What To Study To Become A Vet Tech

If you’re considering becoming a veterinary technician (vet tech), then now is the time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the field’s outlook is promising, with an estimated growth rate of about 21% in the vet tech field between 2022 and 2032 — much faster than average.

This growth should come as no surprise. The position can be very rewarding, especially if you have a passion for helping animals and an interest in medicine and science. The pay is also fair, with vet techs earning over $43,700 annually on average.

Becoming a vet tech will take time and hard work, but it’s an enormously rewarding career. Start preparing for your new career by building a solid education foundation.

Quick Links

• What Degrees Do You Need to Be a Vet Tech?
• What Undergraduate Programs Are Best for Vet Techs?
• What Tests Do Vet Techs Have To Take?
• Other Helpful Resources, Courses and Certifications
• Start Your Vet Tech Journey With Mount Wachusett Community College

What Degrees Do You Need To Be A Vet Tech?

To become a vet tech in the U.S., you must complete a vet tech program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Most accredited programs lead to an associate of science degree, which qualifies you to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) for licensure. This is a two-year program that focuses on building practical skills and getting students into the workforce quickly.

With an associate degree, you can transfer into a program to earn a bachelor of science degree in vet tech, which can lead to higher salaries and more job responsibilities. The bachelor’s degree typically focuses on specialized fields, management and even leadership.

Both involve clinical experience known as preceptorship, practicum or externship. A preceptorship is where you’ll gain hands-on training in a veterinary practice. See it as a transition period where you’ll go from student to autonomous professional.

However, finding a comprehensive, engaging and accredited vet tech program — that’s also affordable — can be challenging. Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) offers an AVMA-accredited vet tech associate degree. This program is a cost-effective alternative, with lower tuition costs.
It includes hands-on training through two 120-hour internship rotations, which gives you practical experience with various animals. MWCC also offers support services like career counseling and financial aid assistance to help you succeed.

Although MWCC doesn’t offer B.S. degrees, their credits can transfer to four-year colleges. This transferability will allow you to continue your education if you choose.

What Undergraduate Programs Are Best For Vet Techs?

To become a veterinary technician in Massachusetts, you would need more than just a high school education. Here are the required steps:

1. Graduate from high school: This is the first step and a minimum requirement. The best classes for vet techs in high school would be biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. If you’re still in high school, you can try extracurricular activities. For example, volunteering at a vet clinic or animal shelter, shadowing your local vet or even participating in first aid training.
2. Enroll in a vet tech program: You must complete a program accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). This typically results in an associate degree.
3. Pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE): This is a standardized exam required for certification.
4. Apply for certification through the Massachusetts Veterinary Technicians Association (MVTA): This involves submitting an application, passing the VTNE, sending in your official transcript from the CVTEA-accredited program, and paying the application fee.

While a high school diploma is the minimum educational requirement to start, you must complete an accredited vet tech program to become certified and practice in Massachusetts.

When choosing a program, look for the following features:

• AVMA accreditation: Ensures the program meets industry standards and qualifies you to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).
• Clinical experience: Programs that offer hands-on training through internships or externships at veterinary clinics or hospitals.
• Comprehensive curriculum: Courses covering essential topics such as animal anatomy and physiology, veterinary pharmacology, clinical pathology and surgical nursing.

What Tests Do Vet Techs Have To Take?

You can expect to take a few tests on your journey to becoming a vet tech — let’s discuss them.

Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE)

To be eligible for the VTNE, you must graduate from an AVMA-accredited — or a Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) accredited — vet tech program. The VTNE will evaluate entry-level vet techs’ competency to practice and become credentialed.

The VTNE is administered and owned by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). As such, you’ll need to apply on their website to take the exam. The VTNE focuses on nine primary domains:

1. Anesthesia
2. Animal Care and Nursing
3. Dentistry
4. Diagnostic Imaging
5. Emergency Medicine or Critical Care
6. Laboratory Procedures
7. Pain Management or Analgesia
8. Pharmacy and Pharmacology
9. Surgical Nursing

The exam consists of 150 scored questions and 20 unscored pilot questions, with a time limit of 3 hours. To prepare for the VTNE, you can use the resources on AAVSB’s website.

State-Specific Requirements

While passing the VTNE is the primary requirement, some states may have additional prerequisites. Some states require a jurisprudence exam that tests your knowledge of state-specific laws and regulations regarding veterinary practice.

For those in Massachusetts, after passing the VTNE, you must apply for certification through the Massachusetts Veterinary Technicians Association (MVTA). Submit an application, your VTNE score and an official transcript from your AVMA-accredited program. Certification must be renewed annually, requiring 12 continuing education units (CEUs) and a renewal fee.

Continuing Education

Completing continuing education requirements specified by the MVTA or other certifying bodies will keep you up-to-date with the industry’s developments. Gaining enough CEUs also helps to maintain your certification.

Other Helpful Resources, Courses And Certifications

Consider the following helpful resources to enrich your vet tech career in numerous ways.

Associations

Consider joining organizations like the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) or state associations like MVTA. These can provide you with access to resources, networking opportunities and continuing education.

Courses And Certifications

The following are optional certifications, but they are also beneficial — depending on your vet tech career goals:

• Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS): After gaining experience, you can pursue a VTS certification in a specialty area, such as anesthesia, dentistry or emergency care.
• Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP): CVPP focuses on advanced pain management techniques in vet medicine. This certificate is offered by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM)
• Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM): The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) offers the CVPM to help you gain essential skills in vet practice management. You may learn about human resources, marketing, finance and leadership.
• Nutrition: An animal nutrition certification provides advanced knowledge to advise on animals’ dietary needs.
• Rehabilitation: Consider this certification to focus more on physical rehabilitation and fitness training for animals. There are various certification options in animal rehab, from canine to equine.
• Fear Free: The Fear Free vet certification focuses on techniques for reducing fear, anxiety and stress in animals.
• RECOVER: The RECOVER Rescuer certifications help you specialize in vet CPR with Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) certifications.

Start Your Vet Tech Journey With Mount Wachusett Community College

MWCC’s AVMA-accredited vet tech program offers quality education at an affordable price. The program includes hands-on training with diverse animal species, helping prepare you for real-world challenges.

Plus, MWCC’s supportive community, personalized academic planning and extensive career services set you up for success. With less debt and a strong foundation, MWCC makes achieving your dream of becoming a veterinary technician attainable and rewarding.

Apply to MWCC today for free, and start your vet tech journey! If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to send us a request, and we’ll get back to you.