Are you an aspiring veterinary technician or a vet tech graduate who has been exploring career options?
With an associate of applied science degree in veterinary technology, you will be eligible for employment in a broad range of occupations.
Furthermore, while some of these careers require specialized training, some do not. Read on to learn about some of the employment options you will have after graduation!
Operating Room Specialists
One career option you can choose if you become a vet tech is that of an operating room specialist.
Also known as veterinary surgical technicians, operating room specialists are professionals who have obtained specialized training to assist veterinarians before, during and after surgical procedures.
If you choose this area of veterinary technology, some of the tasks you will be responsible for are as follows:
- Performing Pre-Surgical Laboratory Tests
- Preparing Surgical Sites
- Sterilizing Surgical Equipment
- Placing Catheters and IVs
- Bandaging Wounds and Changing Dressings
- Taking X-Rays
- Operating and Maintaining Surgical Machinery
- Administering Intramuscular Injections
- Drawing Blood
- Educating Pet Owners on Proper Post-Operative Care
Dental Service Technicians
Another career option you may wish to consider as a vet tech is known as a dental service technician, or veterinary dental technician.
This vet tech specialty is growing in popularity today due mainly to an increased awareness of the importance of proper oral health for pets. As a dental service technician, you will perform many important tasks in veterinary medical settings including those listed below.
- Taking Oral X-Rays
- Performing Oral Ultrasounds
- Examining Teeth and Gums
- Educating Pet Owners on Proper Oral Care for Pets
- Assisting With Intubation and Sedation
- Restraining Animals During Dental Treatments
- Performing Teeth Cleanings
Laboratory Animal Research Support Specialists
If you would like to work with laboratory animals as a vet tech, you may want to become a laboratory animal research support specialist.
Also referred to as laboratory animal technicians, lab animal research support specialists are essential team members in a variety of research centers across the country.
In a laboratory setting, you will be required to perform many different tasks such as those found below.
- Feeding and Watering Animals
- Grooming and Exercising Animals
- Cleaning and Disinfecting Cages
- Monitoring and Recording Behavior
- Assisting During Examinations and Medical Procedures
- Collecting Blood and Other Samples
- Maintaining Medical Equipment and Machinery
- Organizing Data
Pet Nutrition Specialists
Just as with people, proper nutrition is essential to the health of animals. Pet nutrition specialists are vet techs who are experts in the field of animal nutrition.
These professionals can be found in many different work settings including small and large animal practices, zoos, wildlife centers, and research facilities.
As a pet nutrition specialist, some of the tasks you will perform each day are as follows:
- Assessing Pets’ Nutritional Diets
- Helping to Create Dietary Plans
- Scoring Pets’ Body Condition
- Restraining Animals for Examinations
- Taking and Recording Vital Signs
- Collecting Samples for Laboratory Tests
- Administering IV Fluids
- Educating Pet Owners on Proper Nutrition for Pets
Parasitology Lab Technicians
Internal and external parasite infestation are common health issues among animals of many different species.
This includes, but is not limited to, fleas, ticks, tapeworms, roundworms and mange mites.
Parasitology lab technicians are trained professionals who specialize in parasite prevention and treatment.
If you choose to work in this sector of veterinary technology, you may be responsible for such tasks as those listed here.
- Collecting Blood and Stool Samples
- Analyzing Blood and Stool Specimens
- Administering Parasitic Medications
- Administering Antibiotics
- Bathing Pets With Special Parasite Treatment Shampoos and Dips
- Educating Pet Owners on Parasite Prevention and Control
Medical Office Assistants
If you do not mind performing clerical-type tasks, you may want to consider obtaining employment as a medical office assistant, also known as a veterinary administrative assistant.
Medical office assistants work with animals and their owners in a variety of work environments including veterinary clinics, animal hospitals and animal urgent care centers.
Common responsibilities of these professionals are listed below.
- Answering Phones
- Scheduling Appointments
- Tracking and Ordering Inventory
- Maintaining Patients’ Records
- Handling Payments, Payment Arrangements and Insurance Inquiries
- Checking Clients In and Out
- Checking In Vendors
- Filing Paperwork Manually and/or Electronically
Practice Managers
Veterinary practice managers are known by a handful of names including practice managers, animal care managers, veterinary technician managers and veterinary clinical supervisors.
These individuals are typically veterinary technologists or technicians who have accumulated several years of experience in their fields. Tasks that practice managers are commonly responsible for are as follows:
- Supervising Other Vet Techs, Assistants and Kennel Workers
- Creating Work Schedules
- Training New Vet Techs, Assistants and Kennel Workers
- Handling Employee Conflicts and Other Job-Related Problems
- Educating Employees on New Technology and Medical Techniques
- Assisting Veterinarians During Exams and Medical Procedures
- Drawing and Analyzing Blood
- Collecting and Analyzing Fecal and Urine Samples
- Administering Vaccinations and Medication
Animal and Pet Care Technicians
These titles are informal terms referring to vet techs.
Depending on the practice where you are employed as an animal or a pet care technician, you may work with such animals as household pets, exotics, zoo animals or even aquatic life.
You can also choose to work in a number of different facilities including private practices, animal hospitals, research centers or zoos. Typical tasks of these professionals can be found here.
- Restraining Animals During Exams and Procedures
- Collecting Blood and Other Samples for Analysis
- Analyzing Laboratory Samples
- Grooming Animals
- Feeding, Watering and Exercising Animals
- Administering Injections and Oral Medication
- Applying and Changing Dressings
- Taking and Developing X-Rays
Feline and Canine Specialty Vet Techs
More and more today, many veterinary practices are choosing to specialize in feline or canine care or both.
As such, these types of practices most often prefer to hire vet techs who have specialty training with felines or canines depending on the individual facility.
This specialty requires expert knowledge in feline or canine behavior. Typical duties of feline and canine specialty vet techs are listed below.
- Assisting During Examinations and Procedures
- Administering Vaccinations and Medication
- Drawing Blood and Collecting Other Specimens
- Feeding and Exercising Dogs or Cats
- Applying and Changing Bandages
- Maintaining Medical Equipment and Supplies
- Filling Prescriptions
- Clipping Nails and Grooming Pets
- Analyzing Laboratory Specimens
Equine Specialist Vet Techs
Equine specialist vet techs are valuable team members in large animal practices that specialize in equine care.
These technicians must have extensive knowledge in equine anatomy, physiology and behavior.
As an equine specialist vet tech, you will perform many important tasks during your work day, and some of the most common tasks you will perform are as follows:
- Jogging and Grooming Horses
- Assisting Veterinarians During Exams and Treatments
- Restraining Animals When Necessary
- Administering Injections and Medication
- Preparing Surgical Sites and Assisting During Surgery
- Bandaging Wounds and Changing Dressings
- Drawing Blood and Running Lab Tests
- Taking X-Rays
- Maintaining Patients’ Records
Client Service Coordinators and Representatives
As a client service coordinator or representative in a veterinary medical facility, you will be responsible for tasks that are similar to those performed by medical office assistants.
However, professionals in this sector are also responsible for maintaining clientele satisfaction and promoting the facilities where they work.
With that said, if you choose this career, some of the daily duties you will perform can be found here.
- Sending Appointment Reminders
- Conducting Client Satisfaction Surveys
- Performing Follow-Up Phone Calls
- Mailing and Emailing Promotional Materials
- Maintaining Business Websites and Social Sites
- Answering Customer Complaints and Questions
- Maintaining Company Blogs
Veterinary Technician Behaviorists
If you are intrigued by animal behavior, why not consider becoming a veterinary technician behaviorist?
Also known as veterinary behavior technicians and animal behaviorists, vet tech behaviorists possess specialized knowledge in the behavior of various animal species.
Depending on the facility where you choose to work, your daily responsibilities as a vet tech behaviorist may include the following tasks.
- Observing and Recording the Behavior of Patients
- Helping Create Behavior Modification Plans
- Implementing Behavior Modification Plans
- Educating Clients on Basic Behavior Modification Techniques
- Teaching Basic Obedience Classes
- Conducting Training Demonstrations
- Desensitizing Animals to Loud Noises
Veterinary Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
Another great career option for vet techs is to work as veterinary pharmaceutical sales representatives.
Persons who choose this occupation are primarily responsible for marketing animal-related medical products to veterinary practices.
As such, they must have excellent communication and customer service skills. Other duties of veterinary pharmaceutical sales reps can be found below.
- Creating Marketing Plans for Pharmaceutical Companies
- Phoning Potential Clients
- Mailing and Emailing Marketing Material
- Taking and Filling Orders
- Handling Billing and Payments
- Traveling to Potential Clients’ Places of Business
- Demonstrating Products
- Providing Training Related to New Products
Credentialed and Licensed Veterinary Technicians
Credentialed and licensed veterinary technicians are formal terms describing vet techs who have earned associate degrees in veterinary technology.
These professionals can work with a broad range of animals in a large variety of work settings. In fact, credentialed and licensed vet techs can hold any of the positions described above! As such, their responsibilities will vary depending on the position they choose.
As you can see, veterinary technicians have a vast array of career options available to them today. Because of this, they may hold many different job titles as described above depending on where they choose to work. Furthermore, there are a number of other specialties that are growing in this lucrative field as well!
Check out the Vet Tech Q and A.