Veterinary technician associate degree programs

If you love animals and have a drive to help those in need, veterinary technician or technologist career might be just what the animal doctor ordered. Veterinary technicians have incredibly rewarding careers, exercising their compassionate nature to help relieve both animal's and their owners' pain and stress. The work can be both physically and emotionally demanding, but with the right skills, veterinary technicians can succeed and excel in this very special career. A two-year college degree doesn't just provide you with the basic knowledge you need as a veterinary technician--this degree of formal education is required.

What Do Veterinary Technicians and Technologists Do?

Veterinary technicians and technologists assist licensed veterinarians as they care for sick or injured animals and provide basic routine care and vaccinations. Specific duties for both groups include:

• Performing medical tests
• Administering medications and treatments
• Taking specimen samples
• Educating pet owners about basic care or treatment

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Assistance (BLS), veterinary technicians and technologists tend to perform the same duties, though technicians tend to hold associate degrees in veterinary science while technologists pursue bachelor's degrees. The advanced training veterinary technologists receive allows them to work in laboratories and advanced research environments in addition to the private practice clinics to which most technicians are limited.

Online associate degree programs for veterinary technicians: What to expect

If you're interested in entering this line of work, researching online associate degree programs for veterinary technicians is an excellent first step. Most programs combine both online and hands-on instruction at a local veterinary teaching hospital or clinic. Typical courses include:

• Animal anatomy and physiology
• Animal nutrition
• Reproduction
• Veterinary microbiology
• Parasitology
• Pharmacology
• Veterinary office management

Both campus-based and online associate degree programs for veterinary technicians typically require students to complete internships in local veterinary medical centers. Depending on the location, these internships can provide students with excellent, hands-on experience working with domestic, exotic and farm animals in real-world veterinary settings.

Whether you enter the workforce upon earning your degree, or decide to use it as a stepping stone to an advanced degree, rest assured that your associate degree is an excellent gateway to a number of promising careers.

Career and Salary Information for Veterinary Technicians

Both veterinary technologists and technicians enjoy promising career prospects. According to the BLS, positions for veterinary technicians and technologists are expected to grow by an impressive 36 percent between 2008 and 2018. The reason for the boom is simple: people are more willing than ever to invest money in basic care and treatments for their furry, feathered, or scaled friends.

Veterinary technicians and technologists help treat sick and injured animals by conducting clinical and lab work under the direction of licensed veterinarians. While most work in private veterinary clinics, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that many are finding employment in related fields, including biomedical research, wildlife medicine and veterinary pharmaceutical sales. May 2009 median salary for veterinary technicians: $30,580.

Veterinarians are like licensed medical doctors for animals, diagnosing and treating sick and injured animals, while helping healthy animals remain so by providing basic care and vaccinations. Veterinarians are required to earn advanced veterinary medicine degrees, but earning your associate degree in veterinary technology or a related field is an excellent start. May 2009 median salary for veterinarians: $90,110.

Animal care workers provide basic animal care for animals, such as cleaning cages or providing food and water. These professionals typically learn on the job, making this an ideal field for veterinary technician students hoping to get hands-on experience while earning their associate degrees. May 2009 median salary for animal caretakers: $21,830.

Note that the BLS reports strong growth for all of these fields in the decade preceding 2018, so budding veterinary technicians and related workers can look forward to a promising job market upon earning their associate degrees.

For more information, visit our Guide to College Majors to find in-depth information on veterinary science and animal care programs. You can also browse the online associate degree programs for veterinary technicians listed below. If a program catches your eye, just fill out the form and an admissions representative from that school will contact you directly.

Ready to land your dream career working with animals? Get the education you need to become a veterinary technician.

License Requirements for Veterinary Technicians

If you hope to become a veterinary technician or technologist, you'll need to become licensed. The BLS reports that while all states regulate veterinary technicians differently, all require license candidates to pass an exam after earning a degree in veterinary science. As most states use the National Veterinary Technician Exam, scores are typically transferrable from one state to the next. Those who hope to work in research facilities should consider certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.

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