Veterinary technicians' main duties include conducting examinations on animals and assisting in the diagnosis and caring for sick and wounded animals. They are also responsible for conducting laboratory exams, such as performing urinalysis and blood counts, preparing tissue samples for testing and taking blood. In addition to the work they do in the laboratory, veterinary technicians also take medical histories, feed and care for animals, take and develop X-rays and assist in surgeries.
Cornell University: Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is home to the Baker Institute for Animal Health, one of the oldest animal health care centers in the United States. The university participates in extensive vaccine research, gene therapy and comparative medicine. The veterinary technician degrees offered by Cornell include a bachelor's, master's or doctorate in biological and biomedical sciences, infection and pathobiology and advanced or general farrier courses.
The University of California--Davis: The University of California--Davis veterinary school was founded in 1948. It is one of the leading veterinary schools in the United States and the only one in the public education system of California. The school offers a wide variety of courses, including master's of science or doctorate degrees in veterinary medicine.
Some other schools offering associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees for veterinary technicians include
North Carolina State University (Raleigh); Ohio State University (Columbus); University of Wisconsin (Madison); Michigan State University (East Lansing); University of Minnesota (St. Paul); University of Florida (Gainesville);
University of Georgia (Athens); Tufts University (Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts); Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama); Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana); University of Tennessee (Knoxville); Kansas State University (Manhattan); University of Illinois (Urbana--Champaign/Chicago/Springfield); University of Missouri (Columbia); and Virginia Tech (Blacksburg).
Those interested in becoming a veterinary technician will need a minimum of a 2-year training program and attain an associate's degree from an approved college. Some schools offer a 4-year bachelor's degree for veterinary technicians. The coursework consists of classes in animal physiology, animal behavior, animal anatomy, biochemistry and lab work.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there were approximately 80,000 veterinary technician jobs in 2008. The majority of these were in veterinary offices; the rest were at zoos. The job outlook is expected to grow 36% between 2008 and 2018, which is higher than the average among all occupations. This is attributed to the fact that pets are becoming more important part of people's lives and owners are willing to spend more money on keeping them healthy. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that the median yearly salary of a veterinary technician was $28,900 in 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,580 and $34,960, and the top 10 percent earned more than $41,490.