Veterinary Technologists & Technicians

Also Called: Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech)

High School Diploma/GED

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$30,180

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Veterinary Technologists & Technicians do

Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.

  • Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
  • Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
  • Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
Industry Areas:

Health Care

Training Program Areas:

Clinical Medical Assistant • Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse • OCT-Only Health Care

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Contact With Others
  • Work With Work Group or Team
  • Physical Proximity
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

Tools

  • Laryngoscopes or accessories
  • Nebulizer or accessories
  • Animal husbandry equipment
  • Emergency medical services suction units or accessories
  • Animal catching devices

Technology

Data base user interface and query software
FileMaker Pro
Microsoft Access
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Medical software
McAllister Software Systems AVImark
Veterinary practice management software PMS

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Complex Problem Solving

Knowledge

Health
medicine and dentistry
Business
customer service
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
biology

Education

  • 41% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 26% Associate's degree
  • 15% Post-secondary certificate

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Veterinary Technologists & Technicians Currently Selected

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Dental Assistants

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

Respiratory Therapists

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

 Job Training Match

Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Family Medicine Physicians

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

  • Arecibo Job Corps

    Garrochales, Puerto Rico

ACT & College

  • Alamance Community College

    Graham, NC

  • Allen County Community College

    Iola, KS

Apprenticeships

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Investigative (Thinker)
    • Realistic (Doer)

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Cooperation

Values

  • Relationships
  • Support
  • Working Conditions

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Hand and Finger Use
  • Attention

This is what Veterinary Technologists & Technicians across the country typically make.

$14.51 / hour
$30,180 /year

Entry Level

$21.03 / hour
$43,740 /year

Median Level

$28.52 / hour
$59,310 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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