How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Alaska

The team consisting of people passionate about animal welfare and which is focused on one goal to help the animals in need is a veterinary team, and veterinary technicians are a crucial part of it.

They are all doing this rewarding job simply because they have a desire to work with and help animals.

The number of pet owners is increasing and that makes the veterinary technician job even more demanding.

Veterinary Technician Job Description

Even though many of us consider that the desire to work with animals is enough to enter the veterinary field, there are certain physical capabilities that an individual has to possess to successfully perform this job.

Many of the activities are thought at schools, such as taking x-rays, administering medications, assisting in surgery or animal restraint, as well as laboratory procedures,

After the finishing of the educational requirements, veterinary technicians can be found working in public and private animal facilities, zoos and rescue organizations.

Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Alaska

The education of a veterinary technician in Alaska takes two to three years.

A veterinary technician can earn an Associate’s degree in Applied Science in Veterinary Technology diploma, but unfortunately, Alaska has no accredited veterinary technician program, yet.

However, this is not a reason for despair.

The accredited education can be gained in neighboring states, but what you need to pass are prerequisite general courses in English, biology, math and computer skills.

Then, you can start the veterinary technician education where you will learn anatomy and physiology, terminology, parasitology, radiology, hematology, anesthesiology, among many other things related to your future occupation.

Educational Requirements for Veterinary Technicians in Alaska

There are three ways to get an Associate’s Degree in Alaska.

The first one is via a “distance education” programs, meaning that you will take online courses and be able to arrange your schedule, classwork, prerequisites, clinical visits, and testing.

The final semester requires that you pass a laboratory and hands-on experience.

The real clinical situations will help you gain a basic education to know how to react in the situations to come.

You are allowed to choose a DE program’s website that suits you best.

The second way is to attend the college in another state, which belongs to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

There are 15 states in this commission and it allows students to attend college at a reduced out-of-state tuition level of 150% of that school’s in-state tuition.

The WUE website gives you a list of the schools in the WUE program, but pay attention not to choose the programs that are not accredited.

The third way will be a combination of the above mentioned two.

You need to finish your prerequisites at your local two-year or four-year colleges and then enroll in a DE program or attend school in a WICHE state.

No matter whether you choose a DE program or the WICHE program, the tuition should be under $20,000.

When it comes to financial aid, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website has information about the possible financial aid.

Veterinary Technician Examination

After the graduation from an accredited program, and achievement of an Associate’s degree in Applied Science in Veterinary Technology, you will need to take the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination).

The passing of this exam is obligatory, to get the certificate.

Alaska’s law allows you to finish two years of on-the-job training under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian instead of learning via courses.

Job Prospects in Alaska

Having the license makes you a perfect candidate who can search for an appropriate job.

What you need to bear in mind is that the larger the clinic, the greater are demands and duties.

You can potentially work in animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, clinics, and zoos.

The chances are equal for all the applicants since the veterinary staff decides who will be hired and the criteria on which they decide is up to the individuals.

Veterinary technician employment resources in Alaska are:

• Alaska State Veterinary Medical Association
• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
• Veterinary Career Network
• iHireVeterinary.com
• Vet Tech Life,
• Vetcetera,
• Where Techs Connect.

Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Alaska

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the average pay for veterinary technicians in Alaska is $40,970.

A veterinary technician is a person of great significance in animal hospitals and their everyday tasks are more demanding than ever.

The amount of daily work differs from one location to the other and the veterinarian reputation also affects the daily activities of a veterinary facility.

How much veterinary technicians will earn, depends on the work setting, experience and daily duties that are assigned to them.

After you graduate, you cannot expect to have the same salary as the already experienced technicians.

The salary of a veterinary technician is relatively high in comparison to some other states.

When it comes to Alaska, the annual salary of a veterinary technician differs among the major cities, but the difference is not so significant.

The table below shows the salary of a veterinary technician in the state of Alaska annually since it varies from one place to another:

Regional Salary in Alaska

Veterinary Technician’s Duties

Vet technicians are there to administer medications, take x-rays and assist during surgery and emergency care.

Besides doing medical work, veterinary technicians are also involved in clerical work, meaning that they are responsible for maintaining records related to animals, medications, and supplies.

So, they need to be people ready to multi-task and that proves the importance of completing both the quality education and hands-on training before they can begin their professional career.

Summary

People believe that the veterinary technician job is not demanding at all, but they do not take into consideration all the difficulties that a veterinary technician has to face.

There is also the necessity to be attentive so as not to put yourself at risk of being bitten or hurt by the animal during the medical process.

A veterinary technician is seriously involved in the curing process of a wounded or sick animal.

Veterinary Technicians by State