Classes to Take for a Vet Tech

Veterinary technicians, or vet techs, are an important part of a veterinarian's practice. Techs take care of common work such as administering certain vaccines, stabilizing animals during procedures and handling cleaning and paperwork. Each veterinary clinic takes a different approach to vet techs, with some techs having large amounts of responsibility and some focusing on smaller tasks. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a vet tech, certain courses will help prepare you for what lies ahead.
  1. High School

    • If you are still in high school and have an interest in becoming a vet tech, then you modify your studies to better reflect that choice. Vet techs are faced with a wide array of animals and conditions. Study biology to get an idea of how living organisms work, and study chemistry for basic knowledge of chemical compounds and lab techniques. Vet techs can spend a lot of time on computers, so a basic computer course will help as well.

    College

    • Expand your studies in college to advanced biology and chemistry. Look for anatomy classes, and talk to your college adviser about studying veterinarian medicine. While vets attend veterinary school after college, vet techs do not need an advanced degree and can simply study the undergraduate coursework of veterinarians. Enroll in writing courses to strengthen your communication and interpretive skills.

    Coursework

    • Several colleges around the nation offer specific coursework designed to prepare you for the rigors of working as a vet tech. This coursework traditionally centers on biology, organic chemistry, microbiology, ethics, animal husbandry and basic lab practices. Quite often, you can complete these programs in two to three years, as opposed to the four years in a traditional university.

    On-the-Job Training

    • To complete your training as a vet tech, you must spend a significant amount of time in a veterinarian's office getting hands-on training. This work will be supplemental to your schoolwork and will teach you day-to-day skills like preparing patients, working with records, handling simple wounds and learning to communicate with the owners of each animal. Until you have worked in an on-the-job capacity, you will be ill prepared for the daily challenges of working as a veterinary technician.

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