Veterinary Technician
A Veterinary Technician is trained and licensed to help veterinarians in conducting the various procedures to diagnose animal diseases as well as treat them. However, they are not authorized to make any kind of diagnosis or prescribe any kind of veterinary medicine with the permission of the licensed veterinarian.
Veterinary Technicians need to perform various procedures and laboratory tests like urinalysis and blood count, assist with dental prophylaxis, prepare tissue samples, extract blood samples and help veterinarians in the various medical examinations. If they are working as research personnel, they are involved in giving medications orally or topically to animals, developing samples for laboratory examinations and collecting details on genealogy, diet, weight, medications and food intake.
Veterinary Technician Degree Programs
There are two degree options with respect to develop a career as a Veterinary Technician: a two-year and a four-year program for Veterinary Technicians. The various degrees are available from any accredited college offering courses in Veterinary Technology. The college should be capable of offering clinical as well as practical training with live animals. Some colleges offer 4-year Bachelor degrees in the field along with 2-year courses in the field of laboratory animal science.
A few online courses include veterinary science and animal care degrees as well as online Veterinary Technician degrees. Veterinary Technicians are like nurses for animals who are involved in taking care of the health of pets, zoo animals, livestock, sport animals, and laboratory animals. Online degree programs enable students to accomplish the course without attending regular classes. The subjects involved for such a degree are animal biology, zoology, animal nutrition and systemic physiology.
Career Opportunities for a Veterinary Technician
The Veterinary Technician field is growing at a very fast rate and is likely to increase 35% by 2014 owing to the increase in the pet population. People with the necessary qualifications can work in private veterinary clinics or animal hospitals. They also have the opportunity to work with institutes associated with animal care and diagnostic laboratories.
The competition for veterinary school admission has increased substantially and, based on reports by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market in the field of Veterinary Technician/Technologist reached a high of 60,000 jobs in 2004 with an average salary of about $12 per hour.
Average Salary for Veterinary Technicians
Veterinary Technicians usually earn an average of $ 22,000 – 30,000 per year. The mean annual salary of Veterinary Technicians in United States is about $26,710, with the top 10% getting an average of $37,360 during 2005. According to statistics, the hourly wage is estimated to be $12 to $15.
Apart from the salary offered to Veterinary Technicians, they also get benefits like paid vacation, holiday pay, health benefits, sick leave, higher education incentives and a 401(k) plan. Salary is dependent on the place of work. Those working in research centers start with a lower salary. However, it increases with experience and is more than those working in veterinary clinics.
Pros of Earning an Online Veterinary Technicians Degree
- Pursuing an online Veterinary Technician course enables students to study at home at a convenient time.
- It can be pursued at their own speed.
- It can be accomplished at an accelerated pace.
- The course material is extensive and matches the quality of the regular course.
Cons of Earning an Online Veterinary Technicians Degree
- Lack of direct interaction with the faculty members
- Students might not adhere to the timeline set up
- The presence of degree mills which are not accredited
Leading Schools for an Online Veterinary Technician Degree
Some of the prominent schools offering online Veterinary Technician degrees are:
- Vet Tech Institute in Pittsburgh
- Walden University
- Western Governors University
Penn Foster Career School offers both veterinary assistant as well as Vet Tech online courses. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is responsible for some accrediting schools offering an Associate degree or a Bachelor degree in the field of Veterinary Technician. This institute offers accreditation to schools which provide online education.
