Healthcare Practitioners
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Also called: Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech), Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT)
US median pay
$47,380
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+9.4%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
13,400
131,400 employed
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.
What they do day to day
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
- Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
- Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
- Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment or instruments, as needed.
- Perform dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Persuasion2.9/5
- Operations Monitoring2.9/5
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry4.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- Biology4.0/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
- Chemistry3.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Associate's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma41%
- Associate's degree26%
- Post-secondary certificate15%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.