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Veterinary technician assistant vs emergency veterinary technician

The differences between veterinary technician assistants and emergency veterinary technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a veterinary technician assistant and an emergency veterinary technician. Additionally, a veterinary technician assistant has an average salary of $39,025, which is higher than the $38,689 average annual salary of an emergency veterinary technician.

The top three skills for a veterinary technician assistant include patients, PET and patient care. The most important skills for an emergency veterinary technician are patients, PET, and catheter.

Veterinary technician assistant vs emergency veterinary technician overview

Veterinary Technician AssistantEmergency Veterinary Technician
Yearly salary$39,025$38,689
Hourly rate$18.76$18.60
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs35,338109,185
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%Associate Degree, 40%
Average age3232
Years of experience1212

What does a veterinary technician assistant do?

A veterinary technician assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks in a veterinary hospital or clinic. Their responsibilities include administering medication to animals in adherence to the veterinarian's directives and performing basic care tasks such as feeding, bathing, and walking animals. They may also clean cages, sterilize equipment, prepare and process documents, and answer calls and inquiries. Furthermore, as a veterinary technician assistant, it is essential to monitor the behavior of animals, reporting to the veterinarian or technician should there be any problems.

What does an emergency veterinary technician do?

Emergency veterinary technicians assist with treating animals by running blood tests, administering treatments or medications, among others. A typical degree program to be a veterinary technician runs around for almost two years. Being on call for intensive care, monitoring vitals, placing catheters, taking x-rays, cleaning wounds, and applying bandages or casts are just some of the responsibilities of an emergency veterinary technician. The skills needed to be an emergency veterinary technician include intensive knowledge of animal biology, animal husbandry, knowledge of animal behavior, documentation skills, clinical skills, analyzing information, use of medical technologies, and attention to detail.

Veterinary technician assistant vs emergency veterinary technician salary

Veterinary technician assistants and emergency veterinary technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Veterinary Technician AssistantEmergency Veterinary Technician
Average salary$39,025$38,689
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $49,000Between $29,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CityBakersfield, CARohnert Park, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyUniversity of Wisconsin SystemCape Cod Healthcare
Best paying industryHealth CareProfessional

Differences between veterinary technician assistant and emergency veterinary technician education

There are a few differences between a veterinary technician assistant and an emergency veterinary technician in terms of educational background:

Veterinary Technician AssistantEmergency Veterinary Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%Associate Degree, 40%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesMedical Assisting Services
Most common collegeOhio State UniversityNew York University

Veterinary technician assistant vs emergency veterinary technician demographics

Here are the differences between veterinary technician assistants' and emergency veterinary technicians' demographics:

Veterinary Technician AssistantEmergency Veterinary Technician
Average age3232
Gender ratioMale, 16.8% Female, 83.2%Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between veterinary technician assistant and emergency veterinary technician duties and responsibilities

Veterinary technician assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage tech appointments, suture removal, bandage removal and placement, CPR and emergency care when need.
  • Prepare patients for surgical procedures by executing blood draws and catheter placement.
  • Provide compassion and understanding to clients with end of life decisions and euthanasia.
  • Kennel work, vet assistance with surgeries, iv fluids, med dispensing and restraining animals
  • Assist Dr. and RVT's with collecting patient histories, obtaining TPR, and restraining patients.
  • General practice, assisting DVM with literally everything in a small one doctor, one technician practice.
  • Show more

Emergency veterinary technician example responsibilities.

  • Place intravenous catheters manage iv lines and medication administration.
  • Perform EKG's, apply splints, administer wind care, and assist during CPR under direction of physicians.
  • Monitor anesthesia for endoscopic procedures (Upper/lower GI scope, Rhinoscopy, Bronchoscopy, Cystoscopy, FB retrieval scopes etc . )
  • Charge with setting up and cleaning endoscopy equipment as well as operating biopsy equipment.
  • Assist with CPR, wind care, basic life support, and basic trauma life support measures.
  • Assist doctors with endoscopic procedures including but not limit to rhinoscopies, bronchoscopies and upper GI endoscopies.
  • Show more

Veterinary technician assistant vs emergency veterinary technician skills

Common veterinary technician assistant skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • PET, 17%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Anesthesia, 5%
  • Catheter, 5%
  • Lab Tests, 4%
Common emergency veterinary technician skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • PET, 9%
  • Catheter, 6%
  • Phlebotomy, 6%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Anesthesia, 5%

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