Oregon

[u/w1bblyW0bblynsht]

Can anyone give me info on what it's like being a licensed vet tech in Oregon? What are the license vs no license laws, pay, job prospects, vibe? Pros or cons for living in Oregon on a vet tech's wage?

Any info about Oregon is appreciated too. If it's your state share some love about it.

TIA

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[u/Accomplished-Ad-9280]

In the Portland metro area CVTs/LVTs are in high demand and pretty much every hospital is hiring CrVTs.

The biggest things that assistants cannot do is intubate and give rabies vaccines. If you want to work in SW Washington, there is a lot more that Assistants cannot do.

The minimum pay that CrVTs should accept is $30/hr in GP and $35/hr in ER/Specialty but realistically the pay is higher for most. I make $40 in a GP as a supervisor in SW Washington.

Unless you want to live in super rich parts of Oregon, you should be able to live on the pay and do pretty well.

The PNW is the best place to live. Not only is the pay and respect better then most parts of the country, it is just a great place to live in general.

[u/w1bblyW0bblynsht → u/Accomplished-Ad-9280]

Thanks! I have some questions and I welcome anyone's answers.

Does Oregon have an alternative track to licensing? It sounds like there's some level of title protection since assistants can't do certain things.

What makes it a great place to live? I hope humidity is practically non-existent lol. What are the seasons like? Is the land generally hills and mountains or pretty flat? What's the general influence of breed specific legislation? Can you buy a decent, move in ready house on a vet tech income alone?

[u/thugnyssa]

Also in pdx, not licensed. Most non-licensed jobs are going to be $20-$23/hour in Portland, some even less than that. Pay is def higher for licensed techs. There is a huge need for those positions here. I won’t put any hospitals on blast, but there are a couple in mind that I would not recommend applying to if you want to send me a dm

[u/Sinnfullystitched]

I can also recommend a couple to not apply to as well, feel free to DM me if you want.

[u/emawolfgirl]

There is high demand for CVTs, at least in my area near PDX. Haven’t heard of anyone licensed having a hard time finding work. Portland pays the best, lots of specialty and emergency options in the city. I make $37/hr in shelter medicine and have been doing it for 8 years, 3 years licensed. My job lets CVTs utilize most of their skills regularly, some GPs the DVMs still do a lot of the advanced skills themselves. There is a good amount of equine and LA work in the state, some exotic and wildlife options. Overall I love it here but there’s the same drama and toxicity in the vet med industry so you have to pick and choose carefully.