How to become a Veterinary Technician

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January 27th, 2010

The following are some basic steps to a career as a veterinary technician.

Job shadow vet techs at a variety of clinics. It is important to job shadow for a length of time such as two to three weeks in order to really gain a more well-rounded exposure of what the day-to-day tasks for this profession entail. If possible, shadow technicians at different hospitals.
Complete a veterinary technician associate’s degree from an accredited program.
Take the Veterinary Technician National Exam.
Apply for state licensure, registration or certification.
Maintain the appropriate continuing education requirements.
Apply for a job working as a veterinary technician. Join the state technician association.

What skills are important for a vet tech to possess?

It is important for vet techs to have excellent verbal and written communication skills. After all, at the end of every Veterinary Technician Career Path

leash is a pet owner and the vet tech must be able to explain what is being done to his/her animal during exams and procedures or educate the owner on an animal’s illness or surgery. Written communication skills are important in documenting for medical records. A vet tech must be able to write detailed, concise information that can be understood by other people who review the chart, such as the veterinarian.

Learn more about veterinary technician schools.

It is also important for vet techs to have a compassion for animals and truly want to do what is best for them. Oftentimes a vet tech must do things an animal does not want to have done like drawing blood or giving vaccines. This job is not for the faint of heart so to speak. Vet techs must be willing to handle blood, fecal samples, drool, pet hair and other things that may make some people squeamish.

Having good attention to detail and observation skills are also crucial in this field. When looking in a kennel at an animal, the vet tech must pay close attention to details such as if the animal’s ears are up or down, if they are shifting their body weight, and what their respiratory pattern is like. Since animals cannot tell how they feel these observations are important to monitor whether they are in pain or sick.

It is also important for a vet tech to have good physical stamina and be flexible and physically fit. This job requires being on your feet, and lifting and restraining large animals.

Learn more about veterinary technician programs.

Do some vet techs specialize in one area of these responsibilities?

Some clinics have vet techs that specialize in one area of the clinic, although in most practices this is not the case. For the clinics where vet techs specialize they may have one tech that works just in the lab area, handling the blood, urine and fecal samples and analysis. Another tech may work only in surgery and anesthesia. A third vet tech may work with outpatient appointments. Sometimes the techs rotate between these three roles in larger clinics. In smaller clinics vet techs perform all of these job functions.