Do you want to become a vet tech? Demand for qualified and certified veterinary technicians is rising, so now is a great time to consider enrolling in a vet tech program or making that career change you’ve always been thinking about! This rewarding career is an excellent option for those who love animals and want to work with them. If you want to know more about what it takes to become a vet tech, keep reading.
The first thing you’ll have to consider is whether becoming a vet tech is right for you. It’s straightforward to see the positive effect you’re having, so you’ll never be in doubt. The occupation can be gratifying and fulfilling because you are improving the quality of life for animals daily.
On the other hand, if you become a vet tech, you should prepare yourself for many heartbreak and stressful times. Animals can’t always be saved, and they aren’t always friendly. You may also have to deal with difficult situations like distressed pet owners, severely injured animals, and euthanasia. But overall, most vet techs report that they are pleased with the nature of the job.
So if you become a vet tech, what will you do? That answer depends on the type of environment you’re working in. As your career develops, you may have more extensive and varied responsibilities. However, there are a lot of essential duties you can expect to be responsible for: things like analyzing lab tests, patient restraints, vaccinations, and surgical assistance are some of the most common.
Most people who want to become techs wonder how much money they can expect to make. The bottom line is that if yoyou should not become a tech you want to get rich, your median salary for techs in 2008 was under $30,000, and most techs find little room for advancement, even with experience.
This is one of the biggest obstacles that steer people away from this career choice. Of course, there are ways to make more money as a tech, such as specializing in a particular discipline, moving to a larger city, gaining experience, or working in higher-paying settings like research laboratories.
So how exactly does one become a vet tech? Most techs are board-certified and have obtained a 2-year (or sometimes four years) Associate’s degree. This career is also one of the few you can earn your degree online. Remember that most online degree programs require a lot of clinical practice, and therefore you will need a vet willing to let you work hands-on at their approach to withmplete portions of your coursework.
