Veterinary Technologist
Veterinary technologists are those students who earn a bachelors degree in Veterinary Technology. Veterinary technologist programmes concentrate on development of leadership, advanced nursing, animal health and decision making skills.
The BVT is a three year degree. The first year comprises of basic science papers with an integration of veterinary nursing clinical papers, followed by the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing curriculum, and the final year develops leadership, advanced clinical knowledge, animal health and technical skills in the student’s area of interest. The four areas of interest students can choose include: small animal, equine, production animal or business management.
Plans of study in the BVT progamme include external practical placements and internal clinical placements out of semester time to prepare veterinary technologist for leadership, teaching, public relations, and supervision roles in veterinary hospitals, veterinary education, government and research or other animal facilities.
Veterinary technologists with a bachelors degree in Veterinary Technology are veterinary paraprofessionals with an interest and an education that qualifies them for advanced levels of responsibility.
Career Opportunities for Veterinary Technologists
- Clinic or hospital team leaders and/or staff supervisors;
- Speciality practice technologists (i.e. surgery, internal medicine, emergency and critical care, anaesthesia etc)
- Animal behaviour counsellors for clients with problem pets
- Biomedical research technologists and laboratory animal managers
- Instructors in veterinary nursing/technology programmes and veterinary school teaching hospitals
- Herd health technologists on food animal, poultry, equine farms or government agencies
- Pharmaceutical sales representatives
- Health technologists in zoos, animal control, or humane societies
- Food or livestock inspectors for government agencies and; Post Graduate studies
The Veterinary Technology plans of study are not intended to meet the requirements for application to veterinary school to become a veterinarian. Pre-veterinary science students should pursue the pre-veterinary programme or other undergraduate programmes offered by Massey University’s College of Science such as agriculture or animal science.
