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So, you’re interested in becoming a vet tech? Great! The first step is to figure out what you need to major in. Here’s a quick guide to help you get started.
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Introduction
A vet tech is a medical professional who works with veterinarians to provide care for animals. While the majority of vet techs work in private veterinary clinics, others may find employment in zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, aquariums, animal shelters, or even biomedical research facilities.
The required education for becoming a vet tech varies by state, but most states require completion of an accredited two-year associate’s degree program in veterinary technology. Some states also require aspiring vet techs to pass a state-specific exam before they can be licensed to practice.
What Do You Major In To Become a Vet Tech?
There are many majors that can lead to a career as a vet tech. The most popular majors are biology, animal science, and veterinary science. However, there are many other majors that can also lead to a career in veterinary technology.
The Prerequisites
In order to become a vet tech, you will need to complete a few prerequisite courses. These courses will provide you with the basic knowledge and skills that you will need to be successful in the Veterinary Technician program. After completing the prerequisite courses, you will then be able to apply to the Veterinary Technician program of your choice.
The prerequisite courses for becoming a vet tech include:
-Anatomy and Physiology
-Introduction to Veterinary Technology
-Animal Nutrition
-Animal Pharmacology
-Animal Behavior
-Small Animal Nursing
-Large Animal Nursing
-Emergency and Critical Care Nursing
The Courses You Will Take
Vet Techs have a wide range of responsibilities that require both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Therefore, the curriculum for becoming a Vet Tech is a mix of classroom learning and hands-on experience.
Some of the specialized courses you can expect to take as a Vet Tech student include animal anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology; medical terminology; surgical nursing; anesthesiology; laboratory animal procedures; diagnostic imaging; Zoo animal health care, and avian and exotic pet care. You will also complete general education courses in English, math, and the sciences.
Most Vet Tech programs are 2-4 years in length and culminate in an Associate’s degree or certificate. A few colleges offer Bachelor’s degrees in Veterinary Technology, which may be ideal if you are interested in eventually moving into management or research positions.
The Clinical Rotation
After completing the academic portion of the vet tech program, students will begin their clinical rotation. This portion of the program will take place at a veterinarian clinic or animal hospital, and it will give students the opportunity to put their skills to use in a real-world setting. During the clinical rotation, students will work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian and perform tasks such as taking X-rays, drawing blood, and preparing animals for surgery.
How to Become a Vet Tech
Becoming a vet tech requires completing an accredited veterinary technology program. Most vet tech programs take about two years to complete, but some may take up to four years. During your coursework, you’ll learn about animal anatomy, physiology, and nursing. You’ll also gain hands-on experience working with animals. After completing a veterinary technology program, you’ll need to pass a state-level exam to become licensed.
The Application Process
The application process for becoming a licensed veterinary technician varies from state to state, but usually involves completing an accredited veterinary technology program and passing both a written and practical exam.
In order to be accepted into an accredited veterinary technology program, you will need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, as well as some basic college level coursework in math and sciences. Once you have been accepted into the program, you will take classes such as animal husbandry, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, surgical nursing, dental care and radiography.
most states require that you pass both a written and practical exam in order to become licensed. The National Veterinary Technician Exam (NVTE) is the most common exam used for licensure, and is offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). Once you have passed the exam, you will be able to apply for licensure in your state.
The Interview Process
The interview process for becoming a vet tech is much like any other job interview. You will likely have an initial phone screen with someone from the HR department, followed by one or more in-person interviews with members of the veterinary team. Be prepared to answer questions about your experience working with animals, your education and why you want to become a vet tech. The interviewer will also want to know about your ability to handle the physical demands of the job and to deal with difficult situations.
The Certification Exam
In order to practice as a vet tech, you will need to pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). The VTNE is a multiple-choice exam that tests your knowledge of general veterinary medicine, animal nursing, pharmacology, dentistry, anesthesiology, laboratory procedures, and more. Most states require vet techs to take the VTNE in order to be licensed.
You can prepare for the VTNE by taking a review course offered by a number of different organizations, such as the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) or the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). These review courses usually span several weeks and cover all of the material that will be on the VTNE.
Conclusion
In order to become a licensed vet tech, you will need to complete an accredited veterinary technology program and pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). While there are no specific majors required to become a vet tech, completing a degree or certification program in veterinary technology is the best way to prepare for this career.
