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Taylor Wells
Aughenbaugh
English 12
07 September 2012
Veterinary Technician
Veterinary technicians are someone who performs much of the laboratory testing
procedures commonly associated with veterinary care.
Some of the required activities that you have to have to become a veterinary technician
are that you have to have a bachelor’s degree in veterinary or animal health technology. You
MUST also take a credentialing exam and must become registered. Also you must have a high
school diploma in order to be a veterinarian technician. Make sure you take a lot of math and
science related courses in high school. There are approximately 63,860 veterinary technicians
that are employed in the United States. Approximately 50 percent of veterinary technician duties
involve laboratory testing. You need to be helpful to the people, your employers, and to the
animals.
Work can be very unpleasant depending on what kind of people you work with. You
must not mind getting dirty. Sometimes vet techs have to beware from getting scratched, or
kicking. Sometimes (depending on where you live) the clinics are private. They also work in
laboratories or even animals hospitals. Their jobs might get demanding or even emotional.
Primarily indoors and primarily in one location. You can work in clinics, animal hospitals, zoos,
schools, universities, and animal training programs. They also observe the behavior and
condition of animals. Here is a list of things that veterinarian technicians are allowed to do.
Provide nursing care or emergency first aid to recovering or injured animals. Administer
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anesthesia to animals and monitor their responses. Collect laboratory samples, such as blood,
urine, or tissue, for testing. Perform laboratory tests, such as urinalyses and blood counts. Take
and develop x rays. Prepare animals and instruments for surgery. Administer medications,
vaccines, and treatments prescribed by a veterinarian. Collect and record patients’ case histories
A typical work day sometimes gets a little crazy but also sometimes it might not.
Sometimes you work irregular hours. (Including weekends.) Some vet techs work seven to nine
hour days. (35 to 45 hours a week.) Salary ranges from 17,700 to 25,670 to 37,360.
You need chemistry, biology, and math. You must have a post secondary education in
veterinary. Some veterinary’s have a two year associates degree or a four year bachelor’s degree.
There are more than 90 accredited programs in the United States.
Also here are some of the schools that provide training for becoming a veterinarian
technician. Ohio State University ( main campus), University of Florida, Texas A and M
University, Michigan state, Miami Dade College, St Petersburg College, Portland Community
College.
It cost almost $725 per semester plus more for books and supplies. Here are some other
related jobs that go with Veterinarian technicians, animal care and service workers, surgical
technologist, veterinarian assistance, veterinarian, and laboratory caretaker.
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Works Cited
“Veterinarian Technician.” Career Cruising. Career Cruising, 2012. Web. 06 September 2012.
“Veterinarian Technician.” U.S Bureau of Labor Statistic. U.S Bureau of Labor Statistic, 2012.
Web. 06 September 2012.