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04-17-2011, 05:00 AM | #1 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member | Is anyone here a Vet Tech? I am thinking I want to go back to school! Just wondering if anyone here is a Vet Tech. There is a two year program here in Salt Lake that I have requested info on and I really want to check it out. I have been doing hair for 8 years now and I nanny full time. I want to find something I would enjoy, and I think I would like this alot! My main reason for going back to school would also to be to find something I could support myself on so I wouldn't have to Nanny, and have two jobs. I have worked two jobs for almost 3 years now and I am getting tired... I also need something that will offer benefits.. When I went to Cosmetology school at 18 I didn't think about things like Health Insurance and a reliable paycheck. Being a stylist can be so iffy, one month is great and you can make more money then any other hourly job, but the next month you end up scrimping buy just to pay bills and put gas in your car. And as far as Insurance goes, forget about it unless you pay for it out of pocket. I really want to find something that I know I would go to work and enjoy and be able to come home and take care of myself, and not have to work 7 days a week... Just looking for advice, I really want to do this!
__________________ Emily and Taycie Love you little girl |
Welcome Guest! | |
04-17-2011, 05:43 AM | #2 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| I looked into vet tech school a bit. I still wish I could do it... but honestly, I find the pay to be terrible everywhere. I'm in an area where jobs are still fairly good and pay is still sooo little. I don't believe money is everything and I think it's important to be happy in your job but I also didn't want to be struggling all my life either. I ran into someone from high school who was waitressing my table and she told me it was her 3rd job because she went to school to be a vet tech and couldn't afford living on her own with just that salary. Sooo... it kind of scared me off. I think some vets you can get better pay but everything I've read online says even vet techs who have been doing the job for 10+ years are still making the same amount of money and it's definitely not something you get into for the money or living comfortably. Sorry I don't have anything positive to say, lol. I hope someone else will. I really wanted to this for a while.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier |
04-17-2011, 05:48 AM | #3 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member | Quote:
__________________ Emily and Taycie Love you little girl | |
04-17-2011, 06:21 AM | #4 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 889
| Hi, I worked as a vet tech for a long time so here goes my advise: Look closely into the school, make sure it's an accredited program that will allow/require you to take your state's board exam for CVT licencing. Also, keep in mind, this is a profession where you have to complete continuing education credits on a regular basis to keep your licence current. As far as pay and health benefits - here's the thing, if you are going to work for a small vet practice, you're probably not going to make very much (the average here in NE PA is about $25,000 /yr. at full time) and not all small business owners offer health benefits. If you want to make better money and get insurance, you'll most likely have to work for a large practice, such as an emergency clinic or specialist or muti-doctor clinic. It stinks and it's not fair because techs work super hard and most of the time (in my area anyway) aren't properly compensated IMHO. You can "specialize" though too, which would be a good way to earn more and get in with a larger facility. You would just go through a short program after your licencing as CE credits. Vet techs have to have tough skin and a tough stomach too. You can't be afraid if a dog wants to bite you, if the vet is stressed and yells at you, and obviously it can be very gross lol. It's a tough job but a very rewarding one if you're up to the challenge. It a really great job, but it's definatly not for everyone. My advise to you would be, see if you can find a place that will let you "shadow" a tech for a day or two and if you can, in more than one practice. School is pretty expensive (mine was about $15,000) and takes 2 years, so it's a commitment you want to make sure you're really passionate about. You have to be good at muti-tasking too. Depending on where you work, the hours can sometimes run long (for emergencies if the place takes them), so I wouldn't necessarily consider it a part-time job (especially if you need to make decent money). I really don't mean to sound negative here (I LOVED working as a tech, the job and hours were just too demanding once my son was born). If you consider all this and do some shadowing and still want to do it - then by all means go for it it's a wonderfull profession for the right person but not necessarily a high paying one
__________________ Jenn, mom to: Dayton , Alice ,Darla, Miya , Summer & Chooch Last edited by AlicetheYorkie; 04-17-2011 at 06:25 AM. Reason: forgot something :) |
04-17-2011, 09:35 AM | #5 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Delaware
Posts: 2,515
| Tech for 7 years, and never again! Hello, I was a vet tech for a good 7 years...I started off working as a dog walker, then moving into the kennel part of the hospital, then moved over to bathing, then to groomers assistant, and then finally vet tech...I worked at 2 diffrent hospitals, and just learned from experience, never went to school for it, but coming in 2012, every tech will be required to take a test to become certified..... I enjoyed working with the animals, but, I will tell you, I didnt always agree with the vets I worked for, and it was a very sad job, and VERY STRESSFUL! I don't do well with MEAN AGGRESSIVE Cats, so when I had to go in an exam room with one, I was very afraid, and UNEASY, and that was the issue to make me want out! I loved dealing with all the new puppies and kittens, but when it came to putting them down, or things like that, it was sad...... I didn't make the best money, and hardly got raises.....I havent been working with animals for about 4 years now, and I have to say, it was a great thing to get away from, I know that sounds horrible, but dealing with your own animals is very diffrent than dealing with someone elses! Good luck in what ever you choose to do!
__________________ Mom to Fiona Marie |
04-17-2011, 12:17 PM | #6 |
and molliluv too! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Irving TX, USA
Posts: 1,619
| I am a vet tech and have been for about 4 years. I love working with animals but if your looking for a job that is less stress or not physically demanding I'd look else where. I am still relatively young and vet teching often kicks my butt. A lot of it is restraining. Also there is a lot of working with math which isnt my favorite subject. It's hardly ever puppies and kittens, 98% of the time its the vicious, sickly and sad. More power to anyone who has the passion for it but it is more emotionally and physically demanding then I ever envisioned. Thats why I personally am looking more towards dog training. Also pet day care and grooming can be good jobs. If you want to try it some places will hire tech assistants and you don't need any school or knowledge really. Good luck!
__________________ Teapot Club Member |
04-17-2011, 06:15 PM | #7 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| I'm not a tech (thought about it and didn't take long to change my mind!), but I do know quite a few. I don't want to make it sound like a terrible job. There are some good things. If you like talking to clients, dealing with puppies, kittens, surgery is cool, tons of hands on animal care, always learning, etc. then great. But The pay is MISERABLE. A lot of people start at around $10 or $12 around here and maybe go up to $15 at a good place... Specialize to make more, but you will probably need to go to a specialty hospital then and it's not going to be so easy to get a job there. Clients can be terrible to deal with. They don't listen. Vets get tired of them. And when they do, that's when they make you go in so they don't have to deal with it anymore... Vets are under a huge amount of stress and can get really short. You have to be okay getting snapped at. The animals can be crazy. Some are very untrained. They will try to bite, scratch, get away, jump up and into your chin, etc. I have no idea where you are at personally with kids or whatever, but for anyone who thinks they might get pregnant, hopefully your job isn't just a surgy tech because you'll have to stop for awhile (can't be around the gas anesthesia). ou'll have opinions about what should be done, but won't be able to say. The doctor is always right. Could get really old. Clients do not know what they're doing. Some don't care. Animals will come in in pain and suffering and some will elect not to treat or euthanize. It's a part of the job. Very hard to watch. Everywhere, but esp. at emergency, euthanasias are going on. At an ER facility 3 or 4 in one day isn't uncommon. 1-5 a week per doctor at a regular hospital seems pretty normal. You'll be around clients that are making this decision, may have to talk them through it, etc. Then you'll be dealing with the remains after the client leaves and possibly even giving euthanasia injections. It's a very demanding job that pays nothing compared to what it should. Too many of the techs I know probably wouldn't have done it again. They love the animals, but just don't make enough $$$, etc.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
04-17-2011, 06:19 PM | #8 | |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 889
| Quote:
__________________ Jenn, mom to: Dayton , Alice ,Darla, Miya , Summer & Chooch Last edited by AlicetheYorkie; 04-17-2011 at 06:22 PM. | |
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