What kind of schooling does it take to become a vet tech?

Question

I have seen numerous poor suggestions from people online claiming to be vet techs. They seem quite unqualified. Today at the Vets I witnessed some Vet techs trying to come up with the clinical term for a "spay". They were saying "Oh..it's like ovarian...uh...some big long name, what was it?...Ovararin hysta sumthin'"...I said hysterectomy? One of the girls said.."Oh yeah that's it." It made me quite uncomfotable thinking that there are all these vet techs out there that don't know much about jack. How do they get certified? I mean some have even made prescription dosing errors. This would be unnacceptable in any human medical venue.

Answer 1

Do you know for sure they were Certified? In most states, anyone can walk into a vet clinic and be trained on the job....either well or poorly, depending on the competency of the veterinarian training them. I have seen excellent non-certified techs, and dangerous certified techs. People will excell in their field if they really care about it. Like any profession, there are people with lousy and careless attitudes. Certification is supposed to provide some degree of training and expertise in this field. It takes 2 years of schooling to obtain an Associate in Science degree in veterinary technology, and passing a difficult board exam to become certified. I am also going for my 4 year Bachelors degree in Animal Nursing. In my state I must also complete 15 hours of continuing education every 2 years. I normally get more than 30 because I love what I do and love to learn and improve my skills. Would you want an "on the job" trained nurse to administer YOUR anesthesia, draw your blood, give you prescription medications, among other things?

Prescription errors are "unacceptable", but they happen. It happens every day in human pharmacies. There is no room for error, but unfortunately as humans, they are going to happen to all of us sooner or later.

All advice solicited and received on-line needs to be carefully filtered. It is always best to contact your vet or local emergency hospital for critical medical advice. If you see someone posting poor advice, by all means post a response to it!

Answer 2

In our state, it takes 2 years of technical school to be a vet tech. Part of the schooling is summertime internships at a veterinary hospital. Post schooling, there is state board test. If passed, the technician receives their certification (CVT)

Some "technicians" are job trained. They have the skills to intubate, draw blood, vaccinate, take and develop radiographs, etc. They do not, however, have the medical background to understand the physiology of what they are doing. Vet techs are not allowed to determine prescription dosing. That can only be done by a licensed veterinarian.

The word you are looking for is OVARIOHYSTERECTOMY. It means the removal of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Remember that online you can be anyone you want to be because you don't have to substantiate it. Always check answers with a professional you trust. Call you vet, asked to speak to or leave a message for a certified tech. They should be able to confirm what you are told.

Answer 3

Here in North Carolina at Central Carolina Community College, the Veterinary Medical Techology program is a 2 year program.
We learn everything from the meds to all the parts of the animal. We have to take a National test and a State test before we become registered. You cant even take these test unless you have been through a school that is acredited by the state. And that is messed up what you heard at that clinic. That is so wrong. Yes there are things a I dont know and dont remember, but I always ask people that have been working longer and have gone to more school to help me answer questions.

Answer 4

you can go to 2yrs of college. you can train for like 5 yrs then take the test. The training is at a vet hospital or office, you have to work there about 5 yrs untill you are qualified to take the test to become certified.

It may be they don't know much about jack, it is just they got a slip of the tongue. Don't worry the vet techs are not doing the surgeries. All the detailed things are done by the vet's.

Answer 5

You don't have to go to school to be a vet tech, but you can go to get certified. I personally do not know any vets that would be willing to pay someone more because they were certified as opposed to hiring someone at minimum wage and training them in the clinic. I'm sure there's an advantage to getting certified though.

Answer 6

in order to be certified or registered vet tech you must complete a program provided by a accreditated university such as Purdue. You can also do this online from Purdue(probably the best program to go through either online or on campus). to be an assistant which is what I am you just have on the job training and are not allowed to do certain procedures etc.

Answer 7

You can't really go to online school to be a vet tech. A lot of the things you need to learn are hands-on, so you can't learn them online.