{"id":14505,"date":"2021-07-30T08:57:57","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T14:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=14505"},"modified":"2021-07-30T14:31:38","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T20:31:38","slug":"how-to-become-a-veterinary-technician","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/how-to-become-a-veterinary-technician\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Veterinary Technician"},"content":{"rendered":"

Take your passion for animals and love of science to the next level by pursuing a degree as a <\/span>veterinary technician<\/span><\/a>. Vet technicians assist veterinarians in a number of tasks, such as performing clinical care and laboratory tests, preparing an animal for examination, completing surgical preparation, caring for overnight patients, and communicating with animal owners about a pet\u2019s condition, exam results, and how to administer medications, among other tasks.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The vast majority of veterinary technicians work in private clinical practices under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Veterinary technicians can work in other settings, such as veterinary practices that treat large animals, emergency animal hospitals, research facilities, biomedical research labs, and zoos.<\/span><\/p>\n

Education Requirements<\/span><\/h3>\n

To become a veterinary technician, you must complete a <\/span>veterinary technician program<\/span><\/a> accredited by the <\/span>American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)<\/span><\/a> which leads to a two-year associate degree.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some veterinary technicians choose to pursue a <\/span>veterinary specialty<\/span><\/a> such as equine care, cardiology, oncology, or large animal surgery. These veterinary technicians must receive certification from one of 22 AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations. Specialization certification demonstrates an advanced level of competency in a well-defined field of veterinary medicine and requires several years of experience as a veterinary technician, additional courses of study, clinical experience, and letters of recommendation. Candidates for specialization are usually also required to take and pass an exam relating to their specialty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Testing Requirements<\/span><\/h3>\n

After graduating with an associate degree from an accredited college, most states require you to take the <\/span>Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)<\/span><\/a>, which is sponsored by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Preparing for the Exam<\/span><\/h3>\n

The VTNE exam consists of 225 multiple-choice questions that assess your knowledge of animal care in the following subjects:<\/span><\/p>\n