Vet Techs is there any advice for someone looking to get into this field?

Question

I am looking at Vet Tech as a career change, I love animals and was wondering if you have any advice or suggestions for someone looking to get into this field? thanks

Answer 1

I'm a vet tech and it can definitely be a rewarding career. However, if your looking to make alot of money then look elsewhere. On average vet techs start out between 8 and 10 dollars an hour.
The job is physically and emotionally demanding. You have to be able to lift up to 150 pounds or so. Yes, there have been times when I have had to carry a Rotty by myself in emergency situations. Euthanasias were the hardest thing for me to adjust to. I've been doing this for 6 years and there are still times when I cry or get pissed off because I don't feel that the animal should be put to sleep. You have to learn to keep your composure in these situations and still be friendly to the clients.
Surgeries are one of my favorite things, cleaning up afterward is not. I'm assuming you don't have a week stomach. I have seen some pretty gross injuries, infections, neglect, abuse, etc.
And my arms and legs are covered in scars from getting bit and scratched, mostly by cats! If you have the slightest fear of aggressive animals then you may want to rethink this.
With all of that said, I would not change my job for all the money in the world! It definitely has it's down sides, but the rewards so out weigh them. The feeling you get when you save an animals life, or bring new babies into this world is the best feeling in the world!
The following link has every sort of career option for working with animals. Good Luck!

http://netvet.wustl.edu/vcareer.htm

Answer 2

The answer from 4knowledge is good but I'd add that you should get some real hands-on experience before committing time and thousands of dollars to a degree program. See if you can get a job, or volunteer time, in a setting where you can watch techs at work. It's not just holding critters and taking their pulse - there's blood, pus, maggots, and maniacal owners to look forward to.

Don't get me wrong. We need all the good vet techs we can get but it's not a job for the faint of heart.

Also, most states require some kind of accreditation after you graduate before you can be an 'official' tech and actually work with that title. Many also require ongoing education, but the good news is your employer will usually pay for it.

Answer 3

Animal lovers get satisfaction in this occupation, but aspects of the work can be unpleasant, physically and emotionally demanding, and sometimes dangerous.

Entrants generally complete a 2-year or 4-year veterinary technology program and must pass a State examination.

Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.
Keen competition is expected for jobs in zoos.

There are primarily two levels of education and training for entry to this occupation: a 2-year program for veterinary technicians and a 4-year program for veterinary technologists. Most entry-level veterinary technicians have a 2-year degree, usually an associate’s degree, from an accredited community college program in veterinary technology in which courses are taught in clinical and laboratory settings using live animals.

Veterinary technologists and technicians held about 60,000 jobs in 2004.

Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014.

This is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site and brought to you by: