Veterinary Technician/Assistant
Field of Study — Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants help veterinarians in feeding, cleaning, comforting and providing medical and other services to animals. Most veterinary technicians work in veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, kennels, research institutes or zoos. Others specialize in research, X-ray technology, surgical nursing, animal anesthesiology and animal care. They are supervised by veterinarians or experienced technicians.
Veterinary technicians typically:
- take animals into treatment rooms.
- perform dental prophylaxis.
- secure restraints or hold animals during treatment.
- sterilize surgical instruments and other equipment.
- shave and prepare animals before surgery.
- administer medications and anesthesia.
- take and develop X-rays.
- perform laboratory tests on blood, urine and feces.
- maintain records of animals’ reactions to treatment.
- perform treatments on patients.
- provide client education.
Veterinary assistants:
- perform routine animal care such as feeding, watering, bathing and exercising animals.
- may greet and make appointments for clients, answer telephone calls and accept payments.
Educational Requirements
Those interested in becoming veterinary technicians or veterinary assistants should prepare early by taking challenging course work in math and science in secondary schools and by seeking paid or volunteer opportunities in a veterinary setting.
Veterinary technicians must earn a degree in veterinary technology from a school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and must pass a written exam in order to become licensed.
Veterinary assistants receive on-the-job training and may have some post-secondary education, such as trade school or junior college.
Educational Institutions
Virginia Community Colleges
Blue Ridge Community College
Lord Fairfax Community College, Middleton Campus
Northern Virginia Community College, Loudoun Campus
Tidewater Community College, Virginia Beach Campus
Virginia Vocational Schools
Chantilly Professional Technical Center, Veterinary Assistant/Animal Science
T. H. Badger Technical Center
Thomas Edison High School
Professional Associations
- American Veterinary Medical Association
1931 N. Meacham Road
Suite 100
Schaumsburg, IL 60173
(847) 925-8070
1-800-248-2862
http://www.avma.org - National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
P.O. Box 224
Battle Ground, IN 47920
(765) 742-2216
http://www.navta.net - Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society
6335 Camp Bullis Road
Suite 14
San Antonio, TX 78257
(210) 698-5575
http://www.veccs.org - Virginia Association of Licensed Veterinary Technicians
2821 Overbrook Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23513
http://www.valvt.com