5 Steps to Become a Veterinary Technician
1.Career description and education requirements:The first thing you should do is to find out the job scope of your preferred profession. The duties of a veterinary technician entails taking blood samples, being able to do lab tests such as blood counts, preparing tissue samples, doing x-rays, preparing vaccines and assisting with dental prophylaxis. You will also need to be able to advise the owners on the proper care for their pets, and take complete histories of the animals. You will also need to know the qualifications to be a veterinary technician. Basically you will need to pass a competency exam and most importantly, you will need to complete an accredited veterinary technology program.
2. Completing an accredited program
As of 2008, there are 150 accredited Veterinary Technology programs. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is the body responsible for the accreditation of these program. So, before enrolling, make sure that the program you are taking is accredited. Unaccredited program will only lead to problems as your education will not be considered as meeting the necessary standards required by AVMA. Most of the accredited programs are for 2 years and would enable you to get a degree. All programs that are accredited by AVMA has a clinical experience period for students to gain hands on experience.
3. Choose a specialization
You should also choose a specialization such as emergency care, dentistry, veterinary behavior, internal medicine or anesthesiology which are recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.
4. About licensing and certification
Every state requires you to pass a competency test and most of them use the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) administered National Veterinary Technician Exam. There are also practice tests and testing information on the AAVSB"s website.
5. Working
Once you have fulfilled all the necessary requirements, passed the required exams then your next step would be to actually get a job. Due to the increase in demand, the prospects for this job is excellent. The shortage of graduates from this programs and the ever growing demand increases the likelihood of you getting a job.
If you did not know, a degree as a veterinary technician will enable you to apply for a job in a Zoo, at the Humane Animal Shelter, Animal Hospitals and research labs.