Work under a veterinarian to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases within animals. If you love animals, and want to be a vet, this can help you gain valuable experience about how veterinary offices work and can be a steppingstone to becoming a full vet later on in life.
Make a Difference
A Typical Day
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related logbooks.
- Perform laboratory tests to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
- Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life-saving procedures.
- Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
Recommended Credentials
Associate's Degree and Certification
Education & Training
Regional employers often hire graduates of these programs.
Elsewhere in Michigan
Veterinary Technician
— Macomb Community College
Veterinary Nursing
— Michigan State University
Explore This Career
Try it before you buy it!
Check out the Vet Ranch video (Warning! Some videos contain graphic content and upsetting stories. It demonstrates the fantastic, hard work that vet clinics do!)
Offer pet-walking or pet-sitting services in your neighborhood. Volunteer at a local pet shelter if possible.
The Local Advantage Learning Pathway
Pathway 1
Take the following classes to gain an advantage moving into this competitive career:
- 4 years Mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus)
- 4 years of lab sciences (biology, chemistry, physics)
- 4 years English composition
Take AP classes, when possible, to start to accumulate college credits.
Take the 6-week online Becoming a Veterinary Assistant course (no credit) to learn more about this career family and to help get work experience at a vet clinic.
— Northwestern Michigan College, Extended Education
Pathway 2
Pursue a Veterinary Technician Program that is accredited through the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA).
Baker College of Cadillac
Michigan State University
Macomb Community College
Pathway 3
Once you have successfully graduated from an AVMA-accredited program, you can sit for the national licensing exam. If you pass the VTNE exam, you will be eligible for licensure as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) in the state of Michigan.
Sample Job Titles...
- Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)
- Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech)
- Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech)
Hear It From The Pros
10-Year Job Growth Projections
Employed Regionally
Wage Range & Median 10-County Region
Annual Hires Regionally
Other Regional Career Resources
Learn more about Veterinary Technologists and Technicians at O*NET Online.