How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Kansas

Being successful in dealing with animals and people already makes you a good candidate for the obligations required by the veterinary technician job.

And if above all these you love animals and are interested in their welfare, then you definitely should pursue a career as a veterinary technician.

The veterinary clinic team consists of people who are as passionate about pets as you are.

Veterinary Technician Job Description

The animal owners are the clients and veterinary technicians will need to teach them all about animal care and give them support when they are really worried about their animals.

Veterinarians and their staff are necessary as they make animals feel good and happy, and at the same time help their owners feel relieved.

There are numerous noteworthy daily activities of a veterinary technician which are far more serious than just communicating with clients.

They perform the lab work, collect urine samples, take care of animals, pay attention to that the patients are being treated well, and cooperate with other veterinary staff.

Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Kansas

To be allowed to work as a veterinary technician and to be able to manage all the duties, you are supposed to achieve some kind of knowledge related to that field.

It can be done through programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities and they can be found in various vocational schools and colleges in Kansas.

The veterinary technology programs accredited by the AVMA in Kansas are:

• Colby Community College
• Colby Community College
• Independence Community College
• Wichita Area Technical College

Educational Requirements for Veterinary Technicians in Kansas

The application qualifications may vary from school to school, but all of them require a high school diploma or a GED.

Some schools require that the applicants have worked for a veterinarian, achieved great scores on exams such as the ACT, SAT or COMPASS.

The necessary documentation and qualification information can be found on every school’s website and future students should get acquainted with it very well before applying.

Kansas is the state with the oldest accredited programs and it has two schools that offer distance learning programs.

Every program includes general education courses such as biology, English, math, psychology, and computer skills before the science-based courses.

Even though the curriculum varies from program to program, the subjects are almost the same -chemistry, nutrition, behavior, practice management, communication, and large and small animal medicine among many others.

Classroom lessons are followed by laboratory practice and an internship where you can practice what you have learned and show your skills to possible future employers.

The education usually takes two years and the tuition is very affordable since it is estimated to be under $20,000 including additional fees.

Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri residents will pay tuition that is slightly higher than for in-state students due to the agreement with Kansas.

Students are given a chance to get financial aid and the application process for it can be found on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.

Also, there is a program called KanVet through which you can get easy access to the state’s resources and benefits.

Veterinary Technician Examination and License

After you graduate, you will be given an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology.

This means that you fulfilled all the requirements for the taking of the Veterinary Technician National Exam which is obligatory for licensure.

Once you pass the exam, you can become certified by registering on the Kansas Board of Veterinary Examiners website.

Job Prospects in Kansas

Getting a certificate is one thing, and becoming an employed veterinary technician is something completely different, and that is why students should fight for their places in clinics even during the studies.

The internship should be used to make contacts and leave a good first impression on the employer, who might decide to hire you if he/she is satisfied with your work.

The successful finishing of education leads to better chances of finding a satisfying job and gaining higher education can help during the selection process once you apply for it.

Good job opportunities are offered by numerous veterinary technician employers in Kansas and the certified veterinary technicians can look for resources on:

• Kansas veterinary technicians association
• Kansas Veterinary Medical Association
• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
• Veterinary Career Network
• Vet Tech Life.

Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Kansas

When it comes to salary, the veterinary technician salary is not so high compared to some other similar occupations, but it is still a decent one.

The significant rise in new working positions leads to the situation that some states struggle to find enough certified and skillful technicians able to start working without previously being trained by the veterinarian.

The annual salary of a veterinary technician distinguishes among the cities around Kansas as the amount of money earned depends on numerous factors.

It can range from $ 33 761 in Manhattan up to $ 35 880 in Kansas City per year.

The level of education and experience, number of working hours and work setting also make difference among veterinary technician’s salaries as those less experienced cannot have the same salary as those with years of work experience.

Regional Salary in Kansas

Veterinary Technician’s Duties

How much work the veterinary technician will have during the day depends on the number of clients that the hospital, clinic or other animal facility has.

Their routine activities include assistance to the veterinarian, animal nursing and lab procedures, taking blood samples, giving injections and all these make their job significant and serious.

The necessity for educated and talented veterinary technicians rises, as well as their duties.

Veterinary technicians need to be in touch with the latest development of veterinary science and continue their specialization in this field.

Visiting seminars and continuing education programs will keep them familiar with the latest technological and scientific improvements.

The veterinary filed is full of people who care for all kinds of creatures and at the same time combine their love of animals with what they do for a living.

Veterinary Technicians by State