How to Become a Veterinary Technician: 10 Steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

The figure of the veterinary technician in Italy was born only recently, precisely in June 2006 thanks to the ATAV (Association of Veterinary Auxiliary Technicians). The veterinary technician, although not having specific medical skills, acts as a support figure for the veterinarian's activity, taking care of assistance during visits and performing some clinical and laboratory procedures. It is a job position that struggles to establish itself in our country and to which that of the real veterinarian is still preferred; in this regard, however, various initiatives have been born that aim to obtain the legislative recognition of the profession. As with any other career in the health field, becoming a veterinary technician requires intense theoretical and practical preparation. If you love animals and are ready to get busy, read on … the effort will be worth it.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Meeting the Requirements

Step 1. Show that you have the qualities necessary to become a veterinary technician

While there is always room to improvise and have time to work on every aspect of your character, you have an advantage if you already have the skills you need to excel at a similar job. Here are the qualities you should possess:

Communication skills. At work you will spend a lot of time communicating with your supervisor, pet owners (who can sometimes be quite upset), and other staff members. You may need to advise people on how to care for and train their pets, so you need to be able to communicate clearly and put the interlocutors at ease.
Compassion. Often you will have to deal with sick animals and their concerned owners, you will have to be empathetic trying to understand the situation exactly.
Attention to detail. You will need to be extremely precise when recording various information, when administering medicines to animals or performing diagnostic tests (all still under the supervision of a veterinarian).
Manual skills. You will find yourself working with animals of different sizes, and you will need to use medical and laboratory equipment with great care. There is a whole range of tasks that must be approached with the greatest possible caution, such as taking x-rays, performing anesthesia, etc.
Problem solving skills. You have to think outside the box and have excellent skills to understand what the problems are - and therefore the relative solutions - in the event of certain injuries or illnesses.

Step 2. You must remain psychically strong when working with animals

While it's great that you enjoy cuddling cute kittens, that's not the job you need to do. If you want to become a veterinary technician, you must also prepare for the less pleasant aspects of the job, including being bitten, scratched, or injured in some other way by animals. Remember that many of these sweet creatures will likely see you the same way you saw the dentist when you were little.

You have to love animals, but not to the point of preventing you from staying calm and acting professionally when you need to, for example, euthanize to ease the pain of a seriously ill animal.
You have to be strong enough even when you see abused animals.

Step 3. Find the Veterinary Technician School you want to attend

Unfortunately, in Italy currently there are only private (and particularly expensive) initiatives that provide two-year on and off-line training courses that issue a certificate valid throughout Europe, but not recognized in Italy. An example of these schools is the Abivet of Rome, which offers a two-year study program in which the student deals with the subjects useful for becoming a veterinary technician in accordance with the requirements of the European Union.

The courses in nursing and chemistry procedures are fundamental, as you will often have to determine dosages, dose drugs and warn pet owners of any side effects or the danger of interaction with other substances.
Usually, in order to enroll in a School for veterinary technicians, no particular requirements are required, but if you have a solid scientific background you will certainly start at an advantage.
Another way to acquire the skills of a veterinary technician consists in participating in some university courses or masters, even if in Italy there is only one course focused precisely on preparing for this professional figure, and it is located at the University of Teramo.
To figure out if this is the job for you, start building your relationship with animals by volunteering to assist in kennels or other animal shelters.

Part 2 of 3: Obtaining Certification

Step 1. Sign up for a veterinary technician training course

As already mentioned, since this is a sector that is still developing in Italy, there are not many existing realities. Acovene has existed in Europe since 2007, an organization that ensures that the education programs of veterinary nurses comply with European standards.

One of the 20 Acovene certified European schools is the Abivet in Rome (the only one in Italy). The Abivet courses last two years and the lessons are held in the capital (it is also possible to attend the course online, instead of traditional lessons). The programs of these teachings comply with the requirements of the European Union as well as the recommendations expressed by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). In addition to the theoretical lessons, approximately 300 compulsory internship observation hours per year are provided. However, it is good to remember that, despite the certificate being recognized throughout Europe, in Italy no precise legislation regarding its validity has yet been defined.
Alternatively, it is possible to attend the "Animal Care Professional" course, on the initiative of the De Agostini European Training Center: in this case the lessons must necessarily be followed from home and, even if no practical preparation is required, the institute offers their help in finding internships and job opportunities.
There is the possibility of attending courses for veterinary technicians also in the university field: the University of Teramo offers the possibility of attending a 1st level master in Veterinary Technician, while other universities have similar courses within the faculty of veterinary medicine.

Step 2. Practice in the field

Try to take an internship opportunity within a clinic, even while you are preparing to obtain the certificate. During this phase you will be able to understand if you are cut out for the role.

Part 3 of 3: Finding a Job

Step 1. Find a job in a veterinary clinic

After attending the technician course, look for a part-time or full-time job in a veterinary clinic. You can search through the job advertisements, contact the clinics directly or ask for help from the institution where you attended the course. Schools are often aware of facilities that are looking for staff.

As there are already many veterinarians who are newly graduated looking for work, it will not be easy to find a job on the first try

Step 2. Develop your job skills

As work becomes a routine, you will encounter numerous situations that involve knowing how to treat animals with great care. The more comfortable you are in your industry, the more skills you will acquire in the job. Here are some things you should delve into:

Observe the conditions and behavior of the animals
Perform the physical examination
Provide assistance during surgery
Prepare animals and tools in the pre-operative phase
Describe and report on the animal history
Perform and know how to read radiographs
Perform laboratory tests, such as blood and urine tests
Perform anesthesia on animals and monitor their response
Provide necessary first aid and nursing care for injured or hospitalized animals
Euthanize animals in particularly serious conditions

Step 3. Get used to busy schedules

Veterinary technicians often work long hours, at night, at a frenetic and irregular pace. Some veterinary centers are open 24 hours a day, and there is a need for people to cover the various shifts. Over time, as you gain experience and authority, you can afford more flexible hours, but be prepared to work hard for now.

You will have to try to maintain the strength necessary to lift and hold even heavy animals, as well as to remain standing for long periods of time

Step 4. Become a veterinarian

If you become a very good veterinary technician, you can consider embarking on the path to becoming a veterinarian. This is quite a challenging faculty, but having the technical background will certainly work to your advantage.

Step 5. Consider a specialization

Once you've found that this field represents everything you love, you may be thinking of taking your knowledge to another level by specializing in a related area of interest, such as clinical pathology, surgery, dentistry, anesthesia, emergency and critical care, behavioral study, medicine. avian or nutrition. You will have to go under and study hard, but it will be worth it.