The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that between the years of 2006 and 2016, the demand for veterinary technicians will rise to around 41 percent. This means there will be an increase for job placement from approximately 71,000 to over 100,000 in a 10-year period. That news is good, as it means the growth is much quicker than the average.
It also means that more people would be motivated to become veterinary technologists (vet techs, for short). There are going to be an array of job opportunities for those who wish to become a veterinary technologist since the career is likely not to be influenced by the economic recession that’s hit worldwide. After all, animals need medical care regardless if they are wild or domesticated or the way the economy is.
Why is there such a high demand for vet techs? The biggest reason is that there has been a rapid development in veterinary medicine. Animal caretakers and owners want nothing less but the best veterinary care with whatever sophisticated techniques are at their disposal. No doubt the evidence shows this very statement. After all, approximately $41.2 billion is estimated to have been spent on both animal care and management with $10.1 billion of this being billed exclusively for veterinary care. It’s been thought that pet ownerships costs will continue to rise in the future.
Since there is a growing need for veterinary technologists, many vet tech schools have begun to answer this need by offering veterinary technology degree programs. This is evident by the number of vet tech programs (14) that have applied to the AVMA for accreditation in April 2008. As of the 2009’s first quarter there were 154 vet tech certified programs around the United States. There are approximately 18 vet tech schools that offer a four-year bachelor’s degree with nine accredited distance learning vet tech curriculums available.
There are at least six to eight tech posts for one vet tech graduate. Although there is a high demand to fill the open positions, pursuing a career in veterinary technology would be very rewarding, offering any person an array of options and possibilities. Now, vet tech is thought to be one occupation with a growing amount of dedicated areas. Keep in mind that the majority of vet techs will do their employment in a hospital or clinic setting.
Vet techs can pick a clinical procedure specialty to get involved with including:
- Anesthesia and surgery
- Animal training
- Diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing
- Dentistry
For those vet techs who want to be involved with animal welfare, seeking animal shelter employment can be quite rewarding. Work can also be found in facilities that involve research, supporting in the achievement of assorted clinical courses and biomedical research. Some vet tech students decide to seek employment working as herd health or livestock managers on farms and ranches while some decide to look to wildlife medicine or zoos. Wildlife medicine will deal mainly with non-domesticated and exotic animals. Jobs for vet techs can also be found in military service, teaching, veterinary pharmacy sales, diagnostic labs and animal health.
Back in May of 2007, the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics found that the average wage for this career was $27,970.
When a person is trying to decide what field of study to get involved with, they often base their decisions on several mitigating factors. A vet tech career is no different. It shouldn’t be based entirely on the stability and promise of the field since there is always going to be challenges and risks. However, a person who chooses to go into this field needs to have an unadulterated interest in taking care of animals and making sure they are healthy.