How to Become a Veterinary Technician

Veterinary technicians offer assistance to veterinarians and their offices. Vet techs enjoy a variety of responsibilities, including assisting veterinarians with animal care during sick visits or handling samples or labs in more research or clinical settings. It’s a rewarding career for those who love animals.¹

This article provides an overview of the job outlook, certification requirements and educational pathways for an aspiring veterinary technician.

What Does a Veterinary Technician Do?

A veterinarian technician works under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. They typically work in practices that care for cats and dogs but may also work with mice, cattle, primates or other animals. Some veterinary technicians specialize in a discipline such as anesthesia, emergency care, dentistry or zoological medicine.¹

Vet tech responsibilities may include performing tests, analyzing samples and preparing vaccines in a lab environment to diagnose and treat disease in animals. Other times they work in a private clinical practice where they take on some responsibility of talking to and educating pet owners. They may assist veterinarians with surgical procedures or projects like biomedical research. They are responsible for the humane treatment of animals in research-related jobs.¹

Veterinary technician’s are responsible for the hands-on care of animals under the supervision of a licensed vet. Some of these tasks include observing sick animals, providing emergency first aid, administering anesthesia, vaccines and medication, taking x-rays and collecting blood and urinalysis samples, and preparing surgery stations and instruments.¹

Veterinary technicians write down their observations, updates to a pet’s care plan and notes on their progress in an animal’s medical file. They should be comfortable observing, notating, transcribing and maintaining both written and electronic records. They should be able to communicate their findings to important people including their managing veterinarian. They may also be asked to help maintain an office’s records, drug inventory and laboratory equipment.²

In general, these are some core traits that may be in a vet tech job description:²

• Communication skills: you need to be able to talk to supervisors and animal owners.
• Compassion: for both animals and pet owners who may be experiencing hardship due to illness or death.
• Attention to detail: it’s crucial vet techs are precise when documenting information, performing tests or giving pets medicine.
• Manual dexterity: it’s important that vet techs have a steady hand for crucial tasks like giving vaccines or taking x rays.
• Physical strength: vet techs may need to lift or restrain larger animals.

Benefits of Being a Vet Tech

If you love animals and want to work with them professionally, a career as a veterinary technician offers you the chance to help animals in both in-person or research settings. You also have the chance to work with pet owners and ease their fears or educate them about their pets. You can finish school in as few as 19 months and can usually be in the field as a certified veterinary technician shortly after completing an exam.

Vet Tech vs Vet Assistant

While they both work in veterinarian’s offices, veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants have different job functions. Both titles assist in bathing and caring for animals and maintaining clean office equipment. The biggest difference is that vet techs are allowed to do more complex procedures.

State with the highest employment level in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians as of May 2021, according to the BLS:³

Vet Tech FAQ

How long does it take to become a vet tech?

It can take as little as nineteen months.

Do I need to be credentialed to work as a vet tech?

Although each state regulates veterinary technicians differently, most candidates must pass a credentialing exam. Most states require technicians to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards

Where can I work as a vet tech?

Veterinary technologists and technicians typically work in private clinics and animal hospitals. They also may work in laboratories, colleges and universities, and humane societies.5

How much does a vet tech make?

Like other occupations, the money that a veterinary technician can earn may vary widely based on several factors.

Some of these factors may include the geographical location and setting in which they work, the number of scheduled work hours, and the training, education and skill level they have achieved in veterinary technology.

Is being a vet tech worth it?

Only you can decide whether becoming a veterinary technician is the right career for you. Becoming a vet tech may be a good fit for you if you:2

• Have compassion and can treat animals with kindness and sensitivity in dealing with the owners of ill pets
• Are detailed oriented and can demonstrate preciseness when recording information, performing diagnostic testing and administering medication
• Able to hand animals, medical instruments and lab equipment with care
• Have steady hands for intricate tasks such as performing dental work, administering anesthesia and taking x rays
• Have the physical strength to to manage and life animals

What do vet techs wear?

Veterinary technicians usually wear medical scrubs on the job.