Great Employment Opportunities
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment for Veterinary Technicians and Technologists to grow by 19 percent from 2014-2024.
Skilled Technicians Needed
Biomedical facilities, diagnostic laboratories, public health, wildlife facilities, humane societies, animal control facilities, food animal agriculture, drug or food manufacturing companies, and food safety inspection facilities will provide more jobs for veterinary technicians. Furthermore, demand for these workers will stem from the desire to replace veterinary assistants with more highly skilled technicians in animal clinics and hospitals, shelters, kennels, and humane societies.
Veterinary Team/Career Track Comparisons
| Career Category
|
Veterinary Assistant
|
Veterinary Technician
|
Veterinary Technologists
|
Pre-Vet Students
|
Veterinarian
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Definition
|
Generalist in animal care; Clinical aide.
|
Nursing Technician with technical veterinary medical skills
|
Technologist in veterinary science and technology
|
Student – career preparation
|
Diagnostician and surgeon
|
| Focus
|
Performs minor technical tasks, general animal care and restraint
|
Performs wide range of technical nursing and laboratory procedures
|
Plans and executes projects. Supervises and teaches
|
Gaining admittance to veterinary school
|
Diagnoses diseases Prognoses outcomes Prescribes treatment Performs surgery
|
| Education
|
High School, correspondence courses
|
Basic science and animal nursing and veterinary technology courses
|
Advanced areas of veterinary technology, management and science.
|
Two year (63-81 credit hours minimum)
|
Veterinary medicine and surgery
|
| Degree
|
On-the-job trained; no degree
|
Associate of Science Degree in Veterinary Technology
|
BS Degree,veterinary technology major
|
BS Degree (optional) in second year career choice after four years
|
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
|
| College
|
None required
|
Two-year AVMA accredited program
|
Four-year program, 128 credits required
|
Two to four years
|
Four-year Veterinary Medical School
|
| Possible Roles
|
Animal Caretaker Technician’s Assistant Veterinarian’s Assistant Orderly Animal
|
Nurse Anesthetist Surgical/ORT Tech Radiographic Tech Dental
|
Clinical Specialist Working Supervisor Practice Manager Teaching Technologist
|
Undergraduate student usually in Agriculture or Science (can be any other major); Veterinary assistant in summers
|
Veterinary Practitioner Research Scientist Public Health Officer Industrial Veterinarian
|
