14 Pros and Cons of Being a Veterinary Technician

Animal lovers seeking to start a fast-paced and rewarding career where they can spend most of their time around some of their favorite dogs, cats, small animals, and exotic animals are taking on new careers as in-demand veterinary technicians.

Gain insights on some of the pros and cons of being a veterinary technician in the educational guide below.

What Is a Veterinary Technician?

The role of a Vet Tech is fast-paced and multi-faceted. Technicians provide hands-on support for feeding, grooming, and monitoring veterinary patients, assisting in life-saving medical procedures like drawing blood, prepping surgical instruments, and taking X-rays.

Today’s Veterinary Technicians are integral parts of medical teams working in clinics, animal hospitals, animal research facilities, and local animal shelters.

These highly skilled professionals work side by side with veterinarian teams to provide preventative and life-saving care to a variety of animals and household pets.

Educational Requirements for Becoming a Veterinary Technician

Most Animal Care Technicians begin their careers by completing a high school diploma or GED followed by two years of in-person or online veterinary training to earn an associate’s degree from an accredited veterinary program.

Program graduates complete their education by applying for national certification through top agencies, which can include any of the following.

• American Association of Veterinary State Boards – AAVSB
• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America – NAVTA
• Academies of Veterinary Technician Specialties – AVTS
• State-Based Veterinary Licensing and Medical Boards

What Skills Do I Need for Success as a Veterinary Technician?

Becoming a Veterinary Technician requires that you have some or all of the following skills.

• Compassion and Empathy: Vet Techs must be able to display compassion and empathy for animals in their care and their owners when handling sensitive health matters like surgery or end-of-life care.
• Strong Communication Skills: Animal Care Associations must be able to communicate clearly to avoid mishaps during critical medical procedures and when informing clients about their pet’s care and next steps.
• Attention to Detail: The nature of veterinary technology and medical assistance requires Vet Techs to pay close attention to detail when administering medications, hands-on treatments, and analyzing laboratory results.
• Physical Stamina: Having physical stamina is another crucial skill that aspiring veterinary professionals need. Technicians will need to be able to perform physically demanding tasks and animal handling as part of their daily tasks.

Where Can I Get Training to Become a Veterinary Technician?

Research some of the following to learn about veterinary science, veterinary technology, and veterinary technician programs available near you or online.

• Colleges and Universities
• On the Job Training
• AVMA Certification
• Military Training
• Online Veterinary Technology Programs

Pros of Being a Veterinary Technician

1. Working with Animals

The number one pro of becoming a Veterinary Technician for animal lovers is working with pets and their people.

Veterinary technicians build lasting relationships with animals in their care and their clients as they work towards helping animals maintain optimal health and recover from life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

2. Diverse Work Environment

Becoming a licensed or certified Animal Care Technician often means working in a variety of diverse environments, which can include traditional settings like animal hospitals and veterinary clinics, along with non-traditional settings like animal research facilities and local zoos.

No two cases are the same as Vet Techs are exposed to a variety of different animal species and the medical procedures needed to treat them.

3. Emotional Reward

Another major pro of working with animals is the emotional reward where technicians bond with animals and their owners during treatment.

Vet Techs have the satisfaction of knowing that they are making a difference in the lives of animals and pet families by providing comprehensive medical support for newborn animals and working with veterinary teams to maintain their health throughout their lifetime.

4. Hands-On Medical Experience

Getting entry-level veterinary education teaches incoming technicians key medical skills for performing medical and laboratory procedures which they can build on as they begin to expand their veterinary careers.

There are a variety of growth opportunities for working technicians who want to expand their skills by branching out into specializations, which can include learning how to apply veterinary anesthesia or learning the latest veterinary dental techniques.

5. Job Demand and Growth

There is a very high demand for highly skilled Vet Techs.

America’s BLS reports that the need for experienced technicians is expected to grow faster than most other occupations.

This high demand means job stability and security for entry-level technicians considering starting a new career in veterinary science.

6. Pathway to Higher Roles in Veterinary Medicine

The high demand for emerging Veterinary Technicians means that the demand for licensed Veterinarians and related roles like Animal Behaviorists and wildlife care professionals will also increase.

Well-trained Vet Techs can easily make the jump from the operating room or laboratory assistant to becoming Veterinarians themselves by taking relevant courses and seeking licensure after gaining hands-on experience on the job.

7. Transferrable Healthcare Skills

Veterinary Technicians who aspire to take on higher-level roles in the industry gain a set of foundational medical skills during their education and career.

The skills gleaned from veterinary education programs and those gained from everyday on-the-job experience can prepare technicians for advanced roles as Veterinarians.

Transferrable medical skills can also translate into similar roles as nursing assistants and laboratory assistants in human healthcare facilities like hospitals and clinics.

Cons of Being a Veterinary Technician

1. Physical Demands

The daily physical tasks of a Vet Tech can include lifting heavy animals and supplies, deep cleaning and sterilization of surgical and treatment areas, and handling medical equipment.

Physical demands of lifting, pushing, carrying, and bending can take a toll on some technicians over time.

2. Risk of Injury

The nature of working closely with sick, injured, or animals who are afraid of treatment leads to an ever-present risk of animal bites, scratches, and exposure to exotic diseases that can be contracted through close contact.

Incoming technicians should note that the risk of injury on the job is unlikely to be reduced over time as the nature of their training and animal treatments become more hands-on and complex.

3. Emotional Challenges

The flip side of bonding and emotional connections shines through when animal handlers and technicians are faced with the grueling tasks of dealing with critical care cases that can result in having to euthanize animals when other options for treatment and healing are unavailable.

Losing beloved patients and having tough conversations with families can take an emotional toll on technicians over time.

4. Long and Irregular Hours

Many Vet Techs working in hospitals, surgery centers, research facilities, and zoos are required to put in long hours, which can include shift work, overnights, weekends, and on-call work.

The growing demand for skilled animal care technicians means that the likelihood of work decreasing is relatively low, making extended hours and long shifts the norm for many technicians, which can lead to burnout or fatigue.

5. Relatively Low Pay

One of the downsides of working as an Animal Care Assistant is that the pay is seen by some as relatively low when compared to similar roles in the healthcare industry.

The BLS shows that Vet Techs make lower average annual salaries than similar medical professionals working as Health Technologists and comparable occupations like nurses and laboratory assistants in human healthcare.

6. Limited Career Advancement

While the role of a Veterinary Technician can be fulfilling as an entry-level career, there are limited opportunities for promotion and growth for technicians seeking to transition into higher roles without extending their education.

Technicians with long-term career goals who want to earn higher-paying salaries and advance their careers within the industry will need to further their training by earning certifications or becoming licensed veterinarians.

7. High Stress

Working in an environment where danger is always imminent in the form of potential animal bites or attacks can take a toll on technicians and technologists.

Other factors that can induce high stress include worrying about limited advancement options and taking on grueling schedules with unpredictable work hours.

Pros and Cons of Being a Veterinary Technologist – Summary Table

Pros of Being a Veterinary Technician	Cons of Being a Veterinary Technician
1. Working with Animals	1. Physical Demands
2. Diverse Work Environment	2. Risk of Injury
3. Emotional Reward	3. Emotional Challenges
4. Hands-On Medical Experience	4. Long and Irregular Hours
5. Job Demand and Growth	5. Relatively Low Pay
6. Pathway to Higher Roles in Veterinary Medicine	6. Limited Career Advancement
7. Transferrable Healthcare Skills	7. High Stress

Should You Become a Veterinary Technologist?

Now that you have a better idea of what Vet Techs do and some of the pros and cons of working as a Veterinary Technologist, is becoming a Veterinary Technologist the right career move for you?

Consider the following questions before taking the next steps to learn about online and campus-based Veterinarian Technician training programs.

1. Are you comfortable working around animals for long periods?
2. Are you an emotionally resilient person who can handle high-stress situations?
3. Have you always seen yourself working in an animal-related career?
4. Are you willing to get the required training and education to begin and advance your career?

If the answers to the questions above are a resounding “Yes” then becoming a Veterinarian Technician could be the right career move for you!

Learn more about available training programs available from local colleges, universities, and national veterinary organizations by researching veterinary science training or veterinary technician programs online.