How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has a strong need for veterinary technicians.

If you were considering if a career as a vet tech in Wisconsin is good for you, with this article you can definitely find out!

Veterinary Technician Job Description and Duties in Wisconsin

As a veterinary tech, you’ll also work with people not just animals.

You’ll have many different tasks to complete that can differ from one clinic to the other.

Here is a list of the most common tasks of a vet tech:

• Administering medications
• Taking x-rays,
• Processing tissue samples,
• Assisting in surgery and emergency care
• Performing lab tests
• Teeth cleaning,
• Electrocardiography,
• Bandaging,
• Wound cleaning,
• Maintaining detailed and accurate records of meds, supplies, patients

Surgeries and prescribing medication or treatments are the duties of a licensed veterinarian.

Education and Training Required for Veterinary Technicians in Wisconsin

In this state, you need a license from the Department of Safety and Professional Services before you can start working.

The standards and requirements in Wisconsin are higher than in other states.

You should earn at the very least an Associate’s degree in Applied Science for Veterinary Technology, though a Bachelor’s degree can be a better choice.

When selecting a program, make sure that the American Veterinary Medical Association accredited it.

Have a look at the schools in the table below for more information related to these programs.

You’re generally expected to apply for a spot in a program, as these courses have a low number of students per year.

To apply you need:

• A high school diploma or GED
• To be over 18 years old
• Health insurance
• Passing a drug test
• Passing a TB test
• Getting some vaccines, especially the one against rabies
• Buying a medical malpractice policy

Here are some of the subjects you’ll attend classes for:

• Introduction to veterinary technology
• Anatomy and physiology
• Emergency care and first aid
• Pathology
• Anesthesiology
• Radiology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Parasitology
• Toxicology
• Nutrition

Most students are expected to find an approved veterinary practice where they will complete a number of practice hours, mandatory for graduation.

The hands-on practice hours include:

• Basic Comparative Animal Anatomy and Physiology;
• Veterinary Office Procedures;
• Basic Pharmacology;
• Practical Animal Nutrition;
• Nursing Care and Handling of Animals;
• Animal Behavior;
• Applied Radiography;
• Applied Anesthesiology;
• Applied Clinical Laboratory Procedures;
• Principles and Practices of Medical and Surgical Assistance;
• Animal Diseases

Becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Wisconsin

When applying for your license, you’ll need:

• An application form
• Proof you graduated from the training program described earlier
• Good hearing and vision
  • You need to be able to distinguish colors well.
• The ability to lift at least 50 pounds
• Some fees
  • $300 for the exam
  • $100 for the license
• Your score on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)
• Your score on the jurisprudence exam

The passing score for the National Exam is 70%.

It has a limit of 3 hours and there are 150 questions to answer.

You will have to attend 15 classes of education to keep your license current every 2 years.

Renewal involves an application and also a renewal fee.

Employment and Salaries for Veterinary Technicians in Wisconsin

Knowing a thing or two about the company you’ll work at is doing due diligence and improve your chances of getting hired.

In West Virginia, some of the facilities you can work for are:

• Private clinical practices
• Zoos
• Veterinary teaching hospitals
• Rescue centers
• Wildlife or exotic animal rehabilitation centers
• Humane societies,
• Research facilities,
• Feedlots,
• Pharmaceutical companies

You might want to apply for a position with these companies first:

• Milwaukee Emergency Center for Animals (Milwaukee)
• Animal Haven Zoo & Sanctuary (Weyauwega)
• Avian & Exotic Animal Care (De Pere)
• Public Health Madison & Dane Counties Animal Services (Madison)
• Humane Animal Welfare Society – No Kill (Waukesha)
• Professional Wildlife Removal (Dane County)
• Lakeland Animals Shelter (Delavan)
• MDACC: Domestic Animal Control Commission (Milwaukee)
• Neenah Animal Shelter (Neenah)
• Wisconsin Animal Control & Wildlife Removal (24 locations throughout Wisconsin)
• VCA Associates in Pet Care Animal Hospital (Waukesha)

There’s no shame in wanting to know your possible income ahead of time.

For this, have a look at this next table.

Additional Information for Veterinary Technicians in Wisconsin

Sometimes you might need help with information or landing a job.

These are some good resources:

• Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association
• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
• Wisconsin Department of Safety & Professional Services