How to Become a Veterinary Technician in South Carolina

It is easy to become a vet tech in South Carolina, if you feel you have a talent for it.

All you need to do is read below in order to learn more about the licensing process.

Veterinary Technician Job Description and Duties in South Carolina

Vet techs have many job duties to complete every day.

Not all are the same, but you will usually have to finish tasks such as:

• 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

Actual surgeries and prescribing meds are not part of the duties of a veterinary technician.

Education and Training Required for Veterinary Technicians in South Carolina

Vet techs in this state are required to have at least minimal experience in working with animals.

To do that, you can join a training course offered through a school you prefer.

You should consider pursuing a Veterinary Technology Associate’s Degree of Applied Science degree.

This degree takes about 3 years to finish, but you can also opt for a bachelor’s degree.

A bachelor’s degree lasts for longer and is completed in about 5 years.

No matter what program you choose, it should be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

You can also get a degree in Animal Science with vet tech specialization.

The schools below offer vet tech training programs in South Carolina

To apply for a vet tech license, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• 2 letters of recommendation
  • One of them must come from a veterinarian
• Health insurance
• Buying a medical malpractice policy
• Complete certain classes before the first semester

Joining an internship or an externship can be helpful in getting the clinical experience you need for a license.

During theory, you will study the topics below:

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

You also have to take 20 hours of radiation safety.

The subjects in practice are:

• Medical Terminology
• 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.

The last semester is generally a preceptorship.

Becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician in South Carolina

In South Carolina, vet techs are getting licensed by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

In order to apply, you will need the following:

• An application form
• School transcripts
• To pay a fee
  • $300 for the exam
  • $100 for the license
• Score at least 70% on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)

The VTNE test has 150 questions and lasts for 3 hours.

If you pass this exam, you will get your vet tech license issued shortly after.

This license has to be renewed every 2 years and requires 10 extra hours of education.

Employment and Salaries for Veterinary Technicians in South Carolina

After you get licensed, you can get hired in many facilities.

These include:

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

The largest employers in South Carolina are:

• Humane Society of South Carolina (Columbia)
• Animal Control Services (Lexington County)
• South Carolina Animal Care & Control (statewide)
• Beaufort County Animal Control Services (Beaufort)
• Birds & Exotics Animal Care (Mt. Pleasant)
• Coastal Animal Rescue & Educational Sanctuary (Georgetown)
• Ebenezer Animal Hospital (Rock Hill)
• All Creatures Vet Hospital (Charleston)
• Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens (Columbia)
• Charles Town Landing Wildlife Park(Charleston)
• VCA Animal Specialty Center of South Carolina (Columbia)

You will have a higher salary if you have some experience in the industry.

This is also the case for vet techs who live in a bigger area.

Additional Information for Veterinary Technicians in South Carolina

Check out the following industry resources for updates:

• American Veterinary Medical Association
• South Carolina Veterinary Technician and Assistant Association
• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
• Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists
• Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians
• Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians
• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science