Adapted from Indeed Career Guide
Written by Oluwatobi Agbetunsin, DMV
March 3, 2025
Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants
What is a Vet Tech
A veterinary technician is an animal care specialist who assists veterinarians in caring for animals and improving their overall health.
Veterinary technicians undergo training to complete the following responsibilities:
- Recording and organizing patient’s medical history
- Conducting X-rays and diagnostic tests
- Analyzing various animal behaviors and health conditions
- Creating reports of animal behaviors and conditions
- Speaking with pet owners to address questions regarding diagnosis, medication or general pet care
- Assisting veterinarians in animal illness research
- Getting animals prepared for surgery or other procedures
- Cleaning, maintaining and preparing medical equipment
Primary responsibilities for veterinary technicians
Veterinary technicians are qualified to assist veterinarians with complex procedures and surgeries. Other small, procedure-related tasks veterinary technicians complete include:
- Performing emergency services on animals, including first aid
- Administering simple treatments and vaccines
- Inserting catheters
- Drawing blood
- Managing and administering anesthesia under veterinary supervision
Veterinary technician requirements
Before becoming a veterinary technician, one often completes the following requirements:
Education
Veterinary technicians typically complete 60 hours of veterinary technician courses along with a designated amount of practicum hours, depending on the program. To complete the required hours, one can enroll in a junior college or a veterinary technician school that is accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities I t’s important that your veterinary technician school has accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). During these courses, the student ordinarily receive both hands-on experience and lectures on the following subjects:
- Animal behavior
- Animal diseases
- Basic clinical practices
- Veterinary hospital management
- Animal pharmacology
Certifications
After completing the education requirements, one can earn the state veterinary certification and license by completing the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). This exam is approximately three hours long with 170 multiple-choice questions. The testing center sends your scores straight to the state veterinary board two to three weeks after you take the exam. Common test subject areas may include:
- Animal care
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy and pharmacology
- Anesthesia
- Surgical nursing and assistance
- Emergency medicine
- Pain management practices
- Diagnostic testing and imaging
- Laboratory procedures
Training
All vet techs undergo specialized training to ensure that they have the proper experience for handling situations in a clinical or hospital environment. Most students receive this training while pursuing their degree or certificate. Many veterinary technician programs require students to complete a designated amount of hours of hands-on training before graduation.
Skills
Below are some skills that can help one succeed in the role of a veterinary technician:
- Collaboration and teamwork skills
- Physical health and ability to lift animals throughout the day
- Passion for helping animals and healing their diseases
- Patience and calming abilities when handling unstable or nervous pets
- Experience with medical software and veterinary safety procedures
- Ability to remain calm during high-stress or emergency situations
- Knowledge of basic veterinary medical terminology
- Strong time management, multitasking and organizational skills