Veterinarian vs. Veterinary Technician

By Allyse S.

     Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians, commonly called a vet tech, work very closely together on a daily basis. As a result of bearing far more responsibility and taking on almost four years more schooling, Veterinarians earn much more money than a vet tech.
     A Veterinary Technician usually completes two years of school to obtain the necessary licensing and certification needed to work in a veterinary practice, while having the opportunity to earn slightly more with an additional two years. Veterinarians first complete a bachelors degree with a pre-vet concentration, and then complete an additional four years of competitive schooling to achieve the title of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
     Both job fields have very positive outlooks for the future job market. Between 2010 and 2020, the

Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a high job growth of 36 percent for Veterinarians. Veterinary Technicians have an even greater growth of 52 percent in their field. The average salary for a licensed Veterinarian in 2011 was $91,250 and $31,570 on average for a vet tech.

With all of this to contemplate, how should you choose?

     This important decision is a hard one to make but the decision should be made for the right reasons. A person should not let the average yearly salary bring them to the conclusion of becoming a Veterinarian and on the contrary, should not let the amount of school necessary scare them away. This decision should be based upon the work you are willing to do, the time you are willing to put in, and the amount of responsibilty you are capable of taking on.
     No matter what decision you make, you should be happy to know that both Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians greatly help the animals involved and can make a significant impact on the daily lives of both patients and owners!