Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Career summary

Technologists and technicians work under the supervision of veterinarians. They do many of the same tasks for veterinarians as nurses do for doctors.

Technologists and technicians talk to animal owners and prepare animals to be seen by the veterinarian. They may hold animals during exams, treatments, or shots. They draw blood, collect tissue samples, and do laboratory work.

Other tasks may include:

• Clean animals' teeth
• Teach animal owners about medications, illnesses, and the general care of their pets
• Take and develop x-rays
• Dispense or give medicines
• Provide emergency first-aid
• Set up and clean exam and treatment rooms

Technologists and technicians prepare animals for surgery and help veterinarians during operations. Certified technologists and technicians give anesthetics and monitor animals during anesthesia and recovery.

Some technologists and technicians work in research labs. They watch over and take care of animals while assisting in research projects.

All technologists and technicians record treatment notes, lab tests, and their observations of animals. They also maintain inventories of pharmaceuticals, equipment, and supplies. Some technologists and technicians perform office duties, such as answering phones and preparing bills for customers.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Animal Caretakers
• Medical Assistants
• Medical Laboratory Technicians
• Medical Laboratory Technologists
• MRI Technologists
• Radiologic Technologists
• Surgical Technologists
• Veterinarians
• Veterinary Assistants

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to veterinary technologists and technicians.

• Give anesthesia, medicines, and vaccines.
• Monitor animals after surgery.
• Collect blood, tissue, and urine samples. Conduct laboratory tests used in veterinary care.
• Provide emergency care to animals.
• Clean exam rooms and replenish supplies.
• Assist veterinarians during surgery. Pass instruments and materials as requested.
• Fill prescriptions, measuring medications and labeling containers.
• Prepare instruments and animals for surgery.
• Assist in exams and treatment of animals.
• Observe animals and monitor their symptoms.
• Take and develop x-rays.
• Perform enemas, catheterizations, ear flushes, and intravenous feedings.
• Maintain records on research, treatment, and inventories of equipment and supplies.
• Prepare exam and treatment rooms.
• Make sure equipment, instruments, and machinery are working properly.
• Perform dental work, such as cleaning.
• Clean kennels and other animal holding areas.
• Educate and counsel animal owners.
• Assist or conduct animal euthanasia (putting an animal to "sleep").
• Apply bandages and stitches to wounds.

Common work activities

Veterinary technologists and technicians perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Document and record information
• Assist and care for others
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Perform for or work with the public
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Use computers
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Process information
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Evaluate information against standards
• Teach others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Handle and move objects
• Control machines and processes
• Analyze data or information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, veterinary technologists and technicians:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They work closely with veterinarians, assistants, and animal owners.
• Often deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous animal owners.
• Are moderately responsible for the health and safety of animals and coworkers.
• Are often placed in conflict situations.
• Are responsible for work outcomes.
• Communicate with coworkers and animal owners by telephone or in person on a daily basis.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Almost always work indoors, but may also work outdoors while exercising animals.
• Are exposed to diseases or infections on a daily basis.
• Are exposed to contaminants daily, such as animal waste.
• Are exposed to hazardous situations and conditions that can produce bites or scratches on a daily basis.
• Are often exposed to radiation when working near diagnostic equipment.
• Are often exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable, such as frightened animals.
• Often wear specialized protective attire, such as radiation protection suites.
• Are sometimes exposed to cramped work places that require getting into awkward positions.
• Sometimes wear masks and rubber gloves to protect against infection.
• Sometimes wear uniforms or lab jackets.
• Work very near animals and coworkers. They often work within inches of others.

Work performance

• Must be exact in their work. Errors could endanger the health of animals or other staff.
• Must repeat the same physical activities, such as holding animals during examinations.
• Make decisions that affect animals and owners on a daily basis. They consult veterinarians for some decisions, but make most without talking to a veterinarian.
• Are able to set most tasks for the day without talking to a veterinarian.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a weekly basis.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• May work part time or full time, but most work 40 hours a week.
• May work days, evenings, weekends, or holidays. Some research labs and animal hospitals are open 24 hours.

Physical demands

Veterinary technologists and technicians frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Kneel, stoop, crouch, or crawl.

It is important for veterinary technologists and technicians to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for veterinary technologists and technicians to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.

Skills and abilities

Veterinary technologists and technicians need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Use math and science

• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.
• Use scientific methods to solve problems.
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Veterinary Technology

Other programs of study to consider

• Animal Grooming
• Animal Training
• Medical Assisting
• Medical Laboratory Assisting
• Surgical Technology

Training

To work as a veterinary technologist or technician, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• have an associate degree in veterinary technology.

Education after high school

Veterinary technologists and technicians learn their skills through formal training programs. Most veterinary technology programs take two years to complete and grant an associate degree. Some four-year colleges and universities also offer these programs. In this case, you get a bachelor's degree.

In these programs, you learn about animal care, animal nutrition, and veterinary anatomy. You also learn about laboratory techniques, animal husbandry, and large and small animal care.

Work experience

Volunteering in an animal clinic or shelter is a good way to gain experience.

On-the-job training

While completing a training program, you usually work in a veterinary clinic as an intern. During an internship, you work under the guidance of a veterinarian.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Animal Science
• Computer Fundamentals
• Introduction to Health Care
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Many veterinarians prefer to hire applicants with at least a two-year veterinary technology degree. They may also require certification. Some prefer applicants who have experience. They may specify experience working with a specific kind of animal, such as horses, or a group of animals, such as small animals.

Other employers hire high school graduates with some related experience. Some look for applicants with good clerical skills.

All employers of veterinary assistants look for applicants who are comfortable interacting with animals. Veterinary technologists must also be willing to perform tasks that animals dislike.

Costs to workers

Workers who join professional associations usually must pay annual membership dues.

Licensing/certification

Only those workers who are currently registered with the state can legally call themselves veterinary technicians. All others, whether they are graduates of a training program or not, are called unregistered assistants. Registration requirements include:

• completion of an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) approved post-high school training course, or
• completion of a two-year veterinary technology or animal health program not accredited by the AVMA, plus 36 months of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian;
• answering personal data questions;
• successful completion of Veterinary Technician National Examination;
• completion of four-clock hours of AIDS training; and
• payment of licensing fees.

Technicians must complete 30 hours of continuing education every three years.

For more information, contact:

Washington State Department of Health
Health Systems Quality Assurance
Customer Service Center 
PO Box 47877
Olympia WA 98504-7877
360.236.4700

#2/18/20

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer and area of the country. Wages are also affected by the level of responsibility of the veterinary technologist and technician.

Veterinary technologists and technicians who work full time often receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Veterinary hospitals and clinics
• Research labs at colleges and universities

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will remain strong. The number of pets people own is expected to grow. In addition, pet owners are expected to increase their use of veterinary services. As veterinarians perform more specialized procedures, technologists and technicians do more complex work.

Graduates of training programs in veterinary technology have the best prospects for a job. However, more schools offer this program and there are more graduates competing for jobs.

Other resources

American Animal Hospital Association 
12575 West Bayaud Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80228
800.252.2242
303.986.2800

American Association of State Veterinary Boards 
380 West 22nd Street, Suite 101
Kansas City, MO 64108
877.698.8482

American Veterinary Medical Association 
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
800.248.2862

Guide Dogs for the Blind 
P.O. Box 151200
San Rafael, CA 94915

National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America 
1931 N Meacham Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173
888.996.2882

North American Veterinary Community 
352.375.5672

Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians (WSAVT) 
8024 Bracken Pl SE
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
206.419.6614

WSU College of Veterinary Medicine 

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (29-2056.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Veterinary Technician (079.361-014) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Investigative/Conventional

COPSystem

• Science Skilled