What is a veterinary technician and how to become one

Q: Do vet techs make a lot of money?

No, vet techs do not make a lot of money. Veterinary technicians earn a median salary of $35,000 in a year. The best-paid 25 percent make $42,000 annually, while the lowest-paid 25 percent earn $29,000 a year. However, veterinary tech specialists or highly experienced technicians can earn upwards of $60,000-$80,000 per year.

Q: Do you need a degree to be a veterinary technician?

A veterinary technician must earn an associate's degree from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) approved school. Veterinary technician schools offer associate's or bachelor's degrees, which allow the graduate to take the National Veterinary Technician Examination.

Q: How hard is it to become a vet tech?

It is not that hard to become a vet tech. You need an associate's degree in veterinary technology to be a veterinary tech. This typically only takes around two years to complete, and while the course load can be quite technical at times, it is not insurmountable.

Q: How long does it take to become a veterinary technician?

It typically takes two to four years to become a veterinary technician. This depends on whether a person pursues an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree in veterinary technology or animal science.

Q: Vet Nurse vs Vet Tech

A vet nurse provides the supportive care of animals receiving treatment within a veterinary practice, while a vet tech is a professional that specializes in animal care. A vet nurse works in a veterinary office with doctors. A vet nurse can have many responsibilities at work, such as assisting a vet during surgery, providing animals with physical therapy, administering medication and analyzing laboratory specimens to help develop a diagnosis.

Q: Vet Technician vs. Vet Technologist

A vet technician works in a nursing capacity alongside licensed veterinarians providing care to pets, farm animals, or zoo animals, while a vet technologist provides the same nursing capacity duties as well as laboratory duties.

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Shea Porr Ph.D.

Veterinary technicians are trained professionals who provide support to veterinarians in animal healthcare. They assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animals by performing medical tests, administering medications, and preparing animals for surgery. They also educate pet owners on proper animal care and nutrition, as well as provide emotional support to both animals and their owners. Veterinary technicians can work in a variety of settings, including animal hospitals, clinics, research laboratories, and zoos.

What general advice would you give to a veterinary technician?

Shea Porr Ph.D.

Department Head, Animal/Equine Science, Associate Professor, Equine Science, Murray State University

Watch and listen. There are a lot of things that are taught in the classroom that aren't necessarily the only way to do things. Different employers will have different experiences or situations, and though the concept may be the same, the delivery may not. Don't assume that just because you have a degree, you already know how to do it "right." Doing something a different way doesn't make it wrong, and you may learn another way to do the same thing.

Be willing to move. You may want to end up working a job back in your hometown, but that's not always going to happen right after graduation. You may need to move to another city, state, or even country, and earn some experience before moving back home. There's a lot to be said for what you can learn and bring back with you. And who knows-you may fall in love with a completely different part of the country!

Take a chance. Step outside your comfort zone. There are a lot of exciting opportunities out there, and you don't want to let one slip by because you were afraid of a little challenge. Or even a big one!

ScoreVeterinary TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,441

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.7

Growth rate 20%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.2

Race

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%

Gender

female 82.20%

male 17.80%

Age - 31

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 31

Stress level

9.7

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.9

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a veterinary technician?

Pros

Ability to work with animals and make a difference in their lives
Ability to develop relationships with clients and their pets
Good job outlook and potential for job growth
Ability to specialize in certain areas such as dentistry or anesthesia
Competitive salary and benefits packages available

Cons

Can be emotionally taxing dealing with sick or injured animals
Physically demanding job requiring long hours on your feet
Exposure to potential health risks such as zoonotic diseases or bites/scratches from animals
Can be stressful dealing with urgent situations and making quick decisions
Potential for burnout due to compassion fatigue or stress

Key steps to become a veterinary technician

Explore veterinary technician education requirements

Most common veterinary technician degrees

Bachelor's

38.7 %

Associate

36.9 %

High School Diploma

15.5 %

Start to develop specific veterinary technician skills

Skills	Percentages
PET	24.89%
Patients	12.14%
Anesthesia	6.14%
Catheter	5.94%
Exam Rooms	5.32%

Complete relevant veterinary technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 veterinary technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real veterinary technician resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed veterinary technician usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed veterinary technician in most of states. 30 states require 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

Gain additional veterinary technician certifications

Veterinary technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific veterinary technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for veterinary technicians include Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research veterinary technician duties and responsibilities

Manage tech appointments, suture removal, bandage removal and placement, CPR and emergency care when need.
Manage operational and administrative functions such as training/supervising new employees, issuing prescriptions, and documenting pet insurance applications and transactions.
Advance medical procedures such as intravenous catheter placement, anesthetic monitoring, and nasal catheter placement.
Provide specialize nursing care, administer treatments to hospitalize patients, catheter placement and provide post operative care.

Prepare your veterinary technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 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 veterinary technician resume templates

Build a professional 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 veterinary technician resume.