If you love pets and animals, one of the most satisfying jobs for you is to work as a zoo veterinary technician. A zoo veterinary technician does comprehensive work in the zoo medical clinic, ranging from preparing animals for surgery, preparing the surgery room and the materials needed for the procedures and assisting the veterinarian in surgery. They also perform testing and gathering of samples from the animals to monitor their daily health, diagnose illness, health and nutrition issues. They also care for sick and injured animals. If you’re thinking about working a vet tech job at the zoo, you’ll need to make sure you have sufficient vet tech training. These tips will help you start your veterinary career. Here’s how to become a zoo veterinary technician.
Skills Required
- Temperament. First of all, try to look at your own character and temperament to determine whether you are fit for the job. Remember, it takes time to earn a certificate and a license as a zoo veterinary technician, and the last thing that you want is to realize that you do not actually want to deal with zoo animals. Unlike pets, zoo animals are wild and can be dangerous. You need to be able to handle not just cute little penguins and gazelles, but lions, tigers and other large animals when working zoo jobs. Also, remember that zoo animals are not trained like pets when it comes to bathing and potty use, which is why the work place for zoo veterinary technicians may have a natural smell.
- Knowledge of Animal Behaviors. You need to know how animals behave normally in order to notice if there is a change in behaviors such as eating or social interaction. Changes may give clues to whether an animal is sick, pregnant or needing veterinary care.
- Ability to work long hours. Even after the zoo closes, animal care goes on throughout the night. You may occasionally need to work extra hours if you have a sick animal or an animal in labor and about to give birth. Some sick animals may require medications, food and fluids around the clock, so be prepared to work on a shift type schedule.
Education and Training
- Start as early as possible. In high school, you will need to focus your general education in the sciences and math. It is also helpful if your high school offers a class in animal sciences.
- Get your degree. After high school graduation you need to find a certified and accredited school where you can get your Associate’s degree in zoo veterinary technology, which takes about two-years. You can also earn a four-year Bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology. You will need to make sure your school is accredited with the American Veterinary Medical Association. The association will also be able to provide you with a list of schools from which they accept degrees.
- Work an internship. After you receive your degree, you need to work in an internship position. During this time you will work very closely with the veterinarian. You need to work and provide volunteer service to the local zoos in order to actually be able to work with the rare animals that are housed there. Remember, even cadavers for zoo animals are usually very difficult to find, and the most practical application of the theories that you learn from vet tech schools will really be found in the zoo clinics. Most zoos today have internship programs that they offer for zoo veterinary technicians. Most accredited zoo veterinary technology schools are also affiliated with the local zoos. Make sure that you log in all of the time that you spent doing an internship, so that you will be able to use this as proof that you are eligible for certification and licensure.
- Become certified. When you complete your internship, it will be time for you to get your veterinary certification and licensing to practice. Usually, the examination is only given once you have completed a certain number of internship hours. After you pass the state board examination, you will be allowed to practice as a zoo veterinary technician.
Job Opportunities
After you get your license, finding this type of veterinary jobs shouldn’t be that difficult. Because of the relatively few zoo veterinary technologists, the number of vet tech jobs and the demand for these professionals is very high. You will be able to work in a zoo, wildlife preserve or even a wildlife rescue. There are a lot of possibilities with this education in exciting places.
Salary and Job Growth
The starting salary for veterinary technicians is around $23,000 and up to about $41,000 per year. Zoos are non-profit organizations and run mostly on admission fees and donations. The true reward though is working with animals helping them to live long healthy lives.
This career is expected to grow 36% through the year 2018 and there is always a demand for zoo vet techs.
If you have a love for animals and a desire to work with specialized and exotic breeds, you will love being a veterinary technician. One day you might find yourself working with tigers, chimpanzees or elephants and that can be both challenging, yet rewarding all at the same time.