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Also known as simply as a vet tech, a veterinary technician is an animal care professional who assists licensed veterinarians with various activities. Among other things, they help licensed veterinarians perform evaluations, check vitals, collect blood samples, administer medication and treat physical injuries of their clients’ animals. While you may recall reading or hearing about veterinary technicians when exploring different careers in veterinary medicine, you should check out the seven following facts to gain a better understanding of this profession.

#1) Started By the U.S. Air Force

The advent of the veterinary technician profession can be largely attributed to the United States Air Force. During the early 1950s, the United States Air Force launched the first-ever veterinary technician program. Although it was restricted to Air Force service members, it paved the way for civilian-based veterinary technician programs. In the 1960s and 70s, several schools began offering programs for veterinary technicians as well.

#2) Less Schooling Than Veterinarians

Veterinarian technicians typically spend less time in school than licensed veterinarians. Unlike licensed veterinarians, veterinary technicians aren’t required to complete a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), most veterinary technicians complete two to four years of higher education, followed by an associate’s or bachelor’s program in veterinary technology. In comparison, it can take eight years of higher education to become a licensed veterinary. After graduating high school, an aspiring veterinarian must complete a bachelor’s program, followed by another four-year DVM program. As a result, many aspiring veterinarians prefer to take the route of veterinary technicians since the profession has less-stringent schooling.

#3) Requirements Vary By State

Many states have requirements that veterinary technicians must meet to practice. Some states, for instance, require veterinarian technicians to obtain, as well as maintain, a license. This doesn’t mean that veterinarian technicians are licensed veterinarians. Rather, veterinarian technicians hold a state-issued license in veterinary technology. Other states require veterinary technicians to be certified. Certification is a similar process as licensure; it’s just different terminology. Regardless, if you’re considering a career in veterinary technology, you’ll have to check the requirements for the state in which you intend to practice.

#4) Some Work at Zoos

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 91% of veterinary technicians in the United States work in a veterinary clinic. Based on those figures, that means roughly one in 10 veterinary technicians work in a different environment. Well, some veterinarian technicians work in zoos where they care for a diverse range of animals. Zoos need veterinary technicians to alleviate some of the workload placed on their veterinarians. Zoos often house tens of thousands — sometimes even hundreds of thousands — of different animals. Licensed veterinarians alone can’t treat all these animals themselves, so they rely on the assistance of veterinary technicians.

#5) Paravetinary Workers

Veterinary technicians are considered paraveterinary workers because they assist licensed veterinarians. They don’t work on their own. Like all paraveterinary workers, veterinary technicians work alongside licensed veterinarians. Veterinary technicians can still perform tasks themselves, but they take directions from licensed veterinarians. If a veterinarian needs help, he or she will seek the assistance of a paraveterinary worker, such as a veterinary technician. Veterinary technicians are there to help licensed veterinarians carry out their respective duties of diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases and injuries in animals.

Some of the most common paraveterinary professions include the following:

• Veterinary technician
• Veterinary technologist
• Veterinary assistant
• Veterinary nurse

#6) Strong Job Growth

Like with many veterinary professions, there’s strong job growth for veterinary technicians. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the number of technician jobs in the United States is expected to increase by 19% through 2028 — a significantly faster growth rate than that of other most other jobs.

Why is the job market for veterinary technicians growing so fast exactly? For starters, nearly all veterinary clinics need paraveterinary workers to satisfy the demand for their services. There are tens of thousands of veterinary clinics in the United States, most of which hire veterinary technicians. Furthermore, veterinary technicians have valuable skills that make them an indispensable asset. And as pet ownership rises, so will the demand for veterinary technicians.

#7) Specialization Available

Veterinary technicians often strive for specialization to move their careers forward. Veterinary technicians aren’t restricted to performing general veterinary-related tasks. Instead, they can go through additional education and training to become certified in a specialty. Specialization, of course, focuses on a specific field of veterinary medicine. After learning the ropes of veterinary technology, veterinary technologists can seek specialization in a particular field.

The AVMA recognizes the following specialties for veterinary technicians: dental, anesthesia, surgery, zoological, equine, behavior and emergency care. There are various schools and academies that offer specialization courses such as these. If you become a veterinary technician and want to progress your career, you may want to enroll in one of these courses.