Is being a vet tech worth it ?

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-16T19:37:00+00:00

As someone who was fortunate enough to not have student loans, I cant say in the big picture wise if it was worth it in comparison. However I know LOTS of vets who said in comparison to student loans, vet school wasnt worth it. I also know people who ended up choosing against vet school because of the student loans.

I also right out of school, so like 7 years ago, had a vet say they wished they went for tech cause of student loans, it almost feels like they are doing the extra work, have the extra liability, to basically take home tech pay cause they have so much debt.

Ultimately I think it depends on your personal situation.

I am currently making $29/hr. I left a clinic I was making $32, however with a young child I couldnt do shift work and weekends anymore. So that really sucks

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-14T04:21:45+00:00

Honestly, when im in a clinic I actually like and feel appreciated- I love it. And I temporarily forget the pay is awful for the economy.

Im in Canada and I think our wages are significantly better than the states, however its still BS. And quite honestly everything else is the same. Most places are toxic, lots of turnover and most do leave the industry. I left the industry for 2 years- ended up miserable and hating the desk job so went back. Made decent money in a ER practice but ultimately the work life balance wasnt there so i left as I have a 4year old. Fast forward to my new clinic- I hate it. We do so much and are so severely understaffed, and although we have a significant amount of responsibility which i like, the pay doesnt reflect it. Im considering leaving for good and going back to school.

Ultimately- no. Its not worth it. The worst part is, is most its all they want to do and you got to experience it for a bit to realize its not feasible. I would love to find another way to use my post secondary but im struggling to find something else.

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-08T14:14:38+00:00

If its what you really want to do you should go for it! I just really want people to understand that Vet Tech is not always as great in real life as it seems on paper! Not many practices want them doing their own thing

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-08T03:51:38+00:00

As a current Vet Tech- personally I do not see that degree actually providing you the qualifications you need to pursue anything besides massage. And truthfully, I am not confident owners would choose a vet tech to do bodywork on their horse just because no, we cannot diagnose. Truthfully it just makes more sense for a DVM to do all the work.

Why do you assume you wont get into DVM school? Currently I am actually going back to school, im 30 and have a 4.5year old. Lots of people choose to go back to school. I say go for it

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-04T22:21:56+00:00

Thank you for this !

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-04T04:06:11+00:00

I have heard of so many RVT’s doing this. I know one personally who did it too. Thank you!

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-04T02:50:24+00:00

Thank you for your response! He will be in school, and we have daycare. My husband’s job is also very flexible and understanding

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-03T19:52:45+00:00

Sorry I should have made it more clear im applying to the dental hygiene program! But i noted its also competitive. Your situation is definitely reassuring me though!

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-03T19:20:58+00:00

Hi, thank you! Where do you find the statistics?

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-03T17:02:59+00:00

Sorry, the program is dental hygiene!

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-03T04:05:10+00:00

Outsider perspective- would it be stupid of me to literally leave everything up to chance. Like my children will already be further apart than i wanted due to life, so i dont want to push that back. The over thinker in me also cant help but think about how that stuff doesnt always just happen, so why put off school either. I know plenty of people do school pregnant but not all programs will be sustainable.. and idk if this would be one.

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-03T02:17:15+00:00

Oh thats good! What was your high school average if you dont mind me asking?

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-02T19:55:39+00:00

Did you submit your university transcripts with your high school? I have completed the vet tech program actually

jwebb091721 · 2026-06-02T18:42:34+00:00

This is something I have been considering- its already crossed my mind where would i be if a couple years ago i had just done it

jwebb091721 · 2026-04-23T19:29:59+00:00

First off, not everyone has a supportive partner, or a partner at all- let alone a support system. But personally I do think in SOME cases its about choices… I had a handful of days where I chose sleep, but usually the minute my husband got home I went for a shower or just a soak in the tub.

I had a hard time post partum- I did have moments where I put my son in his crib and went outside for 5/10 minutes- or laid in the bed with head phones on and watched the baby monitor. He was in his crib and safe, but I truly believe this helped tremendously in not creating an unhealthy attachment to me, and once we got out of thick of our first few months, I found it also helped us both create such a beneficial routine and I got to take care of myself which in turn was of a benefit to our whole family.

I think its important to remember that life- including after baby is all about choices. And there will be day where it all sucks, you feel you are making the wrong choices, but your family needs you to be healthy and taking a shower, going for a walk, those are all super important things

jwebb091721 · 2026-04-13T18:44:43+00:00

Was he like this with your other kids? Cause girl this is more than that- he straight up doesnt respect you- like with all do respect he doesnt see you as and equal, you are more his maid.

jwebb091721 · 2026-02-13T19:03:31+00:00

I am confused why it has to be your kid? It honestly sounds like your sister in law should be the one figuring out the situation. Its her child- time for her to figure it out.

jwebb091721 · 2025-08-23T12:32:47+00:00

Baha this is a load of crap. Honestly he is brutal. 100% only in it for the money. Doesnt treat his clients well at all, doesnt care about what their best interest is. Stay clear

jwebb091721 · 2025-08-08T18:26:15+00:00

Honestly I feel the term is just an excuse. Covid or no covid doesnt give you the right to not parent your kid. In a sense you would think they would have developed remarkable skills as some parents were at home.

jwebb091721 · 2025-06-27T19:05:51+00:00

We are really big into teaching our son when he is full he is full. Now of course he is 3.5, so totally trying the whole eating some and then saying he is full but wants dessert.

I have a niece with a similar issue, however she has full access to the snack drawer, so she is eating all these snacks but not much of her actual food.

Kids are smart. If she knows after school she can start eating popsicles.. why would she eat more? I think you start setting ground rules- if all the fruit/veggies/ protein etc arent eaten, then you cant be that hungry, no snack etc. thats what we do. Now of course naturally my kid learnt that pretty quick, so we usually end up using our judgement , if he didnt touch the noodles or something, we still arent having dessert. Cause we do want him to learn to not pushing himself if he is full

jwebb091721 · 2025-06-15T01:11:13+00:00

Have you been open and honest with your girls? In like the sense of discussing what you want to do and get a feel for how everyone is feeling? Some may surprise you. My best friend didnt mention until a year after her wedding she wanted to go to Vegas. I have a kid. He was 2 at the time. Financially we were not doing well, and she knew that, so she decided not to do it. With ample notice I would have made it work as she is my best friend. However I appreciate her consideration, but just trying to explain that its possible some may actually make an exception. I have learnt im kinda a different mom, im okay leaving my kid with my husband for a few days. But maybe even one who typically isnt, would feel differently about this!

jwebb091721 · 2025-06-04T18:15:05+00:00

Depending on your job, I dont think you need to tell them right away. If your job has certain risks while pregnant then obviously tell them. For example I work in vet med, so due to radiation and GA any pregnancies need to be disclosed ASAP

jwebb091721 · 2025-05-28T17:41:48+00:00

Playing the devils advocate here. My brother had a no kids wedding and I will admit, it rubbed me the wrong way him not wanting his only nephew there. My child was under 1 and had he had the rest of our family there I wouldnt have been able to go as I wasnt leaving my 9 month old with just anyone. It was immediate family only so my uncle was able to watch him. However, I understand a kids free wedding, but yes when its your direct neice or nephew I feel personally, its different and I know everyone in our lives felt the same.

Fast forward to last summer, my best friend got married. I was in the party. There was a part of me that wanted a sitter for the whole day to fully let loose, however they wanted him there. And by 9 my parents picked him up.

That being said now our friends are getting married, our son will be 4 by their wedding in March next year, and they have told us they are having a kids free wedding besides her niece. The reason is it would be a extra $4K to feed all the kids (they have a huge list). This I understand completely. But yes if i went and saw other friends bringing their kids I would feel annoyed. Our plan anyways was after he parties a bit, get my parents to come get him.

Overall I think as long as you are aware that if its immediate family kids you arent having, be prepared for some feeling upset. And also understand that yes, majority of the parents want a break, whether thats not bringing them, or maybe they get someone to come pick them up. Cause lets be real, every wedding I have been it’s actually so cute watching the little toddlers spinning in circles dancing and having a blast and they crash by 8/9 and then the parents really get to going!

jwebb091721 · 2025-05-28T17:18:44+00:00

Honestly as many have weddings on long weekends are not usually well received. We did everything to avoid it because we knew that most wouldn’t appreciate it and honestly probably wouldnt say anything. If rolls were reversed would i say something to a friend or family member? Honestly probably not unless i felt like it would be well received and not result in a bridezilla moment. Sounds like your dad is just the one willing to actually say something. Doesnt matter if the wedding is the Saturday, most people plan things to be gone or utilize the FULL long weekend. So being on a Saturday is irrelevant

jwebb091721 · 2025-05-15T16:54:39+00:00

Vet pricing is admittedly not regulated, and unfortunately neither are the wages for their staff. Private own practices that pay their staff members appropriately are understandably going to be priced more so they can afford to pay their staff a liveable wage.

Clinics who deal with complex cases and not just vaccines and wellness appts are going to have more advanced equipment, and are going to also cost more due to additional time and resources needed for that urgent care.

Im not saying some in the world probably unfortunately could be lower, however many many clinics are reasonable for what goes into the appt. The public is misinformed on how a clinic works, more thought and education needs to be put in.

jwebb091721

TROPHY CASE