While veterinarians are medical doctors for animals, veterinary technicians—also known as vet techs—are also highly trained professionals with a wide range of responsibilities that support your pet’s care during their visit.
Veterinary technicians (also known as veterinary nurses or vet techs) directly support the veterinarians they work with by providing essential nursing, support, and client education for both pets and their parents.
The role demands medical knowledge, technical skill, and deep compassion.
Key Takeaways
- Veterinary technicians are essential caregivers who support veterinarians through medical procedures, patient monitoring, and client education.
- A vet tech’s responsibilities can vary from clinical care and surgery support to administrative tasks like recordkeeping and inventory management.
- The path to becoming a vet tech includes completing a degree from an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited program and passing the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).
- Continuing education is required for vet techs to learn about the latest advancements in veterinary medicine and maintain their licenses.
What Do Veterinary Technicians Do?
Clinical Care
Vet techs take on a wide range of tasks that are critical to the day-to-day functioning of a veterinary clinic. These may include:
In many practices, vet techs also conduct certain types of appointments independently, without the need for a vet to be present. These types of appointments may include:
Some vet techs may even be specialized in different animal care areas, and able to provide consultations on subjects such as nutrition and weight planning, behavioral, or dental preventive care.
Pet Parent Interaction
Veterinary technicians work closely with pet parents to create a positive, low-stress experience for them and their pets. They use handling techniques that prioritize safety and comfort, always keeping the animal’s well-being at the forefront.
Open two-way communication is essential. Vet techs often ask pet parents about favorite treats, calming strategies, or preferred restraint positions that may help their pet feel more at ease.
This collaborative approach builds trust and helps strengthen the bond among veterinary teams, pets, and the people who love them.
Vet techs are in many cases the point of contact for pet parents after appointments and procedures. This may include informing pet parents about diagnoses, treatments, and/or follow-up care.
Administrative Tasks
Behind the scenes, vet techs also take on administrative tasks to help run the veterinary practice smoothly and efficiently.
They’re often juggling multiple tasks including:
Vet techs also play a key role in keeping the daily schedule on track: prepping exam rooms, updating records, collecting patient vitals, and helping appointments flow seamlessly without making anyone feel rushed.
Veterinary technicians work closely with pet parents to create a positive, low-stress experience for them and their pets.
By coordinating closely with the front desk and staying flexible when the day is hectic, vet techs ensure pets get timely care and pet parents stay informed.
Some veterinary technicians even find a passion for leadership, branching into team training, management, or hospital administration.
How To Become a Veterinary Technician
Becoming a vet tech begins with earning a degree from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program. Then they must pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam to earn their credential—becoming a certified, registered, or licensed veterinary technician, depending on state regulations.
Before graduating from an accredited program, students also take part in hands-on training—like an internship or an externship—that is key to building their knowledge and getting comfortable with essential skills. This depth of training ensures vet techs are well-equipped to deliver high-quality care and support within a veterinary team.
Vet techs must also take continuing education courses to maintain their license. Continuing education keeps vet techs updated and engaged with the latest advancements in veterinary medicine, ensuring they can provide the highest-quality care for their patients.
These requirements vary by state, depending on the regulations of the licensing board.
What Does a Vet Tech Do FAQs
What’s the difference between a vet tech and a vet assistant?
Vet techs and vet assistants may work side by side, but their roles differ. Vet techs go through formal schooling and get licensed, which lets them take on more advanced medical tasks. With added training and responsibility, vet techs often earn a higher salary as well.
Vet assistants usually learn on the job and focus more on basic care, such as low-stress restraint during procedures, feeding, bathing, cleaning, and providing TLC to stable hospitalized patients. Some veterinary assistants may be trained to help process lab tests as well.
What’s the difference between a vet tech and a vet technologist?
The titles veterinary technician and veterinary nurse are often used interchangeably, depending on personal or practice preference. However, titles such as veterinary technologist and veterinary technician specialist (VTS) refer to distinct roles that typically require additional education and training—qualifying these professionals to provide more advanced care or work in specialized areas of veterinary medicine.
What do vets do that vet techs do not do?
Veterinarians and vet techs make a strong team, each with their own important role in animal care. But when it comes to diagnosing medical conditions, prescribing treatments, and performing procedures and surgeries, those responsibilities are strictly in the veterinarian’s hands. Vet techs play a key role in supporting these procedures, but the final decisions and actions belong to the vet.
How can I become a veterinary technician?
To become a vet tech, start by earning a two- (associate’s), or four-year (bachelor’s) degree from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program. Once you earn your degree, you will take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) to get certified, licensed, or registered depending on state regulations.
Along with formal training, gaining hands-on experience through an internship or externship is key to understanding what the job requires, both mentally and physically. This combination prepares you to provide top-notch care and support in a veterinary clinic.
What are the duties of a vet tech?
Vet techs have a wide range of responsibilities that help vets run their clinic smoothly. They assist in exams and surgeries, administer prescribed treatments, run lab tests, monitor anesthesia, and help pets recover from their visit.
They’re also great at educating pet parents about diagnosis, treatments, and follow-up care, and juggling administrative tasks like recordkeeping and inventory management.
