Veterinary Technician or RN?

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I'm having trouble deciding between the two careers and I'm wondering if someone else was ever, or is, in the same spot. On one hand, I love animals and working with them (my first job was at a kennel and I LOVED it) and I imagine being a vet tech would be something I'd really enjoy. On the other, I like the idea of working as an RN also; I like the idea of all the different specialties and things you get to do as an RN, plus I like the idea of helping people and taking care of them. Although, I know as far as money goes RN is definitely where it's at; it's often hard to make decent money working as a vet tech. My school offers Associate's programs for both RN and vet tech, so...

Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
Some states have a "grandfather" or "alternate route" that allows assistants with X years experience, a degree in a related field (biology for example), and/or extensive CE hours (usually hundreds) in specific subjects to sit for the exam. In my experience, these technicians are usually much better/more qualified than new grads who just passed their exam.

Cool. Didn't know that. Was under the impression that all you had to do was sit and pass the exam, but that could have been a state-by-state thing. Opposite the NCLEX where it stipulates that you have to graduate from an accredited school before taking the exam. Totally agree that it doesn't really matter and studying for an exam is always easier than learning the real thing. Most of my schooling was pre-vet before I bailed so I assume I'm lacking. lol.

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True, but in my area at least, the only programs that offer vet tech associates are the expensive for-profit schools. Vet tech BSN is usually seen as a stepping stone to get your DVM.

Be careful because there are a lot of programs that are not accredited, and you won't be allowed to sit for the national exam and get your license. Should be illegal. And pre-vet is better if you want to get your DVM, because if you get your Vet Tech BSN you will still have to take all your advanced chemistry and math classes that are needed to get into vet school. They do prefer you to have experiance working in veterinary medicine, not necessarily as a vet tech, they want to see that you know what you are getting into and that you won't freak out and quit the first time you have to stick a needle in poor little fluffy. You don't need to be a vet tech to get into vet school anymore than you need to be an rn to get into med school.

I agree with most of what was said here. However, I know many specialty veterinary technicians who make over $30/hr and are not in management (including myself, though I am a nursing supervisor with some managerial duties). I also have a complete benefits package with a pension (as do all employees here). I think I pay $40/month for excellent benefits for my family. There is a specific skill-set that is required for some jobs, and employers pay well for it. Just have to work hard and study hard to obtain the skills and knowledge in demand.

Additionally, the sky is the limit with veterinary nursing as well. Sure you won't make 6 figures, but you can come close, and have a (potentially) more stimulating job.

The key words here are specialty veterinary practices which are not very common. In my tri-state area there was only one and people would drive 2 hrs to bring there pets there and I lived 20min outside of a major city. You could have what you mentioned there but that would be all. The skill set you develope there would only be fully compensated for at that facility, a regular small animal vet would never pay you anywhere near what you would make at that specialty practice no matter what skill set or certificates you have, they simply can't afford it and really don't have to have it. Unlike an RN where you could have your choice of, I don't know, 25 hospitals in an hours radius.

And yes, you can advance and get certificates, but they are difficult to get, you must work in a specialty practice to obtain them and only in a specialty practice will you ever be compensated for them. What this mean is that if you tired of that practice and want to work somewhere else you will basically have to move, unless your lucky enough to have another specialty practice close by, which still leaves you with limited choices. And you are limited to realistically only one certificate specialization, these are internal medicine, dentistry, zoo, behavior, anesthesia, equine, surgery, and emergency (I think that's all of them, might have missed one). For example, I was interested in the anesthesia certificate but it would have been impossible to obtain in a small animal pratice because of the advance skills, variety of anesthetics and variety of species that are required to be included that a regular vet tech would just never encounter in a regular small animal practice.

With an RN you can specialize in hundred different areas of medicine instead of just the 8 that I mentioned. You can get your BSN, then MSN and even doctorate. I could go on and on with where you can go just by starting off with your ADN. I loved my patients dearly, and my experiance has been invaluable so far in nursing school, but I trully wish I could go back and choose nursing school instead. If I had, I would have my own home now, a retirement fund and so on. There are some vet techs that can make a good living but even a very experianced and even specialized vet tech, will still never make as much as an RN with less than 5 yrs experiance.

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Petstopeople, you mentioned a "vet tech BSN" but wouldn't it just be a BS? I don't think vet techs get Bachelor of Science in Nursing lol.

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lol yup you're right :nuke:

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.
SugarBabe-

You are correct. However, if you are not licensed you cannot perform VT tasks, such as induction of general anesthesia, splinting/casting, etc. There are many tasks you can perform once properly trained. However as we all know, just because you know HOW to do something, doesn't mean you know WHY or WHAT IT DOES. Many assistants can administer medications, but do not understand the pharmacology and physiology of why. This is where the additional education comes into play.

The facilities who hire non-credentialed assistants are usually low-volume community clinics. The specialty/referral hospitals almost always require you to have your license.

I was an on the job trained vet assistant for 4 years and I did anesthesia, intubation, medication, dental cleanings, all sorts of stuff, knowing the how and not the why. When I got to nursing school and thought back on that, it horrified me. I didn't know WHAT I didn't know, and the fact that I worked for 4 years luckily without the poor outcomes that could have happened really scared me. I have a great respect for vet techs, and never tried to call myself one when I was just an assistant.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Animals do not talk back. And, many wag their tail when they're happy. I'm just saying...

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"A veterinary technician is a graduate from a two-year, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program from a community college, college or university." quote taken from the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America website.

I had never heard of this grandfather clause but apparently in some states it is possible. The only problem with it is that it will differ by state.

"You must be a graduate from an approved, accredited school of animal technology to become a Registered Veterinary Technician in the State of Ohio." quote taken from the Ohio Association of Veterinary Medical LIcensing Board.

So just because you were grandfathered in does not mean you will be allowed to transfer your license to another state.

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Animals do not talk back

Nope, they don't waste time grippin' at you, they just bite when you **** them off, lol

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
True, but in my area at least, the only programs that offer vet tech associates are the expensive for-profit schools. Vet tech BSN is usually seen as a stepping stone to get your DVM.

Be careful because there are a lot of programs that are not accredited, and you won't be allowed to sit for the national exam and get your license. Should be illegal. And pre-vet is better if you want to get your DVM, because if you get your Vet Tech BSN you will still have to take all your advanced chemistry and math classes that are needed to get into vet school. They do prefer you to have experiance working in veterinary medicine, not necessarily as a vet tech, they want to see that you know what you are getting into and that you won't freak out and quit the first time you have to stick a needle in poor little fluffy. You don't need to be a vet tech to get into vet school anymore than you need to be an rn to get into med school.

That's actually what I meant when I mentioned the for-profit schools. Non-accredited and cost quite a bit more.

When I was seriously considering getting my DVM, I was actually surprised at how low level the pre-reqs for the vet schools in the surrounding states were. I'd met the chem and math requirements through my RN pre-reqs and only needed a zoology/animal phys class to meet the bio reqs. You don't technically need an undergrad degree to get into most DVM schools. So, on its face, I wouldn't really compare DVM to getting into med school. It's just that DVM is *so* competitive that most schools don't even look at the bottom line. lol but this thread isn't about getting your DVM. ;)

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When I was seriously considering getting my DVM, I was actually surprised at how low level the pre-reqs for the vet schools in the surrounding states were. I'd met the chem and math requirements through my RN pre-reqs and only needed a zoology/animal phys class to meet the bio reqs.

Pre-vet and pre-med programs have more similarities than differences, actually. There are a few specialized classes for each program, but in general the knowledge base to practice medicine is universal.

You don't technically need an undergrad degree to get into most DVM schools.

I don't know of any veterinary schools that don't require a BS for admission (other than schools overseas, which is a completely different program, and you don't need a BS to go to medical school as well).

So, on its face, I wouldn't really compare DVM to getting into med school.

Funny, the only difference is that MDs are required to complete a residency, and in vet med it is optional (if you are to become board-certified).

It's just that DVM is *so* competitive that most schools don't even look at the bottom line.

I'm not sure what this statement even means, but yes vet school admission is very competitive. Many get their MS first before vet school as it greatly increases their chances of admission.

Like you said, this thread isn't about MD vs. DVM.

Bottom line to OP, if she wants to pursue vet med, then she should. If she wants to pursue human med, she should. They are very similar in that the diseases are treated very similarly (if not exactly the same), and a lot of the nursing care is very similar. The pay is not as lucrative, and their aren't as many advanced degrees. It is just a matter of what species you would rather be nursing, and if you can deal with the cons of each field.

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"A veterinary technician is a graduate from a two-year, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program from a community college, college or university." quote taken from the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America website.

I had never heard of this grandfather clause but apparently in some states it is possible. The only problem with it is that it will differ by state.

"You must be a graduate from an approved, accredited school of animal technology to become a Registered Veterinary Technician in the State of Ohio." quote taken from the Ohio Association of Veterinary Medical LIcensing Board.

So just because you were grandfathered in does not mean you will be allowed to transfer your license to another state.

You are correct in that it does not always transfer state-to-state.

NAVTA is looking to get rid of the "alternate route" method. The problem is that each state decides it's own method of examination/licensure; there is no national standard (though there is a national exam many states utilize).

That may change in the near future.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
When I was seriously considering getting my DVM, I was actually surprised at how low level the pre-reqs for the vet schools in the surrounding states were. I'd met the chem and math requirements through my RN pre-reqs and only needed a zoology/animal phys class to meet the bio reqs.

Pre-vet and pre-med programs have more similarities than differences, actually. There are a few specialized classes for each program, but in general the knowledge base to practice medicine is universal.

You don't technically need an undergrad degree to get into most DVM schools.

I don't know of any veterinary schools that don't require a BS for admission (other than schools overseas, which is a completely different program, and you don't need a BS to go to medical school as well).

So, on its face, I wouldn't really compare DVM to getting into med school.

Funny, the only difference is that MDs are required to complete a residency, and in vet med it is optional (if you are to become board-certified).

It's just that DVM is *so* competitive that most schools don't even look at the bottom line.

I'm not sure what this statement even means, but yes vet school admission is very competitive. Many get their MS first before vet school as it greatly increases their chances of admission.

No, you're wrong. I looked into applying to DVM schools in KS, CO, and MN. Minimum amount of credits required is around 60-65. Minimum for a BS is 120. You do have to take the GRE. Most pre-reqs require Chem 1 & 2, Algebra and Stats, Micro -- all RN requirements for the school I attended. For DVM pre-reqs, you usually need a Genetics class and O Chem, maybe a Physics class. On top of the required humanities stuff which is universal whether you're pre-med, pre-vet, or finishing your pre-reqs for a RN.

It's generally accepted that DVM school is more competitive than MD school. Same amount of applicants but fewer spots. So few people who apply to DVM school get accepted when they meet the bottom line - that is, 60 credits and fairly introductory classes. Pre-vet is not an actual degree, neither is pre-med. But most pre-vet programs encourage you to take a BS in Microbiology or Zoology. I was about 3/4s of the way to finishing a degree in Evolutionary Biology when I switched to nursing, so.

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