|
|
Expert
Posts: 1477
  
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | I decided to go back to school. I'm getting close to graduating with my Assoicates in Science degree. I've got to make a decision on what I want to do. I really want to go to tech school and I found one online but not sure about doing it online. I've taken online classss before but this would be kind of different. I've also heard from people that were in the same program and quit and some that graduated from it that it's not worth the work. I've heard more than once that a vet tech isn't a good career choice because the work doesn't equal the pay. Also that there isn't a high demand for techs? But not sure how true that is. I want to work in the vet/animal field but I want it to be worth the time and money I put into school.
Edited by TessBelle 2017-01-01 12:02 AM
|
|
| |
|
Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
  
Location: OH. IO | Not sure where you are located but in my area the techs are not paid well at all and no room for advancement. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | I've got a young friend that just started in the field. She's got a 4 yr degree and is getting paid well for just starting. She's at an Equine surgical center that just opened. Her responsibilities are numerous and her Vets are supportive of her attending high learning. She's spent a few days at busier hospitals so she had full confidence in her anesthesia skills. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 5293
| My vet has a girl that travels with her to appointments and she is just kind of a helper. She helps with X-rays, gives vaccines, gets horses ready etc. I'm sure she makes not much more than minimum wage. Vet said anyone can be a vet tech as long as she is present while they work. So there is not much incentive to get a degree. |
|
| |
|
 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I'm old school and don't really believe in any of the online schools... but that's just my opinion...
I think larger vet clinics will more likely look for techs with the degrees, independently working vets probably don't care about a degree too much. |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 59
| Have you considered an equine therapy or equine massage school? |
|
| |
|
 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | What kind of salary are you wanting to make? Salaries range from mid 20s-40,000/yr for a lot of the jobs out there. I'm sure some techs make more, some make less.
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | CallMeBetty - 2017-01-01 12:07 PM
Have you considered an equine therapy or equine massage school?
Yes and as much as I would love that there is almost 0 demand for that here.
For the person that asked. I'm not looking to get rich but I don't want to have a degree and still struggle either. |
|
| |
|
 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I remember being furious with my Mother when she told me that an Associates degree in any field is worthless and pointless.
I was furious with her until I figured out that she was right. It's a Bachelors degree or nothing in the real world. Guess what happens with a BS degree? You still have to hustle.
If you're going trade school, go to a really good horse shoing school or welding or cutting hair or something. Those all open the doors to a good career and money. You still have to hustle.
If you're just wanting to get paid, go to work and work your guts out. 60-80 hours a week or bust. You can make it if you're smart, learn good people skills, and do the jobs that no one else will. Pretty soon you're running the place.
My husband started at the bottom and worked his way over 20 years to having a really good income and is in high demand in his field. Straight hustle.
My BS degree shortened up this process for me by about 10 years, but we're both in the same place now. Guess what? We're both still working a 60-80 hour week.
No education in the world replaces the fact that you have to put the hours in to be successful. If you can't get those hours in one place, work two places. You'll get to make a lot more decisions in your life if you hustle like this when you're super young.
|
|
| |
|
 Horsey Gene Carrier
Posts: 1888
Location: LaBelle, Florida | I worked with a vet for 4 years...loved the job but could not support myself on what I was getting paid (min wage).
Unless you can get a job with a large clinic, I don't think it is worth going to school for vet tech. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 972
Location: Texas! | I work as a tech but also have a bachelor degree in animal and Veterinary sciences. I started my first vet tech job at min. wage but I am now at a clinic as the sole large animal tech and also work inside helping small animal and do some administrative work also. Since I have experience managing inventory and accounts payable from the clinic I worked at previously. I started out at a higher pay than they normally would by due to my education and previous experience however if I were a licensed vet tech I would have started out at even more. It depends on who you work for honestly, find a clinic that appreciates its employees and knows that they need to pay a decent wage to keep good staff. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | kasaj2000 - 2017-01-01 5:42 PM
I worked with a vet for 4 years...loved the job but could not support myself on what I was getting paid (min wage).
Unless you can get a job with a large clinic, I don't think it is worth going to school for vet tech.
That's where I am right now. I worked for a vet and LOVED it but I had to take a job that paid more even though I border line hate it but I was much more qualified for it so it pays more but still not much over min wage. |
|
| |
Folks on-line