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Because just a part of the job in veterinary clinics is left to veterinarians themselves, veterinary technicians have their vital role in dealing with animals and their owners.
Coming to a hospital is stressful, so a veterinary technician has to take care of both the frightened owner and the animal itself.
If you find yourself able to spend your days providing medical and health care assistance to animals, then the veterinary technician vocation is perfect for you.
Article Table of Contents
- 1 Veterinary Technician Job Description
- 2 Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Arkansas
- 3 Educational Requirements for Veterinary Technicians in Arkansas
- 4 Veterinary Technician Examination
- 5 Job Prospects in Arkansas
- 6 Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Arkansas
- 7 Veterinary Technician’s Duties
- 8 Summary
Veterinary Technician Job Description
The veterinary technician job is demanding.
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The activities that they perform are preparing and assisting a surgery and helping veterinarians whatever is done with the animal, like emergency care or handling and restraint of animals.
Some veterinary technicians specialize in dentistry, radiology and laboratory tasks and perform them without the supervision of a veterinarian.
Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Arkansas
If you want to have a career as a veterinary technician, the requirements are a high school diploma, as well as a license attained by completing a veterinary technology program.
The program must be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA).
The veterinary technology program accredited by the AVMA in Arkansas is Arkansas State University-Beebe.
Educational Requirements for Veterinary Technicians in Arkansas
This Veterinary Technology Program takes two years to finish and classes start every autumn when 40 students begin their education.
You can apply online for these studies, but only if your ACT score of 19 and 20 hours of work or volunteer experience in a veterinary clinic.
In case the ACT is lower than 19, English and math courses will be obligatory before the application. Additional necessary documentation is a letter of recommendation.
The veterinary technology studies focus on English, math, biology, and veterinary medical terminology in the first part.
Then, the curriculum advances to computer applications, anatomy, and physiology, reproduction, nutrition, pharmacology, laboratory techniques, pathology, and anesthesia.
The fifth semester will be a preceptorship in a veterinary clinic designed for you to show what you have learned during the classes.
A veterinary technician program consists of 71 credit hours.
The total cost of in-state tuition is $6,603, while out of state residents will need to pay $161 per credit hour, which will be $11,431.
Federal student loans and veterans benefits are available and you can apply for it through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website.
Veterinary Technician Examination
The Veterinary Technician National Examination can be done in January and June every year.
The American Association of Veterinary State Boards organizes it for the students who have a degree from an accredited veterinary technology program.
They are given three hours for 150 questions, and the price is $300.
The VTNE exam can be done six months before graduation.
In case you have passed the VTNE in another state, it will be accepted in Arkansas only if you sent the exam results to the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Examining Board.
You will not be asked to take another exam, and once you pay a $40 certification fee, you will become eligible to work as a veterinary technician.
The degree must be renewed every year by completion of six hours of continuing education which is administered by the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association.
The renewal fee is $25 and these are some of the accredited organizations where you can keep your license current:
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
- Veterinary Career Network
- Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association
Job Prospects in Arkansas
Once you have successfully finished the courses and achieved a degree, you are qualified to search for a satisfying job.
Arkansas has to offer a lot of animal clinics and hospitals where veterinary technicians can find work and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that job opportunities for veterinary technicians are expected to grow thus affecting the veterinary technician’s salary.
Special job offerings can be found in the cities of North Little Rock, De Queen, Arkadelphia, Little Rock, Fayetteville, Russellville, and Delaware.
Completion of a certification examination is required to become a veterinary technician with greater priority and qualifications and the certificate can improve the chances of finding employment as an Arkansas veterinary technician.
As a veterinary technician with an Associate’s Degree you can work in:
- Research
- Zoo and exotic animal care
- Veterinary products sales
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Humane Society and rescue organizations
- Teaching
- Private practice
- Veterinary teaching hospitals
- Military Service
Good job opportunities are offered by numerous veterinary technician employers and these are some of the resources for technicians in Arkansas:
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
- Veterinary Career Network
- Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association.
Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Arkansas
When it comes to a salary, veterinary technician salaries differentiate throughout the cities in the Arkansas area.
The amount of money they will earn depends on numerous factors, such as work setting, experience, quality of work and the number of daily duties, which all affect the average salary of an Arkansas veterinary technician.
The lowest is in Fort Smith estimated at $ 31 600, while pay rates might rise to $ 33 926 in Little Rock per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bentonville,AR | $32,404 |
| Conway,AR | $33,598 |
| Fayetteville,AR | $32,667 |
| Fort Smith,AR | $31,600 |
| Jacksonville,AR | $33,882 |
| Jonesboro,AR | $34,276 |
| Little Rock,AR | $33,926 |
| Pine Bluff,AR | $32,670 |
| Rogers,AR | $32,469 |
| Springdale,AR | $32,667 |
| Texarkana,AR | $33,268 |
Regional Salary in Arkansas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 60 | $32,690 | $15.71 | $39,740 | $29,070 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Veterinary Technician’s Duties
The duties of a veterinary technician are not at all naïve.
They are in charge of:
- Administering injections
- Observing animals for changes in behavior
- Preparing exams or surgery
- Giving first aid
- Collecting and test lab samples
- Taking and developing X-rays
- Giving medications, shots, or treatments
- Collecting and maintaining patient records
They need to be familiar with standard practices and procedures within that field, as they might be asked to perform a variety of tasks and work together with the veterinarian.
Their services are crucial in the daily activities of a veterinary clinic.
Summary
To sum up, veterinary technicians are of great help as they assist veterinarians in providing medical care to animals.
Prevention and precaution are necessary so as not to be bitten or injured by animals.
The job of a veterinary technician has numerous difficulties that he/she has to face and deal with it daily.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Technicians by State