A career as a veterinary technician
A Career as a Veterinary Technician Helping animals is a great thing to do. It should make you feel good about yourself, knowing that you’re helping out in some way. Animals have a way to make most all people smile. If you are the type of person who gets upset when you see an animal suffering in any way and you want to do all that you can to help the poor animal, then you should look into becoming a veterinary technician. In that career, you are able to help the veterinarian do what he needs to do. Veterinary technicians must possess emotional strength, stability and maturity for those instances in which they must treat abused animals or euthanize those who cannot be returned to a reasonable quality of life. Information on the tasks, qualifications, work environment, and salary should help you decide if you have what it takes, or if you really want to become a veterinary technician. I am going to give you all that information to help you decide. First thing you need to understand is the differences between technologists and technicians. Those differences are that veterinary technologists usually have a four year bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology while veterinary technicians usually have a two year associate’s degree in a veterinary technology program. Although some technologists work in private clinical practices, many work in more advanced research related jobs, usually under the guidance of a scientist and sometimes a veterinarian. Veterinary technicians generally work in private clinical practices under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. Technicians may perform laboratory tests, such as a urinalysis, and help veterinarians conduct a variety of other diagnostic tests. Although some of their work is done in a laboratory setting, many technicians also talk with animal owners to explain how to administer medication prescribed by a veterinarian or to explain a pet’s condition. Veterinary technologists work primarily in a laboratory setting, they
Cited: Weed, Julie. “Helping Patients Get Back on All Four Feet.” Fresh Starts Published July 4, 2009 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-2015 Edition, Veterinary Technologist and Technicians, on the internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians.htm. (Visited on September 14, 2014) http://education-portal.com/articles/Veterinary_Technician_Overview_of_Becoming_a_Vet_Technician.html (Visited on September 18, 2014)