All About Becoming A Veterinary Technician In Florida
The field of veterinary medicine has become increasingly important in the United States. With an ever-growing emphasis on the health of family pets and livestock alike, the need for well-trained and experienced veterinary professionals has reached an all time high.
As a vital component of any veterinary practice, veterinary technicians are becoming a profession that is enjoying high demand in both rural and urban regions of America.
Vet Techs and the Veterinary Field
Veterinary technicians play a vital role in veterinary medicine, serving a veterinarian in the same way a registered nurse works with a doctor.
By assisting the vet, the vet tech ensures that all animals being treated receive the best possible care. Depending on the size and nature of the practice, the vet tech may work directly with a single vet, or be part of a team that assists a number of veterinarians.
Industrial and Farm Practices
In addition to assisting with the care of companion animals, veterinary technicians play an important role in those practices that work with livestock or other production animals. Livestock and production animals are governed by federal and state regulations that enforce standards of health and comfort for the animals.
A growing number of veterinary practices focus on assisting businesses in meeting these regulatory standards, increasing the demand for qualified vet techs.
Becoming a Vet Tech in Florida
As a state with extensive urban and rural centers, as well as a vibrant agricultural and farming sector, Florida is a promising state for vet techs and veterinary assistants. Vet tech schools in Florida can help prepare a student to enter the field of veterinary technology as a vet tech or a certified vet tech.
A student should make certain that the school he or she has chosen is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
This body ensures that all accredited schools adhere to the highest teaching standards. For the student, attending an AVMA accredited school helps ensure that his or her education will be usable in other states.
Additionally, many vet tech programs offer online or part-time study programs, which can be especially useful for students who are currently working or otherwise unable to attend school on a full-time basis. All programs will focus on the academic and practical skills needed to ensure that the individual will graduate as a professionally qualified vet tech.
Becoming a Certified Vet Tech
Florida does not require a license for veterinary technicians to work in the state. However, in order to improve their career options, vet techs can become certified by working with the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), which allows veterinary technicians to become certified veterinary technicians.
In order to become a certified technician, the individual must apply to the FVMA and provide the following:
- Provide an application to take the Florida practical exam.
- Proof of graduation from an AVMA accredited veterinary technician program.
- A certificate swearing to the candidate’s moral character from a third party.
- A personal affidavit where the candidate swears that he or she is of good moral character and has never been convicted of any crime of moral turpitude.
- Poof that the individual has taken the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) and has had his or her scores transmitted to the FVMA.
- In some cases, an individual who is close to graduating or who will be taking the VTNE may be allowed to take the FPE before completing the other steps, so long as he or she can provide proof of the test and graduation dates.
Upon providing this information, the candidate can take the FPE, which consists of 60 multiple-choice questions.
These questions cover technical subjects involving the veterinary tech’s duties, in addition to questions designed to test his or her understanding of Florida veterinary law.
The candidate must pass the VTNE with a score or no less than 425 and the FPE with at least 70 percent in order to become a certified veterinary technician.
CVTs and Continuing Education Requirements
A CVT must renew his or her certification every two years. In order to ensure that all certified technicians maintain high standards of veterinary skill and knowledge, the FVMA requires that they engage in a course of continuing education.
A certified vet tech must have attended no fewer than 15 hours of approved continuing education. CVTs should consult with the FVMA to ensure that any continuing education they take qualifies under the rules of that organization.
Becoming a veterinary tech in Florida opens a variety of career options. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has forecast above average growth for this field through at least 2020. Due to this, the vet tech field remains extremely attractive for newly graduated students and individuals seeking to change their career alike.