Becoming a veterinary technician is a great career path for those who have a love for animals and a desire to keep them healthy and happy. The job may be stressful at times and certainly has its share of fair moments, but overall, becoming a vet tech is a rewarding career option that can provide you with a deep sense of fulfillment.

In order to become a vet tech, a student should attend a 2 or 4 year vet tech program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Upon completion of vet tech school you can sit for the state board exam, which will test your skills in a variety of core areas. Passing the state exams means you are officially a licensed veterinary technician and you can begin seeking employment as a vet tech in your state.

The type of work you will do as a veterinary technician varies depending upon the environment you work in. For example, vet techs working in a research laboratory will perform different duties than ones working at a small town family vet practice. However, most vet techs will perform some common duties, such as lab analysis, sample preparation, radiography, client interaction, surgery preparation, restraining patients, and vaccinations.

Becoming a vet tech does have its negative aspects, as do most jobs. Veterinary technicians are sometimes exposed to dangerous working conditions, which include things like exposure to disease, exposure to feces and urine, aggressive animals, and emotionally distressed pet owners. In fact, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that full-time techs "experienced a work-related injury and illness rate that was much higher than the national average." This is something that shouldn’t scare you away from becoming a vet tech, but you should keep it in mind.

Another thing most aspiring vet techs want to know is how much salary they can expect. Unfortunately, the consensus is that techs are severely underpaid. Though job prospects are good and experienced techs are always in demand, the median salary for this position was only $28,000 in 2008. There is little room for advancement as a vet tech, and most workers top out around $40,000. Some working in larger metropolitan cities earn more. You can also increase your earnings by specializing in a certain niche such as dentistry, surgery, or emergency care.