Vet or Vet Tech?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, animal-related careers like vets and vet technicians are projected to grow at a rate of 16% from 2019 to 2029. This is much faster than the average for all occupations.
If you hope to have a career working with animals, either option is likely to be a good one but in our opinion, becoming a vet assistant takes less time than a vet tech. So choose wisely.
There are, however, some advantages and disadvantages to both that can help you decide which direction to take.
Education
If you have aspirations of becoming a vet, this career requires a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from an accredited college. The schooling required is similar to that of a medical student but is focused on animals instead. Some feel it’s even more challenging as there are numerous animal species rather than just one.
The average person in this career has completed four and a half years of undergraduate education including some tough courses including but not limited to organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and microbiology, in order to be prepared for veterinary school. Vet school is similar to medical school and generally takes four years to complete, but students must learn about all types of animal species, according to AVMA.org.
One advantage of becoming a vet tech is that the career involves working with animals, but a doctoral degree is not required. Getting into veterinary school can be very difficult as there is a lot of competition, and it’s very expensive.
Veterinary technician programs last just two years, and many cater to working professionals with nine-to-five jobs. Penn Foster offers its veterinary technician program online, and this AVMA-accredited program won’t break the bank. Each credit costs $90, and students gain real-world experience in the field.
Salary
Veterinarians do have the advantage when it comes to salary. However, you’ll also have to consider that vets are likely to be paying for veterinary school for quite some time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage as of May 2019 for a veterinarian is $95,460 per year while a vet tech makes $35,320 per year.
A veterinarian may have to pay for many extras that a vet tech would not. These extras include liability insurance to protect from malpractice claims or losses to a building, equipment, vehicles or animals while in the practitioner’s care, as Veterinary Practice News points out. A vet also has to consider overhead that a vet tech does not. These include rent, maintenance, utilities, office supplies and pricey equipment, as well as the salaries of staff.
The Rewards
As a veterinary technician or a veterinarian, you’ll reap the rewards of helping animals to restore their health and well-being. You’ll also gain the benefits of restoring the well-being of the animal’s owner. Today, many people feel that their pet is part of the family, with the loss of a pet truly devastating.
If you can help their animal live a longer, healthier life, you’re also significantly contributing to the health and happiness of the animals’ human companions.
The job of a veterinarian and vet tech can be physically as well as emotionally demanding, but it pays off.
In either career, if you love animals, you’ll be able to make a living doing what you’re passionate about. For many people, that makes life worth living.
Whichever path you choose, remember that knowing how to communicate with animals will help you be much more effective in everything you do!
After all, how can you really be there for the animal if you can’t speak their language?
Imagine the difference you could make if you could simply ask your patient questions, find out exactly how they feel, where it hurts and what makes it feel better if they could simply tell you, heart to heart, mind to mind.
Exactly. And that’s why it’s important to learn how to talk to animals.
It’s easy as 1-2-3 when you follow the The Heart School of Animal Communication® tried and true techniques and methods!
Anyone can learn if they’re willing to discover how.
Start with your Free ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets — Click HERE
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The bottom line is, whatever you want to do to help animals, remember there are many ways to make a difference. Love this post!
Thank you so much – Love to hear your feedback!
Being a vet doesn’t need to be just a profession. In order to fully realized what your job is, you need to have the heart in helping pets and their owners in your fullest capacity. Love this article. Keep posting such great blogs.