Veterinary Technician

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Work Tasks

• Get treatment rooms, medications, and equipment ready
• Hold animals during examination and treatment
• Give medications and vaccinations, blood and anesthesia to animals
• Care for and feed animals
• Work in animal hospitals and shelters, research centers, for drug manufacturers, medical schools, zoos, the government, and for veterinarians in their clinics
• Work with farm animals, pets, zoo animals, veterinary instruments and equipment, medications, wound dressings, specimens for culture, splints, and other protective devices

Salary, Size & Growth

• $31,000 average per year ($15.00 per hour)
• A medium occupation (79,900 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (3.6% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 2-year degree from an accredited program
• Employers Prefer: Certified veterinary technician specialists in emergency and critical care or anesthesia
• Skills/Courses: College courses are taught in clinical and laboratory settings using live animals.
• Certification/Licensing: Many states require veterinary technicians to be registered or certified.