians will take blood samples. On the other, they will perform the duty of keeping the medical history of animals and later report to the veterinarian for further treatment.

To be successful in their career, the veterinary technician needs to possess good communication skills. Most of the times, it is tougher to handle the animal owners rather than the animal itself. Besides easing the discomfort of the animal, the technician also has the responsibility of comforting and consoling the pet owner. Good communicative skills would help the veterinary technician to effectively convey their message to the pet owner.

One of the most preferred options to become a veterinary technician is to earn an associate degree program, offered both locally as well as online. The two-year long associate degree program trains students in fields like animal anatomy, animal physiology, veterinary technology and office management. If you attend a course locally at a university or college, you might have the opportunity to learn the techniques using live animals. After the completion of the associate's degree program, candidates need to get through a credentialing exam after which they can apply for a job in the veterinary field. More techniques and skills are learnt when technicians work under the guidance of the veterinarian.

The demand for veterinary technicians continues to grow rapidly, as there is a continuous growth in the number of pet owners all around. Veterinarians are in constant need of veterinary technicians to assist them in the treatment of animals. According to the latest reports, 29,000 more veterinary technicians' jobs will be available through the year 2016.

As per the data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are expectations of around 41 per cent job growth in the field. Certified veterinary technicians can easily land jobs at veterinary offices, federal government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturing companies etc.

The range of salary for veterinary technicians varies depending on the department they join. On an average, a veterinary technician can earn an annual salary of $28,920. Veterinary offices provide employment to maximum number of veterinary technicians. Those who land a job in federal government agencies earn the highest annual salary of around $43,380.