The Veterinary Technology Blog

With the internet, many more people without physical access to training can pursue careers assisting veterinarians as veterinary technicians. The schools on this list offer online programs for veterinary assisting, both certification for veterinary assistants and degrees for veterinary technicians, to students nationwide.

Burnout and compassion fatigue impact all professionals in this field, from veterinarians to assistants and technicians. Like human healthcare burnout, there are many reasons for veterinary professional burnout. Factors include staffing shortages, high daily patient turnover expectations, and long hours.

The veterinary industry faces a critical shortage of qualified professionals at all levels. With the demand for veterinary services rising, the need for qualified vet staff has never been greater. The current staffing shortages are causing long wait times for pet owners and increased stress levels among those working in veterinary clinics.

Graduating from veterinary technician school is an accomplishment to celebrate, but for many, it's overshadowed by financial worry. Read this guide to learn more about loan forgiveness programs for veterinary technicians and common repayment options.

Students interested in becoming a veterinarian may want to complete pre-vet training while at the undergraduate level. Typically, this means completing a degree in a related science field, but a few schools even allow students to start their senior year of college as a freshman in a veterinary program. Many schools also have pre-vet clubs that can be helpful in meeting other students engaged in and interested in the field. Read on for more about the various pre-vet programs around the country.

Looking for a good list of veterinary apps? We've compiled a list -- some for Android, some for Apple -- that can help veterinarians on the job. Find vet calculators, terminology references, and drug treatment information. To top it off, most of the apps on our list are inexpensive or free.

Most state regulatory boards accept RACE-approved and CVTEA-accredited continuing education credits. However, continuing education acceptance is not standardized. States reserve the right to refuse credits from certain classes or providers. Students are advised to confirm that their state will accept credits before registering for any program.

For many animal-lovers, choosing a career as a veterinary technician is a natural choice. It’s a field that couples the rigor of scientific laboratory testing with soft skills in patient caretaking.

Human health is closely linked to the health of animals and the health of our shared environment. Today, humans and animals interact more closely than ever before. More than half of all diseases people get are zoonotic, meaning they can spread between animals and humans.

Learn about the daily responsibilities of the zoo veterinary technician, and about how to prepare to manage and help care for exotic, rare, and sometime dangerous animals.

Pet owners can be a notoriously particular bunch: people who dote on their animals tend to have very specific ideas of what’s best for their furry companions. Giving these folks a gift for the holidays that they won’t just have a use for but will actually cherish can be downright frustrating.

Pursuing a veterinary medicine or animal science career can be costly in today’s higher-learning environment. Luckily, there are many ways to help you cover the costs, whether pursuing a DVM or an undergraduate degree in veterinary technology. Scholarships are generally based on academic excellence and financial need, though many other criteria may apply, depending on the award. Browse our extensive list of options.

Considering how deeply bonded we are to our pets in this country, it’s surprising that the first wellness program for pets wasn’t launched until more recently, in 2002, when the National Research Council of the National Academies sponsored PetFit at Purdue University.

First begun in 1993 by a NAVTA resolution, Vet Tech Appreciation Week exists to enlighten the public about veterinary technicians and explore the field in greater detail. Established in the third week of every October, the appreciation week spotlights the profession and shows gratitude to those special vet techs in our life. This gift-giving guide for vet techs offers options for thoughtful, fun, and useful gifts.

If you recently graduated or are close to completing a veterinary technology program, congratulations! The majority of the hard work is behind you, but there is one final hurdle to jump before you can start your career as a licensed, certified, or registered veterinary technician: the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).