Veterinary Technician Degree Programs

Veterinary Technician Degree Programs, Online Veterinary Technician Degree Programs, Veterinary Technician Career, Veterinary Technician Job

            The competition involved in being accepted into an accredited veterinary school is pretty intense.  One reason for this is the high number of people who want to become vets verses the low number of schools of veterinary medicine.  One alternative to spending the time and money becoming a veterinarian is to become a veterinary technician.

Veterinary technicians essentially do what a nurse would do for a doctor. They may perform laboratory tests such as urinalysis and blood counts, assist with dental prophylaxis, prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, or assist veterinarians in a variety of tests and analyses in which they often utilize various items of medical equipment, such as test tubes and diagnostic equipment.  In addition to working in private clinics and animal hospitals, veterinary technicians also may work in research facilities. There, they may administer medications orally or topically, prepare samples for laboratory examinations, and record information on genealogy, diet, weight, medications, food intake, and clinical signs of pain and distress. Some may be required to sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment and provide routine postoperative care.

Most entry-level veterinary technicians have a 2-year degree, usually an associate degree, from an accredited community college program in veterinary technology, in which courses are taught in clinical and laboratory settings using live animals. A few colleges offer veterinary technology programs that are longer and that may culminate in a 4-year bachelors degree in veterinary technology. These 4-year colleges, in addition to some vocational schools, also offer 2-year programs in laboratory animal science.

Featured Veterinary Technician Degree Programs