Veterinary Technician Certification
Obtain Your Veterinary Technician Certification
Three roles may be found in a veterinary clinic – veterinary assistant, veterinary technician and certified veterinary technician. Veterinarians normally employ staffs who are not licensed veterinarians that carry out duties of animal care within the clinic. Both veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians can obtain veterinary technician certification to become a "certified veterinary technician."
If you're serious about taking a veterinary career, it is best that you consider veterinary technician certification. Obtaining veterinary technician certification along with your vet education can increase your chances of landing a good job with competitive salaries and great benefits.
In order to obtain a veterinary technician certification, you need to be approved by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association or other equivalent accrediting agencies approved by the Board.
The requirements for veterinary technician certification vary by state. Generally, the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners govern the credentialing process for all veterinarian techs. Some states, however, require accreditation, licensure and registration before obtaining a job. In some cases, you can transfer your qualification between states if you use the same veterinary technician certification.
Veterinary technician certification programs are available as classroom-based or online education. These courses provide general clinical and practical skills, veterinary education and hands-on training needed to obtain a veterinary technician certification. Both the lectures and clinical internship or on-the-job trainings are needed for an individual to be given veterinary technician certification.
Upon completion of the veterinary technician certification, you can obtain a job and perform responsibilities, such as collecting pet medical histories, providing animal nursing care, preparing instruments and animals for surgery, assisting in diagnostic and surgical procedures, collecting specimens, supervising trainees, developing radiographs and performing dental prophylaxes, among others.
