What are the differences between being a Veterinary Technician, and being a Veterinarian?
I’m thinking of a career in veterinary medicine, but I am still deciding if I would be good at it. I didn’t really think of becoming a Veterinarian until now, so my high school biology grades are not very good and I figured I could just work harder in undergraduate school. I wanted to take AP Biology my senior year but the class is now full which is really unfortunate. I’m mostly worried that I wouldn’t get into Veterniary School for graduate school. What happens if I do pre-veterinary medicine as a major and I don’t get into graduate school!? Do you think I would be okay at this subject, based basically on what I said before?
Also, what is the difference between being a Vet Technician and an actual Vet?
Oh, and I am not very strong at mathematics, but I figured I could get better in college?
Filed under: Pet Insurance
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Vet schools will not look at your high school grades, so if you do great in undergrad then good.
A few schools offer a 4 year vet tech degree (which would be great because even if you didn’t get into to vet school you would have your tech degree and could get a job). But most schools do not.
You could just do really well in undergrad, take the vet school requirements, major in something like animal science or biology and be able to get it. It would also benifit you to do undergrad research, join the prevet club, join any other animal related clubs and work/volunteer at a vet office.
Most states require that you have a vet tech degree to be a vet tech, some do not and so if you are in one of those states, you could get training on the job duirng your undergrad years.
Also the other option may be to do a 2 year vet tech program, see how you like it and see how you do then do the requirements to apply to vet school.
There are many options open and many ways to get to vet school.
I am currently in vet school and I spent years taking courses at a community college, worked at vet clinics as a tech, finished by bachelor’s degree at a state university, did some grad work, then got into vet school. So it is not like doing 4 years at a big university is the only way to get into vet school.
Also once you get into contact with some vets and get an advisor at college, they will be able to give you more info.
the following websites may be of use:
http://www.navta.net/
http://avma.org/
http://aavmc.org/
Difference between vet and vet tech.
there are only 3 things a vet tech can’t do compared to a vet.
Surgery, make a diagnosis and prescirbe medication
Vets go to school for 8 years. Only need 2 for vet tech.
The biggest difference between being a vet tech and a vet is 2 years of school for a vet tech vs 8 to be an actual vet. A vet tech is a vet assistant – kind of like a nurse with humans. Vet techs get paid much less than a vet, but you also don’t have to go to school for 10 years. If you choose pre-vet as your major in college and don’t get into vet school, you could select another major and use many of the classes you have already taken if it is a related field. You would probably have to take a couple other classes but could do it. I would suggest becoming a vet if you’re up for the long years of work. It will pay off in the end. Also, if you go to a 2 year college to become a vet tech and then decide later in life that you want to be a vet, you pretty much have to start over. Being a vet tech doesn’t do much to help you become a vet later b/c you can’t use the credits.