types of veterinarians

Your pet makes every day awesome, and your Banfield veterinary team’s here to help keep them happy and healthy. Our teams include veterinary technicians who work under a veterinarian’s supervision and direction, have many important petcare responsibilities, and LOVE pets!

And now, to help celebrate National Vet Tech Week, we want to tell you more details about what exactly veterinary technicians do and how they learn their skills.

What do vet techs do?

Veterinary technicians do a wide range of tasks to assist licensed veterinarians and provide medical care to pets! Their primary duties include obtaining medical histories; collecting samples and performing laboratory procedures; monitoring anesthesia; preparing pets, instruments, and equipment for common and complex surgeries; assisting in surgical procedures; and providing nursing care.

What don’t they do? Diagnose or prognose medical issues, prescribe medication, perform surgery, develop treatment plans, or engage in any other activity prohibited by a state’s veterinary practice laws.

How are vet techs trained?

It takes commitment to become a qualified veterinary technician in the veterinary field. Educational prerequisites include either an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in veterinary technology, where they learn about the care, handling, anatomy, and physiology of many animal species (dogs, cats, cows, birds, and more). During school, they also do petcare externships to gain additional training in animal health care.

After graduation, to become fully credentialed, they must pass the national Veterinary Technician National Exam. Some states also have additional licensing exams, and most states regulate how veterinary technicians are credentialed, which tasks they can perform, any additional education requirements, and whether they're called certified, registered, or licensed veterinary technicians.

From there, they typically go on to work at a veterinary hospital, private clinic, intensive care unit, or animal shelter. Becoming a vet tech is also a great stepping stone for prospective veterinarians looking to study veterinary medicine.

Here for the pets you love

Banfield's credentialed, passionate pet-loving professionals are such a big part of our veterinary team, and they're here to provide the veterinary care your BFF will love. Find your nearest Banfield Pet Hospital and make an appointment today