If you’re an animal lover and also have an interest in healthcare, becoming a Veterinary Technician melds the two career paths together. It’s healthcare for animals! As a Veterinary Technician, or Vet Tech, you would play an important role in the health and wellbeing of animals. But first you need to learn how!

Choose an Accredited Veterinary Program

Look for a program accredited through the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). CVTEA-accredited institutions go through a rigorous evaluation process and must meet certain veterinary technician requirements around curricula, facility quality, student admissions, and graduation rates. 

Learn Solid Skills from A Reputable Veterinary School

Choose a school with a long history of training students for actual careers. To become a Veterinary Technician, you will want an Associate Degree, but with a concentration in the kind of courses that matter to your future career. You need to learn about animal anatomy and physiology, nutrition, breeding, husbandry, sanitation, behavior, handling, nursing, euthanasia, and necropsy.

Access Hands-On Veterinary Training

You can’t learn about animal behavior and needs if your only instruction comes from a textbook and lecture. Just like people, animals all have their own personalities. The more of those furry, fuzzy, and feathered friends you hang out with before you’re actually on the job, the better you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way. You’ll also want to learn about x-rays, dental cleanings, vaccinations, and medication administration from a hands-on angle. Most Vet Tech schools offer an externship, where you’d get to work in an animal clinic, zoo, or farm, alongside veterinary professionals. Externships give you the opportunity to practice the skills while getting a taste of what your career will actually be like.

Look for Qualified Veterinary Instructors

To get a quality education, it’s important to learn from qualified instructors who have real experience working in the veterinary field. Look for schools that employ practicing veterinarians, technicians, researchers, and other professionals who work with animals. Experienced instructors can lend their first-hand knowledge working in the field to give you advice for your own career. They can also inspire you to do your best, bringing their love of animals and passion for the field to you.

Career Services to Help You Find a Vet Tech Job

When you graduate from your Veterinary Technician program, the next step is to land a job in the field. To facilitate the process, many Vet Tech schools offer career services to students in the final year of their degree program. Some schools partner with businesses in the same city or state, and match graduating students with open roles in their field of study. You might also have the opportunity to meet with a career counselor who can help you prepare your resume and work on interview skills. 

Enroll in YTI’s Veterinarian Technician Program

As a student in YTI Career Institute’s Veterinary Technician program, you’ll have access to professional instructors, hands-on learning experiences, and career counseling services. You can graduate with an Associate Degree in Specialized Technology in as few as 21 months of instruction at our YTI York campus.