Becoming a Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technician
Salary
source: Indeed
A Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technician’s median income is $38,000, a 10%+ increase over the median salaries of non-specialized vet techs.
Job Description & Duties
A Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technician works in emergency and critical care cases, in which the patient has an urgent medical problem or crisis. These are cases where the animal has an illness or injury that is life-threatening or possibly life-threatening. These patients usually need on-the-clock monitoring and treatment, as their condition could change at any moment.
Educational Requirements
Applicants must have graduated from a AVMA approved Veterinary Technician school or be legally credentialed to practice. Veterinary technicians who are interested in continuing their education may pursue a program to become a Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technician (VECCT). The Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians is recognized as a veterinary technician specialty. In order to go from a Licensed Veterinary Technician to a VECCT, you must meet credentials and pass the AVECCT examination.
Professional Organizations
It is recommended that they be members of the North American Veterinary Technician Association and the Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society.
Work Experience Requirements
They also must have worked in the field of veterinary emergency for a minimum of three years, and have a minimum of 25 hours of further education in veterinary emergency completed within five years of submitting their application to become a VECCT. There is an Advanced Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Nursing Skills Form that must also be completed. It goes through specific skills that must have been mastered. During the year prior to submission, applicants must create a case log from January 1st through December 31st consisting of at least 50 emergency/critical care cases they worked through. Four out of these 50 case logs must be detailed and recorded, showing your expertise in critical veterinary cases. 2 letters of recommendation are also required. A national exam is administered, after the candidate submits all necessary documentation and meets all of the specific requirements.