Veterinary Technician Careers

Program Description

Graduates are awarded the Associate Degree of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. This program is designed to prepare students to enter into a career as a Veterinary Technician. The veterinary technician typically will conduct clinical work in a private veterinary practice under the supervision of a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine performing duties to include but not limited to; physical exams, nursing care, diagnostic laboratory tests and imaging, surgical nursing, assisting and anesthetist, in patient care and treatment, dental prophylactic cleaning and scaling, office management and client education. The curriculum will cover all aspects of the Veterinary technician profession from animal behavior to public health.

Employers continue to seek better thinkers, superior problem-solvers and team players with a strong customer orientation. The Miami-Jacobs’ graduate will have a competitive edge because of the specialized method is which he or she has been trained. Miami-Jacobs’ graduates will have developed strong leadership skills and understand how to influence others positively.

Occupational Objectives

This program is designed to prepare students to for an entry-level position as a veterinary technician. The veterinary technician will be able to perform duties to include but not limited to; physical exams, nursing care, diagnostic laboratory tests and imaging, surgical nursing, assisting and anesthetist, in patient care and treatment, dental prophylactic cleaning and scaling, office management and client education.

Occupational Skills

• Conduct clinical work in a veterinary practice under the supervision of a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
• Perform duties including but not limited to physical exams, nursing care, diagnostic laboratory tests and imaging, surgical nursing, assisting and anesthetist, inpatient care and treatment, dental prophylactic cleaning and scaling, office management and client education
• Perform general tasks including preparing animals for medical procedures and examinations; collecting, preparing and labeling samples; cleaning and preparing examination rooms, instruments and equipment
• Other required skills include: Attentive listening, reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and customer and personal service

The following from Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition

Job Outlook

Excellent job opportunities will stem from the need to replace veterinary technologists and technicians who leave the occupation and from the limited output of qualified veterinary technicians from 2-year programs, which are not expected to meet the demand over the 2008-18 period. Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.

Employment change. Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is expected to grow 36 percent over the 2008-18 projection period, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Pet owners are becoming more affluent and more willing to pay for advanced veterinary care because many of them consider their pet to be part of the family. This growing affluence and view of pets will continue to increase the demand for veterinary care. The vast majority of veterinary technicians work at private clinical practices under veterinarians. As the number of veterinarians grows to meet the demand for veterinary care, so will the number of veterinary technicians needed to assist them.

The number of pet owners who take advantage of veterinary services for their pets is expected to grow over the projection period, increasing employment opportunities. The availability of advanced veterinary services, such as preventive dental care and surgical procedures, also will provide opportunities for workers specializing in those areas as they will be needed to assist licensed veterinarians. The growing number of cats kept as companion pets is expected to boost the demand for feline medicine and services. Further demand for these workers will stem from the desire to replace veterinary assistants with more highly skilled technicians in animal clinics and hospitals, shelters, boarding kennels, animal control facilities, and humane societies.

Continued support for public health, food and animal safety, and national disease control programs, as well as biomedical research on human health problems, also will contribute to the demand for veterinary technologists, although the number of positions in these areas is fewer than in private practice

Job prospects. Excellent job opportunities are expected because of the relatively few veterinary technology graduates each year. The number of 2-year programs has recently grown to about 160, but due to small class sizes, fewer than 3,800 graduates are anticipated each year, a number that is not expected to meet demand. Additionally, many veterinary technicians remain in the field less than 10 years, so the need to replace workers who leave the occupation each year also will produce many job opportunities.

Veterinary technologists also will enjoy excellent job opportunities due to the relatively few graduates from 4- year programs—about 500 annually. However, unlike veterinary technicians who usually work in private clinical practice, veterinary technologists will have better opportunities for research jobs in a variety of settings, including biomedical facilities, diagnostic laboratories, wildlife facilities, drug and food manufacturing companies, and food safety inspection facilities.

Despite the relatively few number of graduates each year, keen competition is expected for veterinary technician jobs in zoos and aquariums, due to expected slow growth in facility capacity, low turnover among workers, the limited number of positions, and the fact that the work in zoos and aquariums attracts many candidates.

Employment of veterinary technicians and technologists is relatively stable during periods of economic recession. Layoffs are less likely to occur among veterinary technologists and technicians than in some other occupations because animals will continue to require medical care.

Earnings

Median annual wages of veterinary technologists and technicians were $28,900 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,580 and $34,960. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $19,770, and the top 10 percent earned more than $41,490. Veterinary technologists in research jobs may earn more than veterinary technicians in other types of jobs.