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If you’re an animal lover, you may have dreamed about becoming a veterinarian since you were a child. Unfortunately, many people who are interested in veterinary medicine give up the idea of pursuing their passion professionally because they don’t think they’ll be able to complete the level of education it requires. While it’s true that becoming a veterinarian takes a significant commitment of time, money and effort, there are other career opportunities in the veterinary field that can be attained much more easily. Veterinary technicians, also known as vet techs, are credentialed professionals who work under the direction of a licensed veterinarian to provide nursing care for animals great and small. Vet techs are qualified to carry out many of the same duties a vet does, including taking X-rays and administering anesthesia. How Long Does Vet Tech School Take?It takes eight to ten years of schooling to become a doctor of veterinary medicine, but you can become a veterinary technologist in as little as two years! To get started, you’ll need to earn an undergraduate degree in veterinary technology from an AVMA-accredited school. Bachelor’s programs in veterinary technology do exist; however, most vet tech degrees are offered at the associate level. Vet tech training programs typically include the following types of coursework:
You may also be required to complete a veterinary technology internship, working with real animal patients under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Internship opportunities are a great way to add real-world work experience to your resume while you’re still in school. After you graduate, you’ll have to take and pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) before you will be eligible to practice. The vet tech certification exam includes 170 multiple-choice questions and takes three hours to complete. How to Become a Vet Tech in MichiganInterested in pursuing a vet tech degree? You’re in luck! Michigan has seven AAMVA-accredited vet tech programs to choose from, four of which are offered by Baker College. With campuses in Cadillac, Jackson, Muskegon and Owosso, Baker College makes it convenient to get your veterinary career off the ground, no matter where you’re located in the Great Lakes state. Finding an Accredited Vet Tech ProgramThere are a lot of colleges that offer degrees in veterinary technology, but only an accredited program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills you’ll need to pass the VTNE exam. That’s why it’s so important to do your homework when selecting a vet tech program. Baker College is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and graduates of its veterinary technology program have a more than 90% pass rate on the VTNE certification exam. Another thing to keep in mind is that vet tech programs are highly competitive, with a limited number of seats available. Luckily, Baker College offers a direct admission option, which makes it possible for qualifying freshmen to secure a guaranteed seat in the school’s veterinary technology program. As a direct admission student, you could also be eligible for a $6,000-per-year scholarship. References: SPONSORED LISTINGS Featured Programs: With Penn Foster's Veterinary Technician Program, you'll learn the skills that will help you take the first step towards a career as a Veterinary Technician. (NAVTA) Approval Earn your AVMA CVTEA accredited associate degree through our flexible, affordable, and career-focused vet tech program online. The program includes 270 hours of clinical experience, giving you hands-on practice working with animals while you do your coursework online. California offers a variety of program settings, from class work done on campus with much of the laboratory (hands-on) work at off campus settings, to larger facilities with on-site hospitals and clinical settings, to rural farm-like settings that allow for a greater emphasis on large or exotic animal veterinary technology. What Does a California Veterinary Technician Do?Veterinary technicians enjoy working with animals as much as with people. The job calls for a challenging mix of science, compassion, and dedication to your career. The veterinary technician essentially fulfills the role of a veterinary nurse. You will be the link between the veterinarian, animal, and client. Your duties will include patient communication, record keeping, handling and restraint, and you will assist in surgery, emergency care, treatments, and administer anesthesia. Your training will have prepared you to do dentistry, radiology, and clinical lab work such as hematology, parasitology and urinalysis. Veterinary technicians can also specialize in these disciplines:
(Click here for more information on these academic specialties.) The greatest demand for veterinary technicians is in a private veterinary practice working alongside the veterinarian caring for companion animals. However, the demand for veterinary technicians in other fields is rapidly growing and opportunities exist in the following areas: teaching, pharmaceutical sales, the military, humane societies, livestock production, equine practice, biomedical research, diagnostic laboratories, zoo/wildlife medicine, veterinary supply sales, public health organizations, and the pet food industry. Required Course WorkMost programs require some introductory course work you might not have had the opportunity to take in high school. Or, you might not have made the career choice in high school to take these courses and will be required to take them before applying. These include basic courses in math, communications, biology, chemistry, humanities, or physical science. If you have taken none of these and the program requires them, it may take a semester or two to fulfill all those requirements as set by the program in which you are interested even before you can apply for admission. For a list of all of California’s veterinary technician programs, their admission requirements, and information about their programs, click here. The course work is very similar between the accredited veterinary technology programs and usually differs only in the focus of that program (such as companion animal versus large animal). Typical course work:
Every program has some classes that require hands-on contact with animals, and every program requires an externship of between 200 to 400 hours. It will take you between 18 and 36 months to be graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Registered Veterinary Technology. Application Process to Become a Veterinary Technician in CaliforniaCalifornia’s complex system of higher education necessitates a more complicated application process than most states. All veterinary technology programs require a high school diploma or the equivalent such as a GED. Many have an application fee up to $100, which might be waived under various California assistance programs (see below). Most require an entrance exam and an interview with a counselor. Some require a written essay and at least one letter of recommendation. A few require you to take a specialized test called the Wonderlic, which is an intelligence test used to assess the aptitude of people for learning and problem solving skills in various occupations. Alternate RouteCalifornia allows for an alternate route to becoming registered veterinary technician. The alternate route requires at least 4,416 hours of practical experience, which must be completed in no less than two years. This clinical experience substitutes for much of the class work you would otherwise do in a traditional veterinary technology program. Candidates must be competent in a list of skills determined by the California Veterinary Medical Board. Proof of your required experience must be thoroughly documented by the veterinarians for whom you worked. A third requirement is 20 hours of class work. The alternate route qualifies you to take the veterinary technician national examination (see below). California Tuition and How You Might PayCosts vary widely. One school states its total cost for the program is $4,500 for tuition and fees for in-state students. This is on the low end of the range, which can be as high as $32,000. Most programs cost between $12,000 to $25,000 for the entire program, which includes tuition, fees and ancillary costs. Living expenses are not included in these estimates. Most students pay for their education with some financial aid. Every program’s website has a financial aid section, which lists the many and various means of obtaining financial aid such as grants, loans, work study, general scholarships, and state and federal VA benefits. Some websites have a net price calculator, an online tool into which you enter some simple information (such as your living arrangements, your expected financial aid, and your parents’ income) and receive in a quick calculation your estimated costs for that program. To begin the application process of applying for federal financial aid, go to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website, where you can learn what types are aid are available and for which you qualify. In addition, California has state initiatives to help the millions of students enrolled in its post-secondary educational system. CalGrants provided by the California Student Aid Commission are very popular because they are available to California residents and do not have to be paid back. The California Community College Board of Governors Fee Waiver (commonly called BOG fee waiver) waives the enrollment fee and provides a reduced cost for health and parking fees. Students are responsible for paying any additional fees. This assistance is available to qualified California residents. In addition to federal VA benefits being available for your education, the state sponsors CalVet, a program for veterans’ dependents that waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any California community college. Average Salary for Veterinary Technicians in CaliforniaThe Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that job opportunities for veterinary technicians are expected to grow 30% a year through 2022. The average pay for veterinary technologists and technicians in California is $36,380 (May 2013 data). The BLS also has data for geographic regions of California.
California Vet-Tech Licensure/Testing and CredentialsTo become eligible for licensure as a California veterinary technician you must pass both the Veterinary Technician National Examination and the California Veterinary Technician Examination. The Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) is an exam administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. To qualify for the exam you must have a degree from an accredited veterinary technology program (or the alternate route). The exam is three hours long, has 150 questions, and costs $300. The California Veterinary Medical Board administers the state veterinary technician examination, licensure, and continuing education. Exams are computer-based and administered throughout the state. There are out of state sites where the exam can be taken. Click here for information about the state examination. Twenty hours of continuing education (CE) annually are required to keep your license current. Sixteen of these must be taken from approved CE providers; four hours can be accomplished through self-study. Finding a JobYour externship is your initial job lead, as many jobs are landed this way. The websites listed below have career centers or job postings. Veterinary Career Network iHireVeterinary.com National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America Vet Tech Life, an online journal for veterinary technicians California Registered Veterinary Technicians Association California Associations and Organizations to Keep you CurrentCalifornia Registered Veterinary Technicians Association Central Coast Registered Veterinary Technicians Association Silicon Valley Registered Veterinary Technicians Association California Veterinary Medical Association Is Vet Tech School Hard?Veterinary technology school isn't easy. The curriculum is challenging, the time required to study is enormous and the responsibility of providing care for the animals living on campus never lets you forget why you're there.
How long are most vet tech programs?According to the BLS, veterinary technicians typically have an associate degree, which can take about 2 years to complete.
Do you need to be licensed to be a vet tech in Wisconsin?Additionally, veterinary technicians in Wisconsin must be certified by the Veterinary Examining Board (VEB), a branch of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
How much does a certified vet tech make in Florida?The average salary for a certified veterinary technician in Florida is $36,500 per year. Certified veterinary technician salaries in Florida can vary between $19,500 to $59,500 and depend on various factors, including skills, experience, employer, bonuses, tips, and more.
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How long does it take to get vet tech certification
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