Becoming a vet tech is certainly worth it for individuals who want to work with animals and outside of an office environment. To date, the career is experiencing tremendous growth, with about 10,000 new jobs hitting the market each year. The field also provides plenty of job security and room for growth.
Being a vet tech is stressful for a lot of obvious reasons, including long hours, a fast pace, difficult schedules, and having to do painful things to animals when you went into the field because you love them. But some of the reasons it's hard to cope with the stress may be less obvious.
18-monthVet Tech Institute offers an 18-month program for students seeking the core skills to prepare for entry into the veterinary care field. Our curriculum, facilities, cohort instruction, and experienced faculty each play an important role in the success of our students.
Most vet schools require a year of calculus and a semester of statistics. But they also require general chemistry and some require biochemistry. So far working as a tech I haven't had to do any higher math--just lots of conversions and dosage calcluations.
Downsides. The clinic can be a stressful work environment. Technicians must be able to deal with upset owners, aggressive or uncooperative animals, euthanasia, and seeing severe injuries caused by trauma or neglect. Stress is one of the biggest factors cited by techs that decide to leave the profession.
By illustration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2021) found that among 98,970 veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers nationwide, the annual average salary was $31,780.
Are there states where you can be a vet tech without a degree? Yes. States such as Alaska, California, and Wisconsin allow vet techs to take the VTNE if they complete a certain amount of work experience or an alternative training program.
One major difference in these careers is that a veterinary technician works under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian and must pass a credentialing exam. Veterinary assistants work with the veterinarian or veterinary technician and do not need to pass a credentialing exam1.