Duties

• A veterinary technician can serve as the veterinarian's right-hand person in performing tasks such as laboratory tests, anesthesia, and even speaking with clients about care of their pets. A veterinary technician also may be placed as a supervisor of the rest of the practice's employees.
  
  

Specialties

• There are discipline specialties available to veterinary technicians in areas such as dentistry, animal behavior, and equine medicine. Specialties are managed by the academies recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).
  
  

Education

• A veterinary technician must complete a two-year training program with a practicum or internship accredited by the American Medical Veterinary Association, then become licensed or registered by the technician's state.
  
  

Employers

• Besides veterinary clinics, veterinary technicians may also be hired by pharmaceutical companies, zoos, wildlife health management, and research.
  
  

Salary

• In 2003, members of the NAVTA with full-time positions earned an average of $30,500 that year, but non-members with full-time positions earned an average of $26,560 that year.
  
  

Veterinary Technologist

• A veterinary technologist is not quite the same as a technician. They often have the same duties and same employers, but a technologist has usually has completed a four-year degree program, also at an accredited school.