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Because the pet’s role in people’s lives is so important, they believe in the veterinary team to help them in case there is something wrong with their animal.
Thus, the veterinary staff has to possess emphatic skills and be patient, to understand the relationship between animals and people, offer consolation and be there to listen to and answer all their questions.
Taking into consideration the fact that veterinary medicine offers rewarding and satisfying jobs, there are more and more people who would not mind spending all working day around animals and cooperating with people who love them.
The veterinary technician profession offers you the chance of finding a job that will earn you a decent salary, you will be surrounded by people interested in animal welfare and the animals which desperately need your help.
Earn your accredited, affordable Veterinary Technician Associate Degree online with Penn Foster!
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Veterinary Technician Job Description
The veterinary staff is in charge of the perfect functioning of the clinic.
During a working day, each part of this team knows what his/her duties are.
First of all, it is worth mentioning that a veterinary technician is a person of equal significance as the nurse in human hospitals.
Veterinary technician’s everyday tasks are more demanding than ever, as they are involved in providing basic care for pets and non-farm animals, giving medications or vaccinations, assisting veterinarians, doing blood tests and taking X-rays, among many others.
Licensed veterinary technicians’ amount of daily work differs from one location to the other.
The veterinarian reputation also affects the daily activities of a veterinary facility.
The job involves working night shifts, fieldwork and during holidays and weekends.
Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Michigan
If you are interested in becoming a veterinary technician, you should know that you are supposed to complete a degree in Veterinary Technology that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
You can decide which degree you would like to get after education:
- an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree,
- an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree,
- or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.
After obtaining a high school diploma or GED equivalency which is obligatory for enrolling the program, many veterinary technicians decide to continue their further education and focus on gaining new knowledge related to work in a veterinary clinic.
Educational Requirements for Veterinary Technicians in Michigan
There are numerous AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology programs in Michigan, as well as nine accredited programs available online.
The veterinary technology programs accredited by the AVMA in Michigan are:
- Baker College of Cadillac
- Baker College of Clinton Township
- Baker College of Flint
- Baker College of Jackson
- Baker College of Muskegon
- Macomb Community College
- Michigan State University
Veterinary Technician will learn about:
- Animal care and handling
- Clinical lab methodology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Animal Disease
- Nutrition
- Pharmacology
- Surgery
- Anesthesia
- Dentistry
- Radiology
To be able to work individually, you should possess experience in the clinic, which can be gained through an internship.
It is designed to directly prepare you to work as a Veterinary Technician upon graduation.
Students can start their internship in veterinary hospitals in Michigan:
- Mid-Michigan Veterinary Hospital
- Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners
- Countryside Veterinary Hospital
- Cahill Veterinary Hospital
- Dunckel Veterinary Hospital
- Guide to Veterinary Hospital
The graduation is only the first step towards achieving your license.
You will need to submit an application to the Michigan State Board of Veterinary Medicine, pay $105.00, ensure that the official transcript from your completed Veterinary Technician degree is forwarded to the Board office as well as a letter from your Veterinary Technician Program Director and only then you will be allowed to take the national and state examinations.
Additional documentation includes the completion of a Criminal Background Check (CBC) 7-10 days after you have sent in your application.
Veterinary Technician Examination and License
The Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) and the Michigan Veterinary Technician examination are obligatory for the licensure.
They entail specific testing windows during which you can take these exams:
- March 15—April 15
- AAVSB Online Application Deadline: February 15
- Michigan Application Deadline: December 19
- July 15—August 15
- AAVSB Online Application Deadline: June 15
- Michigan Application Deadline: April 19
- November 15—December 15
- AAVSB Online Application Deadline: October 15
- Michigan Application Deadline: August 20
The Michigan Veterinary Technician examination is in June at Michigan State University and is available only for those who have applied by early May.
You are also supposed to register and apply online through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) website.
The application is $300 and once approved you can choose your desired testing window and location to take the VTNE.
Prometric Licensing and Examination Providers are in charge of the examination at one of their testing facilities in Michigan.
All of the questions on the exam are related to the subjects learned during the classes or internship.
After you have received your initial license it needs to be renewed during the first year.
Later on, you are supposed to renew it every two years.
For those who want to continue their education, NAVTA offers numerous specialization programs:
- animal dentistry
- management and administration of anesthesia for animals.
- small animal medicine, large animal medicine, oncology, cardiology, or neurology.
- emergency or critical care
- behavioral medicine
- equine medicine, promote the general well-being of horses.
- advanced surgical procedures
- specific species,
- animal nutrition
- diagnosing and treating animal disease.
Job Prospects in Michigan
Once you get your certificate and gain all the necessary knowledge, you can start searching for a job.
Animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, clinics, and zoos offer an abundance of job possibilities.
Good job opportunities are offered by numerous veterinary technician employers in Michigan and information about them can be found on:
- Michigan Veterinary Medical Association
- Michigan Association of Veterinary Technicians
- Southeastern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association
Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Michigan
If a person takes into consideration just the salary of a veterinary technician than he/she might find this vocation unsatisfactory.
However, the people doing this job find satisfaction in all the other beauties that this job has to offer.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Ann Arbor,MI | $38,315 |
| Battle Creek,MI | $36,174 |
| Benton Harbor,MI | $34,860 |
| Canton,MI | $38,256 |
| Dearborn,MI | $37,401 |
| Dearborn Heights,MI | $37,381 |
| Detroit,MI | $37,401 |
| Farmington,MI | $37,245 |
| Flint,MI | $33,761 |
| Grand Rapids,MI | $35,616 |
| Kalamazoo,MI | $35,528 |
| Lansing,MI | $35,740 |
| Livonia,MI | $37,284 |
| Muskegon,MI | $33,999 |
| Novi,MI | $38,139 |
| Pontiac,MI | $37,460 |
| Royal Oak,MI | $37,361 |
| Saginaw,MI | $33,876 |
| Southfield,MI | $37,323 |
| Sterling Heights,MI | $37,284 |
| Taylor,MI | $37,342 |
| Troy,MI | $37,264 |
| Warren,MI | $37,401 |
| Waterford,MI | $37,497 |
| West Bloomfield,MI | $37,553 |
| Westland,MI | $37,712 |
| Wyoming,MI | $35,616 |
Regional Salary in Michigan
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 170 | $41,930 | $20.16 | $50,180 | $34,130 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,350 | $42,360 | $20.36 | $49,110 | $37,130 |
| Flint, MI | 110 | $40,440 | $19.44 | $46,550 | $34,840 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 380 | $39,600 | $19.04 | $47,470 | $31,500 |
| Jackson, MI | 50 | $38,640 | $18.58 | $45,120 | $35,000 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 120 | $40,800 | $19.62 | $45,670 | $36,090 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 240 | $46,480 | $22.35 | $63,460 | $35,780 |
| Midland, MI | 50 | $42,290 | $20.33 | $49,040 | $35,780 |
| Monroe, MI | 60 | $40,290 | $19.37 | $48,470 | $31,050 |
| Muskegon, MI | 40 | $38,370 | $18.45 | $46,740 | $30,880 |
| Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | 30 | $39,140 | $18.82 | $48,060 | $31,200 |
| Saginaw, MI | 60 | $39,780 | $19.12 | $46,860 | $31,830 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Technicians by State