Animal Heath Tech.

[Equestriana]

Well i've been talking with my trainer about a career in the horse world and i've come up with a few options. I'll be taking a farrier course for sure but would also like to take an animal health technology course. First off, I was wondering if the AHT course could provide me with the knowledge for a decent paying full or part-time job.

I was also wondering who all your Equine Vets are. I would love to volunteer with an equine vet but I don't have any contacts at the moment.. Preferably a vet close to burnaby area, who is the vet for burnaby equestrian center? Thanks!


~Kim

[AshcroftAnnie]

Hallo,
I'm an AHT if you have any questions about that.

[Equestriana]

nice, I'm looking at taking the AHT course in kamloops, if you know anything about that then that would be nice. Was it worth the 2 yrs schooling and tuition fees? I'm got a lack of money so I only want to take courses that will benefit me, so will the AHT get me anywhere? Get me a career? anything like that

[Ch3vMama]

I wish I'd taken AHT actually.... I would have taken it at Olds but then I didn't know there was one in Kamloops!!

[AshcroftAnnie]

Well..that's a toughie....let me put it this way:

I love being a tech. I love, love love it! I get to do SO many awesome things, it is so diverse, and I get to work with all sorts of critters. There is something to amaze you every day in this industry.

That being said, I am now in nursing school (moving up the food chain, hee hee!). This is for 3 reasons:

1-I was hoping to get bit & scratched less (lol)

2-I had kind "done it all". I had worked up to all sorts of proceedures. I got to do minor surgeries (sewing up wounds, draining abscessed, cat neuters, tooth extractions, etc). I was able to get really advanced in the areas I liked best-dentistry (did neat things like root canals on a bear) & animal behaviour (worked with some AMAZING trainers for the movie industry, & dolphin/whale trainers). I had also worked with all sorts of animals: small animals (dogs, cats), exotics (birds, reptiles), large (horses, cattle), & the movie industry (lions, primates, moose, camels, etc, etc). This was only because I worked hard to get contiuning education credits & learned a TON after being done school.

3- being a tech did not make me the kind of money I wanted to make. I'm not greedy, but although I am happily with someone, I worried about what would happen to me if my common-law husband wasn't there (heavan forbid!). Could I carry a mortgage & take care of myself?

I have worked in veterinary hospitals in various roles since I was 15. The 2 year course was expensive, but worth every penny. Many clinics pay you to take continuing education courses, & give you uniform allowances, which is great. But, for me, the bottom line was that the salary didn't cut it. As an AHT, I worked my way up to $22 an hour, which is a LOT to be paid in this industry, and only after YEARS of working for less. It may sound pretty decent, but its not like you keep hitting new levels in your salary. $22 an hour will start out a LOT less for a long time, and then stay $22 an hour for a long long time.
I also got bonuses/commission for the number of identifiaction tattoos I did, and the number of dentals I did, which helped.
As far as I'm concerned, in this industry, you don't get paid what you deserve. It's not that I am superwoman, it's just what the industry will bear. If its not you taking care of the animals, well there is a huge line up of animal lovers behind you who would do it for free.
I am wary of the veterinary assistant/receptionist courses. For a few years, they have been mass producing graduatess and flooding the industry around here( Check out those looking for work in teh BCVMA classified online!) Also, tuition for them is expensive, & the students were told they would get jobs right away that would pay them 15-20 an hour. Baloney. I hope they are not still advertising that.
Vet assistants are paid (usually) by experience. For the first good few years, expect minium wage or right around there. Like I said, its what the industry bears. Veterinarians themselves have a rough stat with salary right out of school!

For me, it was worth it to build a trade, however I grew a little past it & have moved on to human nursing. I will always work at least part time in a veterinary hospital because I love it so much. It is a passion for me. That being said, I want to be able to afford my horses on my own, & at my own place, which is getting pretty expenisve these days, as we all know!

One final word-work/volunteer ALOT at a clinic. You will not get into AHT school if you don't and you won't get teh full flavour of what can be avery difficult job at times.

Best of luck in your search.....keep me posted as to what you decide!

[Comanche]

I must say though, After April of this year, University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops becomes Thompson Rivers University, and the tuition and EVERYTHING is likely to rise because of it.

I've applied early, and have early, conditional acceptance into the BcS degree for September at Thompson Rivers... I'm just dreading how much I'll have to pay though.

[Ch3vMama]

I'd be tooting horns if I was making $22/hr. I'm struggling along at a job I haven't had a raise in since I started and I am a good worker. Granted I don't have to pay child care because I work at nights so all the money I do make goes right to me (or to my student loans...lol) But I wouldn't mind making more...

Life insurance is a great thing. You can even get insurance that will pay off the house that sort of thing (we have that because I couldn't afford to rent a place let alone the mortgage for ours...) Maybe looking into some sort of insurance that can help you Ashcroft Annie, just a thought.

[GenuineCowgurl]

I am looking into the AHT course at the cariboo college aswell.. so this is very informative!!

[AshcroftAnnie]

Thanks, Ch3vMama, it is a good thought.

[AshcroftAnnie]

Good for you, Genuine Cowgurl....I hope you enjoy it!