Any vet techs here?

monaxlisa

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I've been thinking a lot about college lately, I mulled over veterinary technology a few years ago but was put off by the low wages, but Im thinking about it again. I seem to remember seeing a few people here that are/were techs, just wondering if I could talk about it a little. And I assume others will read this and I hate to waste a post just to say the above so, have any of you ever had an older tech? I dont think I've ever had one older than thirty or so, Im always curious as to where they end up.
 

starryeyedtiger

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I worked as a Vet Tech for animal control for a good while. I liked the work but right now -good luck trying to find a job! I'm qualified to work as a Vet Tech and as a Florist (i'm a lisenced florist as well) I can't find a job in eithor field right now and i've been looking everwhere. The pay isn't great for Vet Tech's eithor- for what you'd spend on school you're highly unlikely to get pay to match what you need for living expenses. Not to mention a lot of vet's don't require lisenced techs to employ them- so they will just train them on the job. So technically an office could have techs working for them that aren't lisenced right alongside the lisenced techs and while there may be a few bucks difference in pay- it's not that noticable. (Unlisenced techs are usually called vet assistancs, and lisenced ones are usually called vet techs. - but it really depends on the vets office you work for.)

I love working with animals and it is a fun field-I did enjoy working as a tech and helping animals, but before you spend a ton of money on school- consider your options. That's my advice. I'm having an aweful time finding any vets in my area who are hiring and I live in a huge metropolitian area.....everyone's letting staff go because of the economy. (Sorry if that's not the news you wanted, but i just thought i should be honest with you before you pay a fortune for tuition.) I'm planning to go back to school for Radiology because the pay is better (not what I want to be doing, but it's one step closer to me some day getting my own flower shop.)

If you're interested in working with animals and you have a good veterinary school near you- consider getting your MD. You will be able to live off that pay.
 

katzyn

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I went to and graduated from Bel-Rea, and there were a lot of older people there. The oldest was at least in her 50's, maybe 60's. There were quite a few in their 30's and 40's.

I don't know if they've stuck with it, though, since I haven't talked to any of my former classmates. =/
 

darling poodles

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Originally Posted by Katzyn

I went to and graduated from Bel-Rea, and there were a lot of older people there. The oldest was at least in her 50's, maybe 60's. There were quite a few in their 30's and 40's.

I don't know if they've stuck with it, though, since I haven't talked to any of my former classmates. =/
I've always wanted to go there!!!!! Is it worth the money to go there?
 

katzyn

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You learn a lot, that's for sure. Umm..when I went, there was a lot of school politics going on, and we had a teacher suidicde, so it, for me, was very stressful. There is a bit of hands-on, and from what I saw my last few months, they were working on getting more hands-on in. It's expensive though. My tuition, for 2 years, was $21,000, and that's not including scrubs, textbooks, labcoats, a few other thing.

The last three months is internship, which is definitely helpful. You go, unpaid, to a clinic for three months. There are tons of sites on this list. Of course, there are more sites for in Colorado, but if you keep up the gades (I think you need a 3.50 GPA, or something), you can go out of state, to say, a zoo on the list, or a teaching hospital on the list.

It's a lot of hard work. So, if you're really sure this is what you want, go for it.
 
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monaxlisa

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Wow, unpaid for three months would be tough.
I've thought about vet assistant, I've thought about it all. Obviously it'd be a few years down the road anyways, maybe the economy would be better by then (or it'll be the depression all over again)
 

whiteforest

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My vet has eight assistants. Four of them are 20-35, four are 35-55. Only one of them is a licensed Vet Tech.
 

katzyn

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Originally Posted by MonaxLisa

Wow, unpaid for three months would be tough.
I've thought about vet assistant, I've thought about it all. Obviously it'd be a few years down the road anyways, maybe the economy would be better by then (or it'll be the depression all over again)
Yup, 40 hours a week for 11 weeks. I was lucky to be living with my parents.
 

rayjiano

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I am considering vet school or dental school, the obvious contrasts being pay and lifestyle. I enjoy animals, but the pay difference is astronomical, however, I would also enjoy being a dentist. Ahhh... life defining decisions.
 

melmo

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I just applied to a vet tech school and I was told the starting salary is 20 to 30 thousand and if I move to ontario or around there its doubled, and out west is tripled. Obviously, the cost of living is higher but I still consider it a decent pay. And I dont expect to get rich doing it, im just tired of barely scraping by and doing something I hate. I would rather be making even just 20,000 and love my job.
 
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