Career
Path Forecast
 According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
excellent job opportunities will stem from the need to replace
veterinary technologists and technicians who leave the occupation and
from the limited output of qualified veterinary technicians from 2-year
programs, which are not expected to meet the demand over the 2006-16
period. Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.
Employment of veterinary
technologists and technicians is expected to grow 41 percent over the
2006-16 projection period, which is much faster than the average for all
occupations. Pet owners are becoming more affluent and more willing to
pay for advanced veterinary care because many of them consider their pet
to be part of the family. This growing affluence and view of pets will
continue to increase the demand for veterinary care. The vast majority
of veterinary technicians work at private clinical practice under
Veterinarians. As the number of Veterinarians grows to meet the demand
for veterinary care, so will the number of veterinary technicians needed
to assist them.
 The
number of pet owners who take advantage of veterinary services for their
pets -- currently about 6 in 10 -- is expected to grow over the
projection period, increasing employment opportunities. The availability
of advanced veterinary services, such as preventive dental care and
surgical procedures, also will provide opportunities for workers
specializing in those areas as they will be needed to assist licensed
Veterinarians. The rapidly growing number of cats kept as companion pets
is expected to boost the demand for feline medicine and services.
Further demand for these workers will stem from the desire to replace
veterinary assistants with more highly skilled technicians and
technologists in animal clinics and hospitals, shelters, boarding
kennels, and humane societies.
Biomedical facilities,
diagnostic laboratories, wildlife facilities, humane societies, animal
control facilities, drug or food manufacturing companies, and food
safety inspection facilities will provide additional jobs for veterinary
technologists and technicians. However, keen competition is expected for
veterinary technologist and technician jobs in zoos and aquariums, due
to expected slow growth in facility capacity, low turnover among
workers, the limited number of positions, and the fact that the work in
zoos and aquariums attracts many candidates.
 Excellent
job opportunities are expected because of the relatively few veterinary
technology graduates each year. The number of 2-year programs has
recently grown to 131, but due to small class sizes, fewer than 3,000
graduates are anticipated each year, which is not expected to meet
demand. Additionally, many veterinary technicians remain in the field
for only 7-8 years, so the need to replace workers who leave the
occupation each year also will produce many job opportunities.
Employment of
veterinary technicians and technologists is relatively stable during
periods of economic recession. Layoffs are less likely to occur among
veterinary technologists and technicians than in some other occupations
because animals will continue to require medical care.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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