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What is a registered veterinary technician and how to become one
A registered veterinary technician is an individual who works alongside veterinarians to provide medical care for animals. They are responsible for performing medical tests, administering medication, and assisting with surgeries and other procedures. They also provide education to pet owners about animal health and care. They work in various settings including animal hospitals, clinics, research facilities, and zoos. Their role is essential in ensuring the health and well-being of animals under their care.
Avg. Salary $40,204
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 20%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.27%
Asian 2.06%
Black or African American 2.66%
Hispanic or Latino 10.86%
Unknown 6.84%
White 77.31%
Genderfemale 90.68%
male 9.32%
Age - 31American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 31Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a registered veterinary technician?
Pros
Opportunity to work with animals and improve their health
Job satisfaction from helping animals and their owners
Varied and interesting work with a wide range of species
Opportunities for career advancement and specialization
High demand for veterinary technicians
Cons
Emotional stress from working with sick or injured animals
Long hours and unpredictable schedules
High-pressure situations such as emergency care or surgery
Challenging work with difficult cases or uncooperative animals
Limited job opportunities in rural areas or smaller towns
Registered veterinary technician career paths
Key steps to become a registered veterinary technician
Explore registered veterinary technician education requirements
Start to develop specific registered veterinary technician skills
Skills Percentages PET 21.57% Patients 14.21% Venipuncture 7.03% Catheter 6.88% Patient Care 6.84% Complete relevant registered veterinary technician training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New registered veterinary technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a registered veterinary technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real registered veterinary technician resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed registered veterinary technician usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed registered veterinary technician in most of states. 30 states require registered veterinary technicians to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Alabama - - Licensed Veterinarian Technician Kansas Degree required Third-party exam required Veterinary Technicians Kentucky Degree required Third-party exam required Veterinary Technologist/Technician Alaska Degree required Third-party exam required Veterinary Technician Arkansas Degree required Third-party exam required Veterinary Technician Research registered veterinary technician duties and responsibilities
- Provide patient care to hospitalize patients while maintaining surgical facilities and records as well as provided client education.
- Care for ICU and hospitalize animals.
- Place catheters, intubation and extubation, blood collection.
- Weekend, graveyard surgery, ICU & emergency services.
Prepare your registered veterinary technician resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your registered veterinary technician resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a registered veterinary technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable registered veterinary technician resume templates
Build a professional registered veterinary technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your registered veterinary technician resume.
Apply for registered veterinary technician jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a registered veterinary technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first registered veterinary technician job
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Average registered veterinary technician salary
The average registered veterinary technician salary in the United States is $40,204 per year or $19 per hour. Registered veterinary technician salaries range between $30,000 and $52,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do registered veterinary technicians rate their job?
Registered veterinary technician reviews
Working with animals
Low wages for the amount of work we put in Angry / disrespectful clients Long and unpredictable hours of work
Updated January 8, 2025
