Vet Tech Certification

Vet technicians are veterinary professionals who help the veterinarians in carrying out their duties. At times the vet techs also perform routine tasks such as sourcing and recording data on the patient’s past history, providing specialized care to the animals, collecting laboratory specimens and conducting the tests, and exposing and developing radiographs such as x-rays. They also assist in diagnosing and treatment of common animal illnesses as well as giving technical support during surgical procedures.

The curriculum of the vet tech certificate deals with the following fields: animal anatomy & physiology, pharmacology & therapeutics, pathology, animal nutrition, internal medicine & disease. Other aspects of the course are anesthesia, pain & surgery, microbiology & parasitology and general biology. Also part of the curriculum is the externship where that student gets a chance to apply the knowledge gained during the coursework as well as gaining experience before getting into the job market.

The vet tech certification can be offered through the conventional classroom-based study model or the online study module. Online certification is a more flexible method that’s preferred by busy people who cannot make it for classes and thus get the chance to study at their own pace and take exams only when they feel confident enough.

All states require that all vet techs should sit for and pass the exam that’s regulated by the State Board of Veterinary Examiners or whichever the appropriate exam agency is in a particular state. The exam has different aspects such as written, oral and practical. In order to sit for this exam, the board requires the student to provide proof of graduation from a vet technician school that’s accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

In order to be licensed, one has to sit for the National Veterinary Technicians (NVT) exams after which one becomes a certified vet tech (LVT) or registered vet tech (RVT) or certified vet tech (CVT). The name varies from one state to another. This exam also prepares the students for employment. Vie tech is a lucrative career which is projected to rise with over 41% by the year 2016.