How to Become a Large Animal Veterinary Technician
Having a love of animals is essential for becoming any kind of veterinarian technician, but to become large animal veterinary technician you need to pass a test and become certified. Most states have some kind of testing process that large animal vet techs go through before they work with animals. Vet techs assist vets in many of the same ways a nurse assists a medical doctor.
- Complete a program in the
Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) field. The program should be
accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and takes
about two years to finish. The student usually receives an
Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology. - Study for the RVT exam. Using
textbooks from your courses and books borrowed from the library are
great ways to study for the exam. Most states have some kind of
small practice exam that can be taken first, to show you what kind
of questions will be presented on the test. - Take the RVT exam and pass it.
Once the test has been passed it is easier to find a job and start
your career. - Look for jobs in vet offices, animal hospitals, farms and zoos. Many vet offices won't have many large animals, so you will have to research offices that treat bigger animals before looking for a job. Zoos are great places to work with more exotic large animals, like elephants, giraffes and zebras.
- Apply for jobs. Apply for openings
and submit resumes to large animal vets around your area. You never
know, a vet may be looking for someone in the future and come
across your resume at a later time.