Is a Vet Tech Career Right For You?
Do you dream of a career where your love for animals truly makes a difference? Veterinary Technology is a dynamic, hands-on profession at the heart of animal healthcare, offering a unique blend of compassion and critical medical skills.
But what does it really involve? What are career prospects and pathways?
With Experienced Faculty, Career Services success (90%+ graduate employment rates), and over 8,000 graduates since 2003, we have some insights into common FAQs about real-world veterinary technology careers.
To get you started, we have nearby pages addressing three common questions:
Q: What are the job prospects, salaries, and benefits like for Veterinary Technicians?
A: The demand for skilled veterinary technicians is strong and growing rapidly! More people are spending more money on their pets. And clinics/hospitals want more vet techs because vet techs extend the capacity of veterinarians - so the veterinarians can see more patients!
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment to grow by 19% from 2023-2033, much faster than average. This means excellent job security and opportunities.
The BLS says the median annual wage for all veterinary technologists and technicians was about $45,980 as of May 2024, with salaries varying by location experience, and specialization. (Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/)
Many full-time positions also offer valuable benefits like health insurance, 401(k) retirement plans, paid time off, continuing education reimbursement, and even discounted pet care.
Q: What's the difference between a Vet Tech and a Vet Assistant?
A: A veterinary technician is a credentialed professional, kind of like a registered nurse for pets, usually requiring an AVMA-accredited degree and passing the VTNE. They perform a wide range of medical and diagnostic procedures under a veterinarian's supervision.
A veterinary assistant typically focuses on more basic animal care, cleaning and administrative tasks.
So the credential is not necessary to work in the field, but it opens up opportunities for better pay and advancement.
VTI graduates work as veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, animal care technicians, kennel technicians, and other positions in the animal care field.
Q: Can I specialize in a particular area of animal care as a Vet Tech?
A: Yes, absolutely! After becoming a credentialed veterinary technician, you can pursue specializations that align with your passion and can increase your earning potential.
Common specialization areas include animal dentistry, emergency and critical care, anesthesia, internal medicine, clinical pathology, dermatology, nutrition, physical rehabilitation, surgery, zoological medicine, avian medicine, and biomedical research.
To gain formal recognition for advanced skills, you can pursue specific certifications. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) currently approves 16 speciality academies. For example, the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians and Nurses (AVECCT) offers a credential for those specializing in emergency and critical care. These specialty certifications often require additional work experience (e.g. a minimum of three years of full-time work or 5,760 hours in clinical rotations for AVECCT) and continuing focus on that specific specialty area.
Are you ready for a career that loves you back?
Q: Are there opportunities for advancement?
A: Yes, the veterinary technician career offers significant opportunities for professional growth!
You can advance into supervisory or management roles within veterinary practices, taking on greater leadership responsibilities. Beyond clinical management, diverse pathways exist in related fields such as veterinary pharmaceutical sales, animal nutrition, or breed-specific work.
Experienced veterinary technicians may also transition into teaching roles with veterinary technology education programs, sharing their knowledge and passion with the next generation of professionals.
Earning specialty certificates, as mentioned above, is another excellent way to advance your career and increase your earning potential.
Q: What is Fear Free Certification?
A: Many veterinary professionals seek skills in preventing and alleviating fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. Our program includes teaching these skills.
Many professionals then go on to pursue certifications that demonstrate their knowledge in applying these skills in a number of areas. "Fear Free" is one well-known certification provider, and many graduates pursue Fear Free or other widely-recognized certifications.
Q: Will artificial intelligence replace veterinary technology jobs?
A: The future is always hard to predict, but most industry analysis suggests that vet tech jobs are not likely to be replaced by AI in the forseeable future.
Instead of eliminating positions, AI is expected to automate some specific repetitive tasks, allowing vet techs to focus on more complex, hands-on, and empathetic aspects of their jobs that machines cannot replicate.
Many in the industry thus believe vet tech jobs actually will become more dynamic, and perhaps more specialized.