Daughter wants to be a vet tech...good idea? UPDATE Pg. 3

[MrsPete]

She was continually involved with euthanizing older pets, taking their bodies to be disposed of, etc. She wasn't overly sentimental about it but she found it to be very depressing. Since she doesn't want to be a large animal vet she decided that it wasn't the career for her.

I strongly believe it's a good idea for any young person to do some type of job shadowing /volunteering /summer job /whatever in the job they think they'd like to have. I've known more than one person who's worked hard to prepare for a job . . . then decided that they found one or more aspects of that job unacceptable.

Case in point: I had a college roommate who was a nursing major. She was absolutely tops in her biology classes, etc., but when we reached our Junior year and she began clinicals -- that is, actually working in the hosptial -- she hate-hate-hated it. She found the hospital atmosphere completely depressing, and she would literally cry all the way to clinicals, then cry all evening because she knew she had to go back the next day. If only she'd done some type of volunteer work in the hospital earlier in her life -- candy striping, whatever -- she would've known this before she put two years of her life into preparing to be a nurse.

 

[Order66]

I'm a RVT and can verify first hand the pay stinks. You do it because you love working with animals. If you work in a small animal practice you are everything. Nurse, x-ray tech, phlebotomist, lab tech, dietitian, pharmacist and yes.... glorified pooper scooper.

Pay scales are slightly higher for RVT's who work with large animals and can be very good for those that work in the horse industry. But by far the small animal practice doesn't pay well at all. 25K sounds about right to me. I loved my job and could afford it because I'm married. But I'm currently going back to school to earn my degree in Pharmacy. More opportunities, better pay.

You could suggest she volunteer at your local shelter. Most rescues/humane societies welcome the volunteers. She can get a taste of what it's like and help her decide if she sees herself doing this full time.

regards

 

[ceecee]

We had a dental hygienist job shadow in our office and she fainted during an extraction (very little blood I might add). She said she can not tolerate any amount of blood! And she wants to clean teeth??? Saliva also made her queasy. I agree if she hasn't worked in a vet's office maybe she could volunteer at one or an animal shelter (they always need volunteers) and see if she thinks she would really like it.
I agree with parents trying to get their kids into a more secure position. When you are 18, money just isn't that important to you. My parents let me choose and I wish now I would have gotten a 4 yr instead of Associate Degree. You always mean to go back, it's easier to just get it done.

 

[HunnyPots]

Thanks for all the replies!

To answer some of your questions, DD graduated in the top 10% of her high school class and is very math/science oriented so I know she could become a veterinarian if she wanted to. The problem is, at 19 the thought of 8-10 years in college/med school seems like a lifetime and I can't get her to see past that. Plus, even though Texas is really big, there is only one vet school in the whole state! Over 1000 applicants are turned down every year. THEN there is the tuition so, yeah, she would be looking at years of student loan debt after she graduates and she HATES the idea of that. She's very frugal and for that I am thankful.

Yes, she has had the opportunity to "job shadow" in a vet clinic while in high school. That's where she fell in love with it. Plus, we are big-time pet people and she has dealt with all aspects of animal care all her life. She's not sqeamish in the least when it comes to animal care. She does hate the idea of dealing with euthenasia but she thinks she can handle it. That part, I am not so sure about...

Someone asked why her earning potential was a concern and this really took me by surprise. Of course I am concerned! I want her to be happy in her chosen field but I also want more for her than to just scrape by every month or to have to take a second job to afford any extras. Right now, $10 an hour sounds like lot of money to her because she has no idea what it takes to live on her own. We started playing around with some numbers last night and she was shocked to find out that rent for a low-end 1 bedroom apartment would cost her at least $500 a month. Then she still has to eat and pay for everything else. She can just forget about ever buying a new car or taking a vacation on that salary. So, yes, I want more for her than that.

Anne and DMrick and others with first-hand knowledge of the field: Thanks so much for your insight. I am going to share your replies with DD and try to get some serious discussion going.

Thanks again everybody. You guys are the best!

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Hi!

I am from TX and was kind of like your daughter 18 years ago! yikes did I say 18!! Oh my gosh that looks bad! I worked at Green Oaks Animal Clinic in Arlington TX and Rendon Road Animal Clinic in Rendon, TX, throughout High School and college. They paid minimum wage and I did everything that the previous posters said they did (lots and lots of poop, fleas and ticks!). At the clinics I worked at, they had 3 owners (Vets) and 1 new graduate that they hired right out of vet school. The newbie vet was so overworked and underpaid. Plus, I remember one that was more broke than I because she was paying her school loans. A newly graduated vet has to start a practice or hire on with another. Neither pay well at first. It really started turning me off in college. I was prevet at Tarleton State University in Stephenville TX. I ended up getting a BS in Animal Science and a MS in Agricultural Services and Development. I went on to hire on with the federal government in the Animal field. Many federal jobs will pay previous school loans plus the benefits are very good. I would recommend that she goes to college and get a 4 year degree in some type of animal field (Sul Ross, Alpine; Tarleton, Stephenville, Stephen F Austin, Nacadoches; etc..). That will give her time to make a decision and it will give her many options with a degree that she can use somewhere. You really have to want to be a veternarian and vet tech jobs are low pay. If you love animals, working at a vet office is rough. Many many will die and you will see abused ones too.

good luck~!

 

[momofbgtwins]

Where on earth are you reading $30-40K into this thread? Most vet techs cap out in the $25K range, if they are really experienced, certified, and work for a top vet then $30K is about right for a national average. in some areas that tech would cap out in the $25 range.

My friend I mentioned earlier makes $35K because she is both a certified tech with 30 years experience, AND the office manager--which actually accounts for her pay level. The other techs at that practice make between $20K and $30K--in one of the most expensive areas in the country where housing runs around $1000/mo or more for a 1BR apartment.

National average in what country? My sister is a veterinarian with her own practice where the average household income is approximately $50,000. Hardly the most expensive area in the country. My sister starts experienced vet techs (more than 2 years experience) at $20-25K with full benefits (medical, dental, 401K, etc) Her head tech, who is not certified, makes over $40K (been with her 11 years) and does no management. My sister follows the national guidelines for pay. Maybe your friend should go to www.vspn.org to see what she is really worth?

 

[HunnyPots]

National average in what country? My sister is a veterinarian with her own practice where the average household income is approximately $50,000. Hardly the most expensive area in the country. My sister starts experienced vet techs (more than 2 years experience) at $20-25K with full benefits (medical, dental, 401K, etc) Her head tech, who is not certified, makes over $40K (been with her 11 years) and does no management. My sister follows the national guidelines for pay. Maybe your friend should go to www.vspn.org to see what she is really worth?

Your sister may pay one of her employees very well but believe me this is not the norm. And even you said she starts EXPERIENCED techs at only $20-$25k. What about those just starting out? The thought of working your way UP to a $10 an hour job AFTER college is not too encouraging...

 

[HunnyPots]

Hi!

I am from TX and was kind of like your daughter 18 years ago! yikes did I say 18!! Oh my gosh that looks bad! I worked at Green Oaks Animal Clinic in Arlington TX and Rendon Road Animal Clinic in Rendon, TX, throughout High School and college. They paid minimum wage and I did everything that the previous posters said they did (lots and lots of poop, fleas and ticks!). At the clinics I worked at, they had 3 owners (Vets) and 1 new graduate that they hired right out of vet school. The newbie vet was so overworked and underpaid. Plus, I remember one that was more broke than I because she was paying her school loans. A newly graduated vet has to start a practice or hire on with another. Neither pay well at first. It really started turning me off in college. I was prevet at Tarleton State University in Stephenville TX. I ended up getting a BS in Animal Science and a MS in Agricultural Services and Development. I went on to hire on with the federal government in the Animal field. Many federal jobs will pay previous school loans plus the benefits are very good. I would recommend that she goes to college and get a 4 year degree in some type of animal field (Sul Ross, Alpine; Tarleton, Stephenville, Stephen F Austin, Nacadoches; etc..). That will give her time to make a decision and it will give her many options with a degree that she can use somewhere. You really have to want to be a veternarian and vet tech jobs are low pay. If you love animals, working at a vet office is rough. Many many will die and you will see abused ones too.

good luck~!

Thanks so much for your advice! I will share it with her.

DD originally planned to attend Tarleton for the pre-vet program thinking she could work as a tech in the mean time. She kind of lost interest when she saw how many Ag classes she'd be taking. Poultry production and hay making are just not what she had in mind!

Someone else mentioned Sul Ross to her because the tech classes would apply toward a 4 year degree in animal science, I think. Maybe we'll discuss that option. She's applied to Cedar Valley which is part of DCCC, but their tech classes are pretty much non-transferable. That concerns me.

Thank again for your info! We've got a lot to talk about.

 

[momofbgtwins]

Your sister may pay one of her employees very well but believe me this is not the norm. And even you said she starts EXPERIENCED techs at only $20-$25k. What about those just starting out? The thought of working your way UP to a $10 an hour job AFTER college is not too encouraging...

Most vet techs do not go to college. They work their way up, from kennel help and learn the ropes. The ones my sister starts at $20-25K are not certified (did not go to college) and have been doing what's considered technician jobs for only 2 years. Those that do go to college to become certified vet techs usually end up in industry and/or research, starting at $30-40K.
Wages are dependent on the cost of living in the area. Maybe your daughter should talk to vet techs in the area where she wants to work?

 

[Order66]

There are RVT's (Registered Veterinary Technicians) and then there are Veterinary Assistants. Two different occupations. Years ago Vet Techs were trained on the job and required no degree or certification. Today that has changed. Most states now require registration through the state Veterinary Medical Board with completion of an AVMA approved RVT program. This can be a 2 year degree or a certificate program. When I started RVT was new and those with working experience could apply for registration based on job experience. No more, at least not in most states.

A Veterinary Assistant is a non-licensed job and their duties are more restricted. They cannot administer anethetics, perform x-rays, vaccinate (in some states, perform dentals or euthanize animals. They can perform job duties only under direction of a RVT. They'll do things like restrain animals, collect stool samples, clean surgical insturments, etc..... In Ohio Tech's make about $12 an hour with Asst's no more than $8.00

Many vet's do hire one or two RVT's and the rest even lower paying assistants to handle things less skilled. Think of the RVT as the "nurse" and the Asst's as a "nurse's aide".

For the OP, euthanasia is not that bad. People often asked me how I could do it, or ask tell me I must not love animals. Exactly the opposite. You REALLY need to love animals to help them end their suffering. It's an act of kindness in most cases.

regards

 

[HunnyPots]

Most vet techs do not go to college. They work their way up, from kennel help and learn the ropes. The ones my sister starts at $20-25K are not certified (did not go to college) and have been doing what's considered technician jobs for only 2 years. Those that do go to college to become certified vet techs usually end up in industry and/or research, starting at $30-40K.
Wages are dependent on the cost of living in the area. Maybe your daughter should talk to vet techs in the area where she wants to work?

This may have been true at one time but now many states require certification. It is a two year tech program. Trust me, we've checked this all out, visited with MANY vet techs, both certified and non-certified. We've been to the schools and talked to college advisors as well as the tech instructors. I've researched pay scale in our area and nation-wide. I have no idea where you get your statistics. They are a long way off from what I have found.

 

[HunnyPots]

A Veterinary Assistant is a non-licensed job and their duties are more restricted. They cannot administer anethetics, perform x-rays, vaccinate (in some states, perform dentals or euthanize animals. They can perform job duties only under direction of a RVT. They'll do things like restrain animals, collect stool samples, clean surgical insturments, etc..... In Ohio Tech's make about $12 an hour with Asst's no more than $8.00

Yes, this is pretty much what we've found to be true in Texas also. Thanks for the info. I'm glad to know its not just our area that has such a low pay scale.

 

[Maliki2]

I posted this on the CB but this may be a better place for it.

My almost 19 year old daughter has applied and is waiting to be accepted into a program to become a certified vet tech. She loves working with animals and really wants to do this as a profession. I, however, am very concerned about salary potential. Around here it seems very low, around $20,000 a year and the highest I've heard is around $30,000 after 10 years experience in the field. It seems to be a career that you do more for love than for money. Anybody have any information to the contrary? I'd love to hear it!

I want her to pursue her dreams but I also want her to be realistic about her financial future.

Depending on where you are you can make more money than that. But my biggest concern would be you Let your daughter do what she wants to do, only she can be the one to blame when it comes down to it. She is a young adult....we all must make the best of what we can and live and learn from that. My friend just finished Vet school....he is 35 years old...and he is about to start out on a career which he loves! He isn't making alot of money in his specialized field but the guy loves what he does.....so let her do it!

 

[Cingroomer]

After 27 years of being a dog groomer, I switched positions to be a vet tech. I have been a surgical vet tech for 5 years now and love it. Thankfully, the clinic that I work for had on the job training and also sends me to seminars and other training classes, so I was out no money for tech school, though, if I were younger, I would certainly be doing the online training through St. Petersburg College. I love what I do. The money isn't great, but in florida, nothing pays well. The wages in our clinic range from 10.50 an hr to 36,000 a year salary, depending on the position. If you want to be in this field for the money, forget it, but thats not what going to work everyday is about. You have to love animals to do what I do. I don't mean just wanting to "play with the puppies", you have to LOVE animals. There are days when I do wonder why I do this, then I see an old dog come in and see the hurt in their elderly owners eyes, wondering if their dog will survive, and then WE make it happen. We give them a few more years with their loyal companion. I see dogs and cats hit and run by cars, left to die, we restore them to health and find them good homes. I see animals suffering that are entitled to a compassionate and dignifying end to their life, and I can make that happen. Its not all about the money. I could make $1,000,000 a year doing something I hate, but in the end, is it worth it.

As for being a vet, don't think that guarantees you to a great means of living either, especially at first. Most vets out of school make about 50-60,000 their first couple years working in someone elses practice. It takes time for them to build clientele and make a good living, and they have a huge college debt to pay back. Someone mentioned large animal medicine as compared to small animals, and that does pay better, as well as taking care of exotics. There aren't many good vets doing that nowadays.

Encourage your daughter to do something she will love for the rest of her life, she'll get by on tech salary, especially if certified. There are a lot of large emergency and specialty clinics that do pay well and give full benefits, you just have to look for them.

For those interested in animal care, you can read my monthly column on the internet. Its called Pet Connection and located at Helpingmomsconnect. I do it for fun and to hopefully pass along some good advice to pet owners.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Hunnypots, You are welcome. Since I was prevet, my prerequisites were mostly science classes. I think I was 1 class short on minoring in Chemistry. I am a big time math and science person (you probably can tell by my spelling that I am short on that side! he he!). I did take ag classes but not hay hauling or chicken classes. In fact, I did not take one poultry class! You can do alot of substituting as long as it is a higher level class. You have to have X number of classes in your major but it is flexible on others. It does not have to be by the book. She would have to do basics but you can exchange Dairy for Poultry, etc...I was in the Science building ALOT more than the ag building. But truthfully, the ag classes help me more in my day to day life now. I actually wish I took more. Even if I was not working, having poultry knowledge is beneficial even in the grocery store. You don't appreciate some things until you are older. The meat classes I took....well I use them everyday just buying meat. Most people do not really even know what they are buying. Anyway, I work only part time for the gov't now because I have 4 kids. My husband works full time for the federal for GIPSA (Grain Inspection, Packers, Stockyards Association. He graduated from Sul Ross with a major in Meat Science.

I think being a Vet Teck is a great job! But I would recommend getting a degree before she has kids or is married. We are such multi taskers (woman) that I feel like it is harder for us once we have commitments. I think my brain would blow now if I was taking a course. Now my husband got his Master a couple of years ago, working and with 4 kids in tow. But, he is able to think of one thing at a time. He would go in the room and shut the door and do his work. If it was me, I would be thinking, "what will I make for lunch tomorrow, did I clean the toilet, etc..."

If you daughter would get all that out of the way then she could still be a Vet Tech but have some things under her built to protect her in the future. I know, I know, not a 100%, but something! Vet Tech jobs will always be there when she is done w/ degree and certificates.

When I started working (1986) for a Vet in Arlington (a fancy clinic, small animal), I made $3.35/hour. I did lab work, assisted in surgery, meds, poop scoop, and cleaned the entire clinic at closing. They had people working for free just for experience too (prevet majors).

Oh....one last thing.....you might love the animals, but you will find out that you are really still working with the general public. Dealing with mean people was quiet often. Small animal care seems to be alot worse in that area.

 

[vetrik]

dbl post

 

[vetrik]

I think it's a fine career if you truly accept what the job is, and truly love doing most of that work. You also need to accept that you will never make a lot of money doing it - although as a RVT I'm sure she will make enough to live, especially after a few years experience and in a low cost of living area, it will never be a high paying job. Most of the people I worked with who did it for a career had a spouse with a higher paying job that was the main support for their family.

I was sure all my life I wanted to be a vet. I started volunteering at an animal hospital at 13, and I ended up working as an vet assistant from the ages of 16 to 22. I went to college for prevet, but halfway through I realized that I was not truly committed enough to do 6 more years of school, build up thousands of dollars in loans, and start at a job making little money comparative to the amount of schooling, with long hours and very draining days. I ended up getting a degree in English and a paralegal certificate and I work in the legal field.

I left the job as a vet assistant when I finished college, even though I enjoyed the job and the vets I worked for. I realized that, especially in private practice, there's no where to go. The best to hope for was maybe to end up as office manager/supervisor someday, and that's only in the larger practices.

As an assistant, I started out making $6/hr in 1996 - pretty good in high school when minimum wage was $5.15. When I left in 2002 I was making $10/hr. I think most of the techs there with anywhere from 5-25 years experience were making in the $30,000-$37,000 range. Also, the benefits can vary a lot depending on the size of the practice. When I first started working where I did, they didn't even offer health insurance, 401ks, etc. By the time I left, they had grown a lot and were offering more benefits to full time employees. It seems like pretty good money in your 20s, but I was looking at the people I was working with in their 50s still making about the same amount and feeling discouraged with it. Also, it sounds awful, but I wanted a job where I wouldn't be mopping floors and cleaning cages every night.

But, I wouldn't want to totally discourage someone from the job. I did truly love most of it, and I still miss it sometimes. If it's truly what she wants to do, I think the benefits and the joys of the job would outweigh the not so fun parts and the pay.

 

[Free4Life11]

I don't think it's a lot of money but does she plan on getting married? That might be a little low for a single person but if she gets married there will be two incomes. I don't you need to make a lot of money to live a fulfilling, happy live.

I have a friend who lives in Chicago and makes about $22K a year and lives perfectly fine. No she doesn't have the Mercedes or a big house or multiple Disney Trips a year, but she isn't dirt poor either. Obviously this wouldn't work in the long term, but it's not like you need to be making $80K a year right out of college.

If this is what she loves to do I would encourage her to pursue it.

 

[HunnyPots]

Well, miracles do happen because DD is actually LISTENING to her father and I and seriously considering going back to college to pursue at least a 4 year degree. She's now looking into a degree in biology or possibly animal biology/science and whatever career options she may have there. We will be visiting a university tomorrow to speak with an advisor.
Yea!

 

[DMRick]

Also, it sounds awful, but I wanted a job where I wouldn't be mopping floors and cleaning cages every night.

Boy, do I understand that. It's ok in your twenty and thirties..but when you hit 40, it gets old.

Now I'm cleaning poop, but it's because I'm volunteering, fostering kitties. Funny, it's not so bad, when you want to do it LOL. How can you not be happy to have these babies delivered on your door to enjoy for several weeks (earmites and all LOL!)?