Veterinary Technician Schools - Become A Veterinary Tech At Accredited Vet Tech Schools
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Veterinary Technician Schools
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It is never too late to change careers, especially in an economy that may not support the one you already have. If, like many people, you have always wanted to work with animals, instead of becoming a vet, why not consider being a vet technician? You can accomplish this task by looking into the many veterinary technician schools available and make the switch without even having to study full time.
Job Description
A veterinary technician, or a technologist, has the important function of assisting the vet with surgeries, performing diagnostics and tests and keeping patient records. They also perform dental work, lab work, prepare, clean and nurse the animals in the hospital and develop x-rays. It is not the same as a veterinary assistant, who simply needs to be able to handle the animals and the office, and can complete training in under a year. As a vet tech you can work in a private practice or even do biomedical research, which requires you to assist in research projects and care for the lab animals in addition to the other duties.
Associate's Degree
You will need a minimum of a 2 year associate's degree to enter this field, and it needs to be a program accredited by The American Veterinary Medical Association. The curriculum includes classes in patient care, office management, vet support and how to deal with clients. In addition to these studies, You will also do a period of clinical work where you will receive hands on training.
Bachelor's Degree
It is evident that with a 3-4 year bachelor's degree, you will receive a higher salary than with simply an associate's degree. Many vet tech schools offer both degrees, but a bachelor's degree is not as easy to find online. With this program, in addition to the curriculum of an associate's degree, you will also do advanced studies in animal anesthesia, dentistry and horse medicine, as well as starting your hands on work with the animals earlier. A good program is offered by Globe University as well Argosy University, Sanford Brown College and Harrison College amongst many others.
Certification
The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners offers an exam that shows competency in the field and is required by most states for anyone entering the field to pass. Furthermore, many states require appropriate licensing or certification, and before that can be obtained, you will also need to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination.
Online Training
Aside from the many veterinary technician schools in each state, you can also become a veterinary technician online by following either an associates or bachelors degree course on the internet. Purdue has a good distance learning program, as does Northern Virginia Community College and PIMA Medical Institute.
Job Opportunities
As a vet technican, you can work in a private practice or in biomedical research as outlined above, but you also have many other career options. You can work in zoos, universities, the military, veterinary supply sales, vet pharmaceutical companies or drug labs, humane societies and even in pet food safety inspection. This is a very popular field to join now, because more and more owners are becoming aware of how to provide proper medical care for their pets, so studies say about 3 billion jobs will open up in this field in the next few years. Salaries will range from $17,000 to $25,000 depending on what state you're in and what experience you have.
Studying to be a vet tech online is the best and most efficient way to ensure success at your own level. You don't need to make any sacrifices, but you can still enjoy the rewards of starting a new career in a field you love.
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