Learn about careers in veterinary medicine and explore education and training program options at Austin Community College.

1. Careers in
Veterinary
Medicine
and associated animal-related
jobs
Elizabeth Warren, LVT

2. There are many ways to work
with animals
 Veterinarian
 Veterinary Technician or Technologist
 Veterinary Assistant
 Animal Caretaker or Pet-sitter
 Veterinary Practice Manager
 Groomer
 Animal Control Officer
 Laboratory Animal Technician
 Zookeeper
 Wildlife Rehabilitator
 Farmer or Rancher
 Agriculture or Veterinary Educator
 and many more!

3. Veterinarian
 A veterinarian is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
(DVM) or Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (VMD),
often called a “vet”
 Veterinarians have, on average, 8 years of post-
secondary (after high school) education
 Vets are licensed by the state to practice
veterinary medicine (diagnose, treat, and
prescribe for their animal patients)
 Most veterinarians practice on companion animals
(pets)
Veterinary students in
surgery at SLU
University Animal
Hospital by Jenny
Svennås-Gillner, SLU

4. Academic requirements for
veterinary students
 Some veterinary medical colleges do not require
applicants to have undergraduate degrees, but
applicants must satisfy certain course
requirements.
 Acceptance into vet school is highly competitive in
terms of grades, test scores, and work
experience. Applicants may be required to submit
scores for one or more of the following: the
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the
Biology Subject Test.

5. Academic requirements for
veterinary students
 Individuals should gain as much experience as
possible working with animals. This experience,
both paid and volunteer, is an important factor in
the application process to veterinary medical
college.
 Veterinary medical colleges require four years to
complete.
 After graduation, some veterinarians enter one-
year internships for additional training in a
particular area. To become certified in a specialty
area, a veterinarian must complete a residency
which lasts two to three years.

6. Veterinarians
Work Environment Financial information
 Agribusiness
 Emergency hospitals and clinics
 Governmental agencies
 Military
 Pharmaceutical companies
 Private practice
 Public health departments
 Research institutions
 Veterinary colleges
 Zoos
 Average Starting Salary
$67,535
 Figures according to 2013 data
provided by the AVMA:
https://www.avma.org/KB/Reso
urces/Statistics/Pages/default.as
px
 Average Cost of
Veterinary School
72,000-152,000
 Figures according to the
AAVMC:
http://aavmc.org/Media-
FAQs.aspx

7. You can start your pre-
veterinary college
coursework here at
ACC:
http://www.austincc.edu/biology/

8. Veterinary Technician
or Technologist
 A Vet. Tech. is similar to a Nurse for people, but vet
techs do so much more than nurses on a daily basis
 Their function, in general, is to assist veterinarians with
diagnostic, treatment, and surgical procedures and to
educate clients and the public
 Veterinary Technicians usually have an Associate’s
degree in veterinary technology and Veterinary
Technologists have a Bachelor’s degree
 Titles, credentialing requirements, and regulations vary
by state

9. Veterinary Technicians in Texas
 Veterinary Technicians are licensed and
regulated by the state board of veterinary
medical examiners and called LVTs
 In order to be licensed, candidates must
graduate from an AVMA-accredited veterinary
technology program and pass state and
national board exams
 In 2016, there are nine AVMA-accredited
veterinary technology programs in TX

10. AVMA standards
 The American Veterinary Medical Association
accredits veterinary technology programs in order
to ensure that students are receiving adequate
and appropriate education and meeting essential
standards
 There is an extensive set of essential skills that
veterinary technology students are expected to
acquire. See:
https://www.avma.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/Education/A
ccreditation/Programs/Pages/cvtea-pp-appendix-i.aspx to
review the complete list

11. Veterinary Technician tasks
 Surgical assisting
 Administering and
monitoring anesthesia
 Obtaining diagnostic
images
 Performing lab tests
 Medical nursing
 Dentistry
 Physical therapy
 Client education
 Administering
medications
 Collecting samples
 Emergency triage and
first aid
 Administering fluids
 Placing catheters,
bandages and splints
 Performing clinical
tests
 and so much more!

12. Veterinary Technician Specialties
 Once credentialed, a veterinary technician
or technologist may choose to specialize in
a particular area of practice.
 Specialty academies are regulated by the
National Association of Veterinary
Technicians in America (NAVTA)
 In 2016, there are eleven recognized
academies (see:
http://www.navta.net/?page=specialties)
 Specialization usually requires additional
work, continuing education hours, and
credentialing exams, but no additional
formal college coursework

13. Work Environment Financial information
 Veterinary hospitals, including
general, specialty, and
emergency facilities
 Research institutions
 Governmental agencies
 Military
 Pharmaceutical companies
 Public health departments
 Veterinary medical and
technical colleges
 Zoos
 Animal shelters
 Median Salary
$30,290
 Figures according to 2012 data
provided by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthc
are/veterinary-technologists-
and-technicians.htm
 Average Cost of
Education $1300-
$30,000
 Figures according to
costhelper.com:
http://education.costhelper.com/v
eterinary-technician.html
Veterinary Technicians

14. Academic requirements for
veterinary technology students
 Prerequisites vary, but most programs require
the student to take and pass college-level
biology and/or chemistry, math, and English
courses before being admitted
 Program applicants may also be required to
take placements exams, document animal or
veterinary-related experience, and/or meet
other requirements such as minimum GPA

15. Academic requirements for
veterinary technology students
 Most programs are on-campus, meaning that the
student attends lecture classes in a traditional
classroom and hands-on, clinical classes in a facility on
campus or at off-campus veterinary facilities in the area
 In 2016, there are nine distance learning programs in
the United States, including one based in Texas. These
programs allow students to complete didactic
coursework online and require the student to have a
Clinical Preceptor at an off-campus clinical instruction
site (usually, but not always, the hospital where the
student works) in order to complete clinical tasks

16. Veterinary Technology at ACC
 ACC has recently started a veterinary
technology Associate of Applied Science
degree program
 This program is offered at the Elgin campus.
See: http://www.austincc.edu/health/vtht/

17. Veterinary Assistant
ACC Veterinary
Assistant Program
graduate Vanessa at
work
 Veterinary Assistants are the third member of a
“veterinary dream team,” working with a veterinarian
and a veterinary technician.
 Veterinary Assistants help both DVMs and LVTs with
the tasks associated with patient and client care.
 VAs are largely unregulated in the United States, so
this title is a “catch-all” for anyone working for a
veterinarian who does not have another credential

18. Veterinary Assistant
 Veterinary Assistants may have formal training,
on-the-job training, or some combination of these.
 In Texas, a certification program for veterinary
assistants is available from the Texas Veterinary
Medical Association (TVMA)
 The certification program is entirely voluntary and
although it affords no legal status to those who
complete it, CVAs are recognized in the veterinary
licensing act.
ACC Veterinary Assistant Program
graduate Elsa at work

19. Veterinary
Assistant training
 Though not required, most veterinary
assistants should receive some formal
training in order to gain initial employment, job
security, and the ability to advance their
position in the veterinary or animal care
environment.
 Graduates of the Veterinary Clinical Assistant
Program at ACC are eligible to take the TVMA
CVA exam and are working in many facilities
and roles throughout the Austin area.
ACC Veterinary Assistant class

20. Veterinary Assistants
Work Environment Financial information
 Private hospitals and clinics
 Not-for-profit and animal
welfare organizations
 Veterinary teaching
hospitals
 Animal shelters
 Boarding kennels
 Research institutions
 Median Salary $23,130
 Figures according to 2012 data
provided by the BLS:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/
veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-
animal-caretakers.htm
 Average Cost of Training
Programs $1500-$3000
 Figures according to costhelper.com:
http://education.costhelper.com/vet
erinary-assistant.html

21. Veterinary Assisting at ACC
 A certificate, non-credit program is available at ACC,
offered by the Health Professions Institute of the
Continuing Education Division
 Students attend classes primarily during evening and
weekend hours
 Coursework can be completed in three semesters
 Most students work full-time while taking veterinary
assistant classes, either to advance their knowledge
and training in their current position, or in order to
prepare for a career change to veterinary medicine
 See: http://continue.austincc.edu/veterinary

23. Animal Caretakers
Work Environment Financial information
 Private hospitals and clinics
 Boarding Kennels
 Animal shelters
 Stables
 Pet Stores
 Median Salary $19,970
 Figures according to 2012 data
provided by the BLS:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-
care-and-service/animal-care-and-
service-workers.htm
 Education
 No formal training is required, though
employers may require a high school
diploma, and courses in basic animal care,
grooming, and first aid are highly
recommended
 Feeding and watering animals
 Exercising animals
 Cleaning cages and stalls
 Monitoring health
 Basic grooming
 Administering oral medications
Typical tasks
File:FEMA - 40654 - Animal
shelter in North Dakota.jpg

24. Animal Control Workers
Work Environment Financial information
 Local and state government
agencies
 Animal shelters
 Humane organizations
 Median Salary $32,560
 Figures according to 2014 data
provided by the BLS:
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes
339011.htm
Assist local, state or federal authorities with enforcement of ordinances,
policies, regulations and laws pertaining to animal control and animal
cruelty involving domestic, wild and endangered animals.
Responsibilities include understanding regulations, implementing
animal health and hygiene practices, safe animal handling and
investigative techniques for collecting and preserving evidence as well
as managing stray, injured, diseased, dangerous, or unwanted animals.
Description

25. Pet Groomers
Work Environment Financial information
 Retail/small business
 Self-employed
 Pet Stores
 Median Salary $19,510
 Figures according to 2012 data
provided by chron.com:
http://work.chron.com/average-
salary-professional-dog-groomers-
3219.html
 Education
 No formal training is required and many
groomers learn their trade by apprenticing
with an established groomer.
 There are training programs available,
primarily at private vocational schools,
which generally cost $3000-$6000. Figures
according to
careerqa.com:http://www.careerqa.com/qu
estions/how-much-does-animal-grooming-
school-cost/
 Bathe, brush, trim and provide
other grooming services for
domestic pets, usually dogs and
cats. Pets are either clipped, hand
scissored or brushed out according
to breed standard or client request.
The groomer/stylist may also help
pet owners to discover potential
animal health problems early.
Description
"2013 2 1anweb750a1" by
Masaharu takemori

26. Veterinary Practice Managers
Financial information
 Average Salary $48,000
 Figures according to 2013 data
provided by the VHMA:
http://www.vhma.org/?page=VHMA
CareerCenter
 Education
 A business degree may be required. Some
managers start out as veterinary
technicians and are promoted from within.
A certification program is available from the
Veterinary Hospital Manager’s Association.
See:
http://www.vhma.org/?page=CVPMCertific
ationv2
Most Practice Managers work for
private practices, where they may
be responsible for overseeing daily
operations, managing personnel,
financial, payroll and accounting
procedures, production analysis,
inventory, client relations,
budgeting, equipment
maintenance, creating and
implementing staff training
materials and programs, maintain
OSHA compliance, conducting staff
meetings, maintain records,
manage website and social
media/outreach, and more!
Description

27. Zookeepers
Financial information
 Median salary $20,340
 Figures according to 2014 data
provided by the BLS:
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes
392021.htm
 Education
 Many positions require a college degree in
zoology, animal science, biology, or a related
field as well as at least two years of work or
volunteer experience.
 There are Associate and Bachelor degree
programs in zoo animal management
available. See: https://www.aazk.org/zoo-
keeper-training/
Zookeepers provide food, shelter,
clean living environments, habitat
design and maintenance,
behavioral enrichment, training,
breeding management, public
education, and veterinary care to
captive exotic, wild animals. The
work is difficult and compensation
is relatively low, but competition
for zookeeper positions can be
fierce. Most zookeepers start as
volunteers or interns in order to get
the experience required to secure a
paid position.
Description
"San Diego Zoo April
2013 22" by Abujoy

28. Getting started
 Research the career paths that interest you
 Talk to others in the field
 Volunteer in an animal shelter, clinic, or zoo
 Email me! I’m happy to try and answer questions or
provide resources: ewarren@austincc.edu
 If you aren’t sure which job is right for you, then the
Veterinary Clinical Assistant Program is a great way
to learn a lot about working with animals, which may
help you decide where you want to go. See:
http://continue.austincc.edu/veterinary