If you're the type of person who walks down the street and stops to pet just about every leashed puppy, or if you can't help but take in stray cats when they come meowing at your door, why not translate your love for animals into a career?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that veterinary technologist and technician jobs will grow by a staggering 52 percent between 2010 and 2020, making this profession among the fastest-growing careers in the country.

So what exactly does this job entail?

Vet techs and assistants typically work in private clinics, animal hospitals and the occasional research laboratory under the supervision of a fully licensed veterinarian. On a daily basis, these workers are responsible for diagnosing and treating various animal injuries, whether they come in with a lesion or internal ailment.

To become a vet assistant or tech, you'll have to complete a specialized postsecondary certificate program. Each state administers a different examination, depending on which animals are most common. In rural areas, for example, some tests require basic knowledge on farm animals.

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