9th Hottest Career - Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

If you love animals and want to make a difference in their lives, pursue the 9th hottest career! Employment for veterinary technologists and veterinary technicians is expected to grow much faster than average through 2014, according to the United States Bureau of Labor. Many pet owners consider their animals to be part of the family, and are becoming more affluent and more willing to pay for advanced pet care. This means that they will turn to the services of veterinary technicians and technologists.

Help fill the demand to keep these pets happy and healthy! According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2004, veterinary technologists and technicians held about 60,000 jobs and their median hourly earnings were $11.99. The number of employers looking for qualified people to fill these positions continues to grow. You can search for jobs in:
• Veterinary offices
• Boarding kennels
• Animal shelters
• Stables
• Grooming salons
• Zoos
• Local, State, and Federal agencies

No matter where they practice, veterinary technologists and technicians perform many of the same duties for a veterinarian that a nurse performs for a physician. These routinely include both laboratory and clinical procedures. They may also perform tests such as urinalysis and blood counts, prepare tissue samples, take blood samples and assist veterinarians in a variety of analyses.

So, should you become a veterinary technician or a veterinary technologist? While there is generally not much difference between the duties technicians and technologists perform, there are some differences in their formal education and training. You can become a veterinary technician by earning a 2-year Associate degree, or become a veterinary technologist by earning a 4-year Bachelor’s degree.

No matter which you choose, an accredited program in veterinary technology should have a strong focus on science, biology and ethics. Courses are generally taught in clinical and laboratory settings using live animals, giving you the knowledge you need to begin this 9th hottest career.