Veterinary Tech Jobs Grow Faster Than Average

Are you a cat person or a dog person? Do you have a love of all animals big and small, a career as a veterinary technician may be the right choice for you.

Gwinnett Tech teaches the highly specialized knowledge and techniques to work with animals in a variety of settings in its Veterinary Technology program. Classes in the program will give you a comprehensive foundation in animal anatomy, laboratory and office procedures, and animal care techniques.

Veterinarians rely on the skills of veterinary technicians to provide superior animal care. These technicians do many of the same tasks for a veterinarian that nurses would for a physician. Veterinary technicians most often work with small-animal practitioners who care for cats and dogs, but they may also do a variety of tasks with mice, sheep, pigs, cattle and birds. You can choose to start your career with a vet practice or zoo, focus on research or concentrate on veterinary products sales and development.

Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is expected to grow 52 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Job opportunities are expected to be excellent, particularly in rural areas.

The median pay in 2010 was $29,710 per year, or $14.28 per hour, and there were 80,200 people working in the field.

Graduates of GTC’s Veterinary Technology associate degree program are eligible to sit for the Veterinary Technology National Examination and become qualified as a registered veterinary technician in the state of Georgia. The program requires completion of 80 college credit hours.

GTC also offers a veterinary assistant certificate, which requires completion of 28 credit hours. Tuition and fees, plus books and supplies, will cost $3,714. The job placement rate for students earning this certificate has been 77.3 percent, according to GTC.

Call 770-962-7580 or visit www.GwinnettTech.edu for more information.

The U.S. Department of Labor also provides links for resources to find out more about careers in veterinary medicine and a list of veterinary technology programs.