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Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.
Other titles employers use
Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) · Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech) · Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech) · Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) · Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) · Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech) · Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Vet Lab Tech) · Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, analytical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- English Language
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.5 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.3 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.3 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.0 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for an associate degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 41%
- A two-year degree 26%
- A certificate or some college 22%
- A doctorate or professional degree 6%
- A four-year degree 5%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Medical software
- Internet browser software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 17,310
- Job openings each year
- 1,820
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 36.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 17,310 | 1,820 | 36.8% |
| Florida | 13,650 | 1,430 | 36.4% |
| California | 11,500 | 1,170 | 25.0% |
| New York | 6,310 | 90 | 17.3% |
| Colorado | 6,050 | 640 | 39.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 6,020 | 580 | 13.6% |
| Illinois | 5,180 | 510 | 18.8% |
| Ohio | 5,100 | 500 | 17.5% |
| Minnesota | 4,730 | 480 | 21.6% |
| North Carolina | 4,430 | 450 | 27.3% |
| Michigan | 4,340 | 430 | 21.2% |
| Arizona | 4,070 | 420 | 31.3% |
| New Jersey | 4,020 | 390 | 11.0% |
| Maryland | 4,010 | 410 | 25.7% |
| Indiana | 3,660 | 370 | 27.1% |
| Virginia | 3,530 | 360 | 26.1% |
| Washington | 3,410 | 430 | 29.7% |
| Georgia | 3,240 | 320 | 18.2% |
| Wisconsin | 2,820 | 280 | 16.0% |
| Missouri | 2,640 | 270 | 26.9% |
| Connecticut | 2,440 | 250 | 29.1% |
| South Carolina | 2,330 | 240 | 25.9% |
| Kentucky | 2,270 | 230 | 20.1% |
| Louisiana | 2,150 | 220 | 22.2% |
| Utah | 1,970 | 210 | 42.8% |
| Alabama | 1,920 | 190 | 14.3% |
| Oregon | 1,900 | 200 | 31.0% |
| Tennessee | 1,840 | 180 | 8.9% |
| Kansas | 1,570 | 160 | 19.8% |
| Iowa | 1,310 | 130 | 23.6% |
| Massachusetts | 1,290 | 130 | 19.4% |
| Mississippi | 1,160 | 120 | 22.1% |
| Oklahoma | 1,150 | 110 | 19.8% |
| New Hampshire | 1,130 | 110 | 20.2% |
| Idaho | 1,030 | 110 | 32.1% |
| New Mexico | 1,000 | 100 | 29.9% |
| Maine | 880 | 80 | 6.0% |
| Montana | 840 | 90 | 33.3% |
| Nevada | 820 | 80 | 28.1% |
| Nebraska | 780 | 80 | 21.9% |
| West Virginia | 660 | 70 | 17.9% |
| Puerto Rico | 550 | 60 | 25.0% |
| Delaware | 530 | 50 | 12.8% |
| Vermont | 520 | 50 | 36.8% |
| Rhode Island | 500 | 50 | 22.0% |
| South Dakota | 460 | 50 | 17.9% |
| Wyoming | 380 | 40 | 35.7% |
| North Dakota | 350 | 40 | 25.0% |
| Alaska | 280 | 30 | 12.0% |
| Arkansas | 250 | 30 | 19.0% |
| District of Columbia | 170 | 20 | 21.4% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 27
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 58%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Mississippi State University
- Degrees each year
- 24
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Michigan State University
- Degrees each year
- 23
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Purdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
- Degrees each year
- 21
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 20
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Long Island University
- Degrees each year
- 19
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $25,000
Compare every college offering veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians