Careers

Why look for just another job, when you can embark upon a whole new career? Learn about the latest developments in careers for military spouses. With your mobile lifestyle, there are certain portable careers that can offer you and your family stability and future growth. If you have any topics that you would like to see us write about, feel free to email the editor: info@salutetospouses.com
Portable Jobs: Vet Tech

Get Your Hands Dirty First

Love animals and always on the go? Veterinary technologist may be the career for you. And, you may be able to get your foot in the door with limited experience while you earn your degree.

Army wife Amanda McCarver was hired straight out of high school, at age 19, by a veterinary hospital inside a Pet Smart store.

“I was very lucky someone hired me with no experience,” she said. State requirements vary for vet tech certification. Many require no official training which leave the door open for employees to kick start their career with serious on-the-job training.

McCarver took the challenge seriously and her hard work paid off. Six months later, this dedicated animal lover was promoted to a management position.

“You can be young and still move up quickly as long as you’re determined,” McCarver said.

After McCarver married a soldier, the Army moved the couple and she soon landed a job at a local vet clinic where she worked for three years. When she moved home to Georgia to be closer to her family during her husband’s deployment, a local veterinarian was so impressed with her skills that he held the job in his clinic for her for two months until she was able to transfer.

Clearly, McCarver knew she had made a great start in the business. But she wanted to take her expertise to the next level. She enrolled in an online veterinary technologist program.

Now, she is able to work and study part-time. Her current job also will also help her fulfill many of the course’s internship requirements.

“I’ve always been very determined and dedicated. My mom taught me that. I want to be the best that I can and I’m always willing to learn, and I have such a passion for animals,” McCarver said.

Once she graduates one of the biggest advantages of having a degree in hand will be the pay. A licensed vet tech can command a $2 to $6 an hour increase in pay. Extra money also means extra duties.

“There are certain procedures that a licensed tech can’t do. So, as a licensed tech, the doctor is more willing to allow you to do the procedures. In some states, licensed techs can even do some surgeries,” she said.

The mobile Army life, she said, has been good for her career and has helped her to grow her own skills.

“I’ve been exposed to different techs and I’ve seen a lot of different ways to do things. I love getting to see different things and situations with moving around. I got to take care of a pig and a chicken today,” McCarver said.

When McCarver’s husband returns from deployment, it will be time to move again. Fortunately, McCarver’s online school will travel with her and she’s ready to use her skills to find another job in her new state.

“I’ll starting looking around online and get an idea of the area, and then if we get to go house hunting ahead of time, I’ll go ahead and put in some applications then. Or, if we go straight there, I’ll start putting them in at that time,” McCarver said.

If McCarver moves to a state that requires vet tech licenses, she will have to complete her program before sitting for the exam. Vet techs are expected to re-test in each state where they wish to practice, if the state requires a license. Generally licenses are not transferrable between states.

In many states vet techs are also expected to return to the classroom for continuing education in order to maintain a license.

McCarver said she strongly believes that gaining hands-on experience before beginning the book work gave her solid real life experience that helped her understand the sometimes complex coursework.

“It’s been really cool, because I’ve learned so much hands on,” McCarver said. “You can only learn so much from a book.”

She also believes it has made her more marketable.

“I’ve heard that a licensed tech with no experience could actually be not as favorable in getting a job, just due to lack of experience. But, there is also a shortage of licensed vet techs right now,” McCarver said.

McCarver encourages people who may be interested in this line of work to volunteer first.

“Go to a shelter or a clinic and really get your hands in it. Not everyone knows how dirty our jobs can be. It’s not just playing with puppies and kittens,” McCarver said.

If the volunteer hours keep them interested, McCarver suggests looking for a part-time job at a clinic to get hands-on experience. Then, go to school.

“Some people go to school and get degrees and start working and they don’t even like what they are doing. But, it just all depends on your own personal life and what you can do,” McCarver said.

McCarver said she is thrilled with her career path and is proud of her hard work. Earning her degree will be the icing on the cake, she said.

“My degree will be worth more to me this way. This has worked well for me,” she said.

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