Words: 1690
Veterinary Technician There are about 100 organizations of veterinary technicians that exist, state, local, and provincial across the United States (American Veterinary Medical Association). Out of those 100 organizations, there were 62,000 employed veterinary technicians in the year of 2004. The career of Veterinary technician will be investigated for the purpose of learning techniques to increase an animal’s health, providing information will result in determining if pursuing this career will be a positive choice for the future.
This will be researched through job background, education and requirements, and the job outlook. First, the job background of a veterinary technician will be researched to determine if pursuing this career would be a positive influence for the future. Some may ask, what a veterinary technician, otherwise known as Vet. Tech. is? The veterinary technician is an integral member of the veterinary health care team who has been educated in the care and handling of animals, the basic principles of normal and abnormal life processes, and in routine laboratory and clinical procedures” (American Veterinary Medical Association). When a hurt or sick animal is brought to the hospital, a team of educated and trained animal doctors treat them. A veterinary technician is part of that team. On an ordinary day, Veterinary technicians usually work around eight to ten hours a week, sometimes including the weekend.
Within that time their tasks may include: routine laboratory and clinical procedures, perform lab test such as urinalysis and blood counts, assist with dental care, prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, expose and develop x-rays, administer medications orally or topically, prepare samples for laboratory examinations and record info on an animals genealogy, diet, weight, medications, food intake, and clinical signs of pain and distress, as well as provide routine postoperative care (American Veterinary Medical Association).
To further investigate the job background of a veterinary technician, the history will be researched. “Veterinary medicine may have been established as a specialty as early as 2000 B. C. in Babylonia and Egypt” (Veterinary Medicine). One document they found in Egypt that had descriptions of treatments for cattle, dogs, birds, and fish, dated around 1800 B. C. Because the animals were very sacred in these ancient cultures, the documents were based on external observations only. It was not until a thousand years later that the Greeks practiced veterinary medicine as a science based on experimentation and observation.
Veterinary medicine, was not always practiced professionally, “After the fall of the Roman Empire, veterinary science went into a sharp decline” (Veterinary Medicine). For 1,300 years, the care of animals was in the hands of ordinary farmers and horseshoers. It was not until the 18th century when rinderpest disease killed herds of European cattle that colleges of veterinary medicine began to arise around the country. The basic description of a veterinary technician’s job will also be further research. The job of a veterinary technician is unpleasant, physically and emotionally demanding, and sometimes a dangerous career.
Many people believe vet techs are like nurses, and are not that important, but, “Vet techs use skills to protect humans against diseases carried by animals and conduct clinical research on both animals and humans health problems” (Bureau of Labor Statistics). A team of vets without a technician is not a team, and they probably could not do their daily tasks without one. The second topic that will be researched to determine if Veterinary Technician is a responsible choice for a career is the education and requirements to be a vet tech. To be a veterinary technician, it requires many years of college. After high school, you must complete 2 to 4 years of pre-veterinary or science studies at college before applying to veterinary school” (career cruising). After graduating from pre-veterinary studies at a college, vet techs must complete another 2-4 years of veterinary practice at a private or specific veterinary school. The 2-4 years of pre-veterinary or science studies is usually at a community college, or rarely at a university. Shortly after that, is when vet techs apply to a veterinary school, usually it is a private school or sometimes universities.
One of the most common school for veterinary technicians is Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. WSU is a public ??? state coeducational university. Its full time faculty is 1,178. Its student to faculty is 14:1. In order to get into WSU, the following is required: a high school diploma, GED is accepted, SAT or ACT, minimum high school GPA is 2. 0, and a high school transcript. The entrance difficulty is considered medium, “More than 75% of freshmen were in top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on SAT or over 18 on ACT; about 85% or fewer of all applicants accepted” (Career Cruising: Veterinarian).
Although WSU is difficult to get into, and the competition for vet tech is high, WSU has one of the best veterinarian medicine classes. The total estimated expenses for an instate undergraduate is $15,094. Another interesting school is Pima Medical Institute in Seattle, Washington. PMI is a 2-year private ??? proprietary coeducational college. The student to faculty is 10:1. The endurance difficulty is considered minimal difficult, “Most freshmen were not in top 50% of their high school class and scored somewhat below 1010 on SAT I or below 19 on ACT; up to 95% of applicants accepted (not 100%)” (Career Cruising veterinarian).
To get into PMI an interview and a transcript from high school is required in some programs. An associate’s degree and a certificate are the two credentials offered at PMI. If college is not in the near future, there are many ways to prepare for this career in high school. Some basic classes that should be taken in each grade are: math, English, and biology. Basic classes that are good to take in 9th grade are: physical science, social studies, health and P. E. , and computer. Basic classes to take in 10th grade are: physical science, social studies or history, and computers.
Other basic classes for the rest of high school may include: probability and statistics, chemistry, physics, economics, law and government, algebra, calculus, and anatomy, along with any math and science classes the local schools offer (Career cruising: veterinary technician). Other than education, and money for intuition in college, there are social and interest requirements that are needed to be a veterinary technician. An aptitude for general science, math, and biology is advised for this career.
The need to be able to demonstrate basic language and communication skills is advised too. Vet tech is for people who have an affection or passion for animals and good communication skills to get along with their owners (Veterinary technologist and technicians). The last topic that will be researched to determine if the career of Veterinary Technician would be a positive choice for the future is the job outlook. The first topic that will be researched in job outlook is the salary and benefits. The entry wage of a technician is $12. 2 hourly and $26,250 annually. The median wage is $14. 55 hourly and $30,260 annually. Experienced veterinarian technicians earn $16. 88 hourly and $35,120 annually. “The middle half of all vets earned between $56,450 and $94,880 in 2006” (Veterinarian). Even though that is the earnings of a veterinarian, many vet techs are soon promoted to veterinarian because the need for skilled and educated vets is very high. The second thing that will be further investigated within the job outlook of a veterinarian technician is the workplaces and opportunities.
There are many demands for technicians in: biomedical research, colleges/universities, zoos and wildlife facilities, military service, food safety inspection, diagnostic laboratories, veterinary supply sale, humane society and animal control facilities, and drug and feed manufacturing companies (American Veterinary Medicine Association). Although there are many opportunities, public and private, for vets, “about 3 out of 4 veterinarians work in private practice” (Bureau of Labor Statistics). It is easier to be employed at a public place like those listed, but the more difficult private practices have higher salaries.
A higher salary is necessary to live a fulfilling life with all the necessaries. One can start out at a public place, but it should always be a goal to get promoted to a higher level such as a private hospital or clinic. The last topic within job outlook that will be further researched is the growth rate. In 2004, Washington had 1,142 vet technicians employed, it is expected to be 1,538 in 2014 (career cruising). The number of jobs for vets is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations between 2006 and 2016. Although the growth rate will be much faster than average, the competition will still be very competitive. job interview…) The career of veterinary technician was researched through job background, education and requirements, and job outlook to determine if it would have a positive effect on an interested adult’s future. The background was researched in groups of: what an ordinary day at work consist of, the history, and a basic description. The education and requirements was researched in groups of: how many years of college is needed, common schools that offer scholarships and classes, and high school classes that would help prepare for this career, as well as social and interest requirements.
The job outlook, to a closer look at salary and benefits, workplaces and opportunities, and growth rate of a veterinary technician. Over all, the research included helped come to a conclusion that being a veterinary technician is a responsible choice, and would have a positive influence for the future Works Cited Page American Veterinary Medical Association: A career in Veterinary Technology. October 6, 2008. ;http://www. avma. org/animal. health/brochures/careers/technology-brochure. asp;. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U. S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. 2008-09 Edition. Veterinarians. ;http://www. ls. gov/oco/ocos076. htm;. 06 Oct 2008. Veterinarian. October 6, 2008. ;http://www. bls. gov/k12/nature04. htm;. Veterinary Medicine. Compton’s by Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2005. elibrary. Proquest CSA. Monroe High School. 06 Oct 2008. <http://elibrary. bigchalk. com>. Works Consulted Page Animal Care and Service Workers. Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-07. U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2006. elibrary. Proquest CSA. Monroe High School. 06 Oct 2008. <http://elibrary. bigchalk. com>. American Veterinary Medical Association: A career in Veterinary Technology. October 6, 2008.