Equine Vet Tech or Veterinary Assistant?

Question

What is required of a Vet Tech? (as far as what they do in their job)

What is required of a Veterinary Assistant?

How many years of college is required for each one?

I'm in my freshman year of High School and starting to think about what i want to do when i get out of college. I've narrowed it down to these two, but i think i need a little more info to make my decision.

Answer 1

If you want to make decent money at all, you should become a registered vet tech - you can give vaccinations, prep animals for surgery, do some simple treatments and carry out euthanasias.  You do not get to perform surgeries and everything you do has to be done with a vet present.  The others are correct - to become a registered vet tech you need a 2-year associate degree, do a certain number of hours of internships and pass a state licensing exam.

Vet assistants simply assist in handling animals and in some cases may be trained to give vaccinations.  They are much more limited in what they can do.  They need no formal training, and can learn on the job, but they are in less demand and make less money.

Equine vet tech is very much a specialty and there are not many jobs available.

Answer 2

well my aunt june went to college to be a vet tech and i think she said it took 4 years to become a vet tech. a vet tech dose almost the same think as a vet. they do physical exams and some surgeries and stuff like that. and for a vet assistant you don't have to go to school. they do all the dirty work like clean up the barf or hold the animal so it want bit or hurt the vet. but i would suggest going for a vet tech.

Answer 3

To become a certified Veterinary Technician you need a two year associates degree.  However, it's not required.  Corporations like Banfield will hire you with no experience, and train you from the ground up.  They are hated amongst the veterinary industry, but it's a good way to get your foot in the door.  You will make a lot more money if you become certified, but after a few years you may decide you want to do more with yourself, and will have the degree for nothing.  You can earn decent money as a Veterinary Technician, but there are far more interesting things you can do in the veterinary field than simply work as a tech.  Look into the field more, there are therapists, trainers, behaviorists, etc.

Veterinary Technicians restrain patients so that doctors can examine them, they retrieve any samples (blood/urine/f***s) that the doctor requests, run necessary tests, they also assist, induce, and monitor during surgery, etc.  The job calls for long hours, hard (physical) labor, and often times the pay does not fit the extent of what techs are required to do everyday.

I work as a Veterinary Technician, so if you have any more questions just let me know.

Answer 4

Veterinary Technitions can do almost Everything except diagnose. You can finish the vet tech course in as little as two years. For a Vet assistant you really dont need to go to school (although you can). You usually do the odds and ends things around the clinic. In my own opinion, Vet Techs will make more money and you'll get a better education in the long run. Assistants get paid almost min. wage! However, everything I stated is based on where I live and the state I live in. Every area is different. I am in school for a Vet Tech for 2 years now and before entering any school, I would suggest looking at your state requirements. I'm sure these can be found online. (I found mine through my school) Sorry if this didn't help much, but I tried. lol! Good luck!! Oh and take lots of Science classes to prepare you!!

EDIT- it really depends on the area and the amount of hours you get or if you work for a chain of clinics or a private vet. Most assistants get paid around min. wage and most vet techs only make a couple bucks an hour more. It does really depend on the above though!