Q: Why did you decide to become a vet tech?

A: I initially went to vet tech school so that I could work as a credentialed technician while working on my BS, as I was pre-vet at the time. I later decided to NOT go to vet school, and go into technician education instead.

Q: What’s your favorite part about the job?

A: I love that moment when you bring out a formally ailing pet to their owner to go home, and the absolute glee on the faces of both the owner and the pet. Helping people and and keeping pets healthy is by far the most rewarding part of the job. Not everyone has a job where they get the opportunity to make a difference every day. It’s something I really enjoy and value about my career.

Q: What’s your least favorite part about the job?

A: Convenience euthanasia requests. Some people request euthanasia before we recommend it, simply because they are no longer willing to care and provide for their pets. In some cases we turn these people away but in many cases we cannot. This sort of thing can take a lot of you and make work much more emotional and stressful.

Q: How has the career changed since you first started?

A: I became a veterinary tech in 1996. Since then, we are becoming more recognized and more recognizable by the general public. And the same goes for being recognized and utilized more by DVMs. Also there are quite a few specialties available now for technicians. The number of tech programs has grown, to include quite a few very good distance education programs, which has greatly increased the number of credentialed technicians in the work force. Happily state veterinary medical boards are also getting on board with the laws to regulated what we can do, as compared to on-the-job trained staff, which is a very good thing

Q: How do you think the career will change in the next 10 years?

A: The future looks bright! I think we will continue to grow, and hopefully we will have some sort of national rules and regulations, much like human nurses. As we can organize ourselves better we can secure ourselves better benefits, more responsibilities, and higher pay. That’s what I hope anyway

Q: What advice can you give to people who are interested in becoming vet techs?

A: The three things I tell potential students: a – do not go into veterinary technology for the money because there isn’t any, we do this because we love veterinary mediciane. b – don’t go into veterinary technology if you hate people, every Fluffy and Spot comes with a human. c – veterinary technology is about science and advocating, NOT about playing with puppies and kitties (that’s just a perk), our classes are hard science, blood, guts, and critical thinking. The best thing to do is to observe credentialed technicians working.

The list below was taken from NAVTA’s 2007 Vet Tech demographic survey. It shows where various vet techs work, as well as the average salaries for these employment types:

Though the data is almost 4 years old at the time of this writing, it seems that the general salary trends have remained the same.

First of all, the average vet tech salary according to this survey is $36,120.

The highest earners are vet techs with positions in Research, Sales, and Education, which is to say that these people probably aren’t really vet techs in the sense you would expect! The truth of the profession is clear in these numbers – there is not a ton of money to be made working as traditional tech, though with your degree and skill you can get a related job that does pay a bit more. Keep in mind the actual availability of these jobs: less than 10% of all vet techs work in these fields.

Beyond these top earners are those working for the government and those working in specialty practices. This is no surprise as government jobs typically pay more than average no matter what you’re doing (and offer excellent benefits as well). Vet techs with NAVTA-recognized specializations can find job in specialty practices where they can deliver more value than the common vet tech, and therefore can expect to be paid more for their knowledge and skill.

The majority of veterinary technicians work in companion animal practices, which is a fancy way of saying clinics that deal mostly with people’s pets: dogs, cats, horses, goats, pigs, ferrets and some others depending on the practice. Average salary for these respondents is $33,270, and now you can see the numbers start coming back to earth. This is where most vet techs end up, and this is what most can expect to make.

Please don’t let my tone turn you off. It’s very important that veterinary technicians understand how much they can expect to make throughout their career. If low pay is the number one reason for employee turnover, I have to ask – why didn’t you just find out how much you were going to be making before you decided to become a vet tech!

Use this information to help you make an educated decision. Talk to other vet techs and see if they are having trouble making ends meet, and consider all of the benefits of the career as well before you make your final decision.

These numbers are based on 1,725 responses from people who were currently working as vet techs at the time filled out the questionnaire. The survey question was: ‘What percentage of your work time is spent in each of the following functions?’

Here’s how the techs responded:

• Animal nursing:   17.2%
• Anesthesia:   14%
• Client communication:   12.3%
• Laboratory:   10.4%
• Teaching:   10.2%
• Surgical assisting:   9.3%
• Supervision of staff:   9%
• Radiology:   7.8%
• Inventory/ordering:   5.4%
• Selling products:   3.1%
• Meeting sales reps:   1.4%

Now obviously, the time you spending doing each of these tasks is going to vary based on your personal situation. If you’re in a managerial or supervisory role, you’ll be doing a lot more staff supervision than animal nursing. Likewise, if you’re fresh out of vet tech school, you probably won’t be doing any supervision, but your animal nursing time may increase substantially.

Overall this breakdown should give you a general idea of what vet techs spend most of their time doing. As you can see, it’s a very hands on profession – most of your time is spent working with the animals, and when you’re not doing that, you’re probably speaking with clients or helping colleagues. For those of you interesting in becoming a vet tech because you want a challenging, hands-on career, these numbers should be very encouraging!

• What is your budget? The first question you should ask yourself is how much money you are willing and able to spend on your education. Remember, your vet tech degree is an investment in your future, so don’t be afraid to take out a student loan or apply for scholarships and financial aid. With a number in mind, you can narrow down the schools you have to choose from.
• Where do you live or where do you want to work in the future? One important point to remember is that after obtaining your vet tech degree, you’ll have to sit for the state board exam in order to be a licensed vet tech in that state. This is why most techs choose a school in the state they plan to practice in. Scores can be transferred between states only if those two states use the same tests. So give some thought to your future when selecting a veterinary technician school.
• Do you want to specialize in anything? Consider potential specializations you may pursue later in your career when choosing a vet tech school. Most curricula share a lot of common material, but some may have more emphasis on an area like small animal or equine care. If you’re interesting in specializing in these areas, it’s nice to start accumulating experience now. Furthermore, check to see if the faculty at your program are members of any specialty societies. Talking with these people throughout your education can be an invaluable way to prepare for your future.

Enrolling In An Online Vet Tech School

For some students, the only vet tech school options available are online distance education programs. These programs are an acceptable choice as long as they are 1) FULLY accreddited by the AMVA, and 2) include mandatory clinical coursework. Mandatory clinical coursework means that in order to graduate with a degree, you’ll need to work hands-on in a veterinary practice performing routine tasks on live animal patients. Yes it’s an online degree, but it’s worthless without this hands-on experience! Make sure you do plenty of research about graduation requirements before enrolling in an online vet tech program.

Read More: Can I Get A Job With An Online Vet Tech Degree?

Application fee: Ranging from $20-$100, most vet tech schools require you to pay a non-refundable fee when you turn in your application.

Point systems: Some vet tech programs use point-based evaluation systems to help them sort through candidates. What this means is that the program organizers assign point values to different requirements in order to objectively rank applicants. For example, academic performance may be worth 60 points, 20 points for veterinary experience, 10 for reference letters from a vet or vet technician, and so on. Check with the vet tech program you are applying to to see if they use a points-based system. If they do, they’ll be able to tell you how many points each requirement is worth. This will help you identify which parts of the application are the most important and deserving of your time!

Academic requirements: This is one of the requirements that varies widely from school to school. In general, most vet tech programs want to see a High School diploma, college transcripts, or a GED. In addition, most programs require at least a 2.0 GPA, though more competitive schools look for students with an upper-third class rank. Some vet tech schools may assess your cumulative GPA and your cumulative math and science GPA separately. I have also seen a few programs that assess only the GPA of only your most recent credit hours. Applicants must generally submit their SAT or ACT scores as well.

Class pre-requisites: Again, this is another requirement that can vary widely among programs. Most want to see evidence of satisfactory performance during multiple semesters of math, science (chemistry and biology), and english courses. Check with the program you are considering to find out their minimum high school prerequisites.

Veterinary experience: This is a common and important requirement that can really make or break your chances of being accepted to the vet tech school of your choice. Although it is not always mandatory, hands-on work experience with a veterinarian either as a volunteer or paid employee is usually strongly recommended. Veterinary experience is usually defined as any hours spent volunteering, observing or working under the supervision of a vet or a licensed veterinary technician. Total number of hours is important, but the quality of hours may be even more important. For example, a school would rather see you spend 50 hours shadowing a vet tech than 100 hours cleaning kennels.

Letters of recommendation/Evaluation forms: A majority of programs typically require any where from 1 to 3 letters of recommendation. Usually at least one of these letters has to come from a veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician. Other letters should come from someone such as a teacher, professor, academic adviser, or counselor. Don’t use friends or family members to fill this requirement.

Application essays: Many applications have an essay component that gives you a chance to talk a bit more about yourself and set yourself apart from the competition. Don’t be frustrated or intimidated by the essay – embrace it as your best chance to really stand out and guarantee your acceptance! The essay may be of a personal or professional nature, but is usually a combination of both. Many essays are designed to demonstrate the applicant’s knowledge and understanding of the veterinary health care team and the skills and qualities necessary to be a successful member of that team. Application essays tend to be evaluated based on how well the questions are answered in addition to how clearly you express your thoughts. Communication skills are essential to being a good vet tech, and schools want to see that you possess those skills!

That’s it! These are the common admissions requirements for most veterinary technician programs. As mentioned before, you should absolutely check with each specific program to obtain an official list of requirements. It’s highly recommended you do this long before you are ready to apply, this way you can ensure that you have everything you need: veterinary experience, letters of recommendation, etc. Good luck!

A wise veterinary technician once told me: “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” If this is the kind of statement that really resonates with you, read on.

Is Veterinary Technician The Right Job For You?

Before you quit your day job and enroll in a vet tech program, it’s very important to spend some time considering if the career is right for you. After all, it’s not for everyone, and the point of a career change is to align yourself with your passions.

The absolute best way to find out if becoming a vet tech is right for you is by talking with and shadowing vet techs at a local practice. By speaking first-hand with people who have been vet techs for years, and actually watching what they do (as opposed to reading words on a screen), you’ll learn and experience a ton of valuable information.

To find a vet tech to shadow, get in touch with local veterinary practices. Explain that you are considering a career change and would like to know if there are any shadowing or volunteer opportunities available. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll find a willing vet.

A healthy dose of online research should supplementing your first-hand shadowing experience. There are countless articles about becoming a vet tech and vet tech career changes that can help you prepare for a big transition. Read as much as you can about salary, schooling, pros, cons, online vet tech degrees, and anything else you can think of.

Obtaining Your Vet Tech Degree

One of the most difficult parts of switching careers to become a vet tech is putting yourself through 2 years of schooling to obtain your Associate’s degree. Many people are switching careers later in life, and may not be able to attend a full-time program.

If you fall into this category, I would strongly consider enrolling in an online vet tech program. These convenient degree programs let you work at your own pace and structure your schooling around your existing responsibilities. They are a perfect option for people changing careers.

One caveat about online vet tech schools: these are serious degrees that have mandatory clinical coursework. What this means is that in order to graduate, you’ll need to do some hands on work with live animal patients at a local practice. Not every vet is going to let a random student complete clinical coursework at their practice, so you’ll need to establish a relationship with a willing clinical mentor before you enroll in a program. This is the biggest obstacle for most people who want to obtain their veterinary technician online degree.

Read more: Can I get a job with an online vet tech degree?

Finding A Vet Tech Job After Your Career Change

Many people who transition to a new career in veterinary technology are nervous about finding a new job. You may be older than the average student fresh out of college, and you won’t have much relevant job experience for your resume. Have no fear!

There are actually a large number of people who choose to switch careers and become a vet tech. They all face the same problems with lack of experience, and inevitably, they all find well-paying jobs regardless. Most employers are sympathetic to your situation, and many will respect your courage to take control of your life and transition to a career you love.

Simply explain your situation in your vet tech cover letter or during the interview process. Emphasize your commitment to working hard and let your prospective employer know how much your new career means to you! The main point is you should not have any worries or concerns about being discriminated against simply because you are new to the field.

The point of your vet tech cover letter will be to give a quick summary of who you are, why you’re applying for the position, and what you can bring to the table. It’s also a nice opportunity to express your personality, since resumes usually consist of “just the facts,” and don’t really tell the whole story about who you are as a person.

Take it from someone who has read hundreds of veterinary technician cover letters – these things are important, and they can make a huge impact on whether or not an employer decides to give you a chance to interview! Veterinary techs who neglect the quality of their cover letters usually don’t get a call back from the practices I’ve worked with.

The point is, put some time and thought into your cover letters. Before we get to the vet tech cover letter sample I’ve put together, keep these general tips in mind:

• Make sure you write a unique cover letter for each job you apply for! Hiring managers can easily tell when you’ve written a generic letter and sent it out to a dozen different people hoping to catch something. This spray and pray method will only strike employers as lazy, and believe me, they read enough cover letters to be able to tell the difference between those who took the time to do it right, and those who didn’t.
• Keep it short and sweet. Your vet tech cover letter should never be more than a full page unless absolutely necessary. Most hiring managers have dozens of resumes and cover letters to review, so they appreciate people who get to the point and avoid useless fluff.
• Demonstrate that you know something about the company and the position you are applying for. The key to a good cover letter is to specifically reference the ways you can be of benefit once you’re hired. This means doing a bit of research about the company and finding out exactly what they need in a new hire. If you can tell them up front exactly what you’ll bring to the table, they’ll be impressed.

With those tips in mind, review this veterinary technician cover letter template. Use it as a guideline to write your own.

Greeting & First Paragraph: Dear Dr. Employer [it helps to have someone specific to address. If you don't have a name, go with "To Whom It May Concern:"]. In the first paragraph you’ll want to talk about who you are, why you’re writing, how you heard about the position, and mention any mutual connections if this relevant.

To Whom It May Concern:

I came across your job listing for a Licensed Veterinary Technician in The Sunday Times and feel that I am qualified to fulfill the responsibilities of this position for Valley Green Vet Practice.

Second paragraph: This is a good spot to talk about your academic training and professional experience. You can talk about where you went to school and how many years you’ve been in the field. It helps to  tie this information in to your value proposition – tell your employer exactly how your academic and professional experience will benefit their practice.

I graduated from Purdue University in 2008 with my Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology. Since my graduation I’ve worked as a Licensed Veterinary Technician for 2 years and feel confident that I can bring a variety of strengths and skills to your practice.

Third paragraph: Get specific. Talk about a stand-out example from your schooling or previous job experience that exemplifies your skills or a positive quality. If you can’t think of one, use this paragraph to list some of your strengths.

In my clinical academic experience/previous vet tech positions I’ve had the opportunity to develop my skills in the areas of lab test analysis, radiology, dental care, and small animal care. As part of your organization I look forward to continuously improving these skills while providing value and quality care to your patients. In addition to my clinical strengths, I work excellently as part of a team and pride myself on my ability to communicate well and learn quickly. My primary objective is to help your practice grow and function smoothly in any way I can.

Conclusion. In conclusion, thank the hiring manager for their time and offer your contact information and a request for an interview.

I would love the chance to schedule an in-person interview with you so we can discuss your needs and  expectations in more detail. You can reach me by phone at 555-123-4567 or e-mail at victoria@vet-tech.com.

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

Victoria Hall

Pretty simple, right? Follow this vet tech cover letter outline and you’ll be in good shape. Remember to keep it short but very specific. When you’re done writing, re-read it a few times while keeping an eye out for any sentences that aren’t 100% necessary. You want a potent cover letter that isn’t going to waste anyone’s time!

The AVECCT was granted provisional recognition by NAVTA in January 1996, making it one of the oldest recognized vet tech specialties. The organization has put together a rigorous credentialing process that allows vet techs to distinguish themselves as superior providers of emergency and critical care. Those who are members of this elite group have demonstrated excellent emergency and critical care experience, leadership abilities, and contributions to the growth of the vet tech profession.

So what does emergency and critical care involve? Emergency Care designates action taken(assesment, treatment, and stabilization) in response to a patient with an urgent medical problem. Critical Care involves actions taken in response to a crisis. This typically involves the steps taken to treat a patient with with a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening illness or injury. Patients typically require in-depth and often constant monitoring, reassessment, and treatment.

Since 1996 the AVECCT has worked to promote advancement and high standards of practice for  individuals involved in veterinary emergency and critical care nursing. They have successfully established education and experience prerequisites leading to certification as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (Emergency and Critical Care). The organization is also involved with encouraging cutting-edge research relating to this discipline, as well as promoting opportunities for continuing education.

Application Requirements – VTS (Emergency and Critical Care)

In order to be certified as a specialist, you must meet the rigorous application requirements and pass a credentialing exam.

• Applicants must be a graduate of an AVMA accredited veterinary technician school or legally credentialed to practice as a vet tech
• Candidates are encouraged to be a member of a local, state, provincial, or North American Veterinary Technician Association (NAVTA), and a member of the Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society (VECCS)
• Must have three years full-time work experience (5,760 hours), in the field of veterinary emergency and critical care. This experience must be completed within 5 years prior to the application.
• Candidates must have completed a minimum of 25 hours of continuing education related to veterinary emergency and critical care, to be completed within 5 years prior to application submission.
• Applicants must complete the Advanced Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Nursing Skills Form. This form documents specific advanced-level emergency care and nursing skills that you have mastered.
• Applicants must organize a case record log consisting of relevant cases from January 1 – December 31 of the year preceding the submission. The case log must include 50 cases that reflect your nursing skills related to emergency cases and critical care patients.
• In addition to the 50 case logs, four detailed case reports should be recorded. These case reports must demonstrate your expertise in the nursing management of a variety of veterinary patients requiring emergency and critical care. These reports can overlap cases in your log, but should provide the best demonstration of your advanced-level skills.
• Candidates must obtain 2 letters of recommendation from either an AVECCT member, a Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society Veterinarian or a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

For more information on AVECCT credentialing requirements, you can visit the official website.

In 2007, NAVTA conducted a survey that asked a group of licensed veterinary technicians a variety of questions about their careers. One of the more interesting questions was about the primary concerns these vet techs had. Take a look at the top two issues that these techs cited:

Low pay and competition from unlicensed assistants were the two primary concerns cited by techs in NAVTA's 2007 survey (click to enlarge).

As you can see, the two top concerns of vet techs who responded to this survey were low salaries and competition from unlicensed veterinary assistants.

78% of veterinary techs believed that “technicians are so underpaid that the feasibility of staying in the profession is declining.” 18% on the other hand, disagreed with this assessment.

It’s no secret that you won’t strike it rich on a standard vet tech income. But how bad is it really? When more than 3 quarters of respondents believe that low salaries may force them out of the profession, that’s something definitely worth paying attention to. Before you decide to become a vet tech, it’s important to think about how much money you’ll need to live a comfortable life. Low salary is also something to consider when thinking about student loans.

The other concern shared by most vet techs was that unlicensed veterinary assistants were infringing upon their job duties. This issue is actually closely related to the issue of low salary. If veterinarians are allowing unlicensed assistants to perform tasks like radiography, anesthesia, and dental work, the value of licensed veterinary technicians declines.

A vet can get away with paying an assistant much less money, so some go that route and train unlicensed assistants on the job. In turn, vet techs get paid less because employers don’t see their certification and academic training as something that’s absolutely necessary.

So what do these survey results this mean for prospective vet techs? First of all, keep in mind that this data is 3 years old. NAVTA is scheduled to release a new survey next year, so until then, we won’t know if the situation has gotten better or worse. What I can tell you is that demand for licensed veterinary technicians is certainly on the rise. In fact, many states are passing legislation that require veterinary technicians to become certified, so the value of graduating from a vet tech program is increasing.

The amount of people out there who are willing to pay for quality care for their animals has also increased. This means vets are more willing than ever to hire qualified techs who can deliver the quality service that customers want.

It’s not all doom and gloom. Don’t let these concerns scare you too much. While they are certainly important issues, there are plenty of veterinary technicians out there who are living comfortably without financial stress or worries. Remember, this is a relatively new profession in the grand scheme of things. As the field of veterinary technology continues to evolve and mature, I expect these concerns to diminish. For more insight on this topic, keep your eyes open for the next NAVTA survey, or ask the vet techs at your local vet clinic how they feel about these issues.

The academy was granted provisional recognition by NAVTA’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties in March 2006. The academy’s mission is to promote and advance the skills of veterinary technicians within the discipline of internal medicine by providing quality opportunities for continuing education and by advocating for superior patient care, client education, and consumer protection. The academy also works to establish the standard prerequisite requirements for education and experience for official certification as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (Internal Medicine). Credentialing exams are administered by the AIMVT, and continued professional development is one of the obligations of all who choose to specialize in this field.

Application Requirements – VTS (Internal Medicine)

Candidates who wish to sit for the AIMVT certification exam must first submit an application and case log. The application requirements are as follows:

• Have a minimum of 3 years with 6,000 hours of experience as a licensed veterinary technician in the field of Internal Medicine. All experience must be completed within the five years prior to date of application submission. You must spend at least 75% of your time in the area of internal medicine.
• Have a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education. 70% of these CE credit hours must be within your sub-specialty. Up to 30% of the hours may be related to general internal medicine. The continuing education must be completed within the five years prior to application submission. Proof of CE attendance is required.
• Provide documented evidence of advanced competence in the selected area of specialization of internal medicine through clinical experience. This equates to completion of at least 80% of the Advanced Veterinary Internal Medicine Technician skill form. Case logs should cross-reference these at least 50% of these skills. You can find skill forms for your selected area of specialization (cardiology, oncology, large animal, small animal, or neurology) on the AIMVT web site.
• Provide evidence of advanced knowledge of disease states and processes by completing the Advanced Veterinary Internal Medicine Knowledge Form. You can find this document on the official AIMVT web site.
• 50 case logs formatted to AIMVT standards must be presented. Cases should reflect the management of patients in the area of your sub-specialization.  Case logs should document a wide variety of your advanced nursing skills should and must cross reference to your specialty skills list. Multiple visits by the same patient count as only 1 case unless presented for an entirely new problem.
• 4 detailed case reports formatted to AIMVT guidelines must be presented. Case reports are in-depth explorations of four of your case logs which demonstrate expertise in the nursing management of a variety of internal medicine veterinary patients. Case logs should demonstrate thorough understanding of the case as well as detailed analysis of the disease process, diagnostics, treatments, therapy, and the advanced nursing skills used for the case.
• Submit three potential exam questions related to your chosen sub-specialty. These examination questions should represent your advanced skills or knowledge.
• Two letters of recommendation from a VTS (Internal Medicine ) , or a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Once the application requirements have been met and approved, you can sit for the AIMVT credentialing examination. Candidates who successfully pass this examination have earned the designation of Veterinary Technician Speciality (Internal Medicine).