How to become a vet tech

1. 1Take science in high school and get around animals

   Time: 4 years (high school)Sources 1

   Biology, chemistry and algebra are the most useful high school classes, since vet tech programs start with anatomy, pharmacology math and lab science. Volunteering at a shelter or working as a kennel attendant or veterinary assistant shows you the realities of the job, including restraint, cleaning and euthanasia, before you commit. Many programs ask for animal-care hours or a clinic observation as part of the application, and some have waiting lists.

2. 2Enroll in an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program

   Time: 2 years (associate) or 4 years (bachelor's)Cost: $4,975/yr median public in-state tuition (associate)Sources 3, 5, 7

   Choose a program accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA); in most states that is the only way to qualify for the VTNE and a credential. NAVTA counts more than 230 accredited programs, most at community and technical colleges. Coursework covers anatomy, pharmacology, anesthesia, surgical nursing, radiography, clinical pathology and large-animal care, with hands-on labs and externships in working hospitals.

3. 3Pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination

   Time: Near or just after graduationCost: $375 (2026)Sources 2, 4, 11

   The VTNE is run by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. It has 170 multiple-choice questions over three hours, of which 150 are scored and 20 are pilot items. You can test at a PSI center or from home with live remote proctoring, but only during the testing window you applied for. Retakes require a new application and the full $375 fee, so practice with AAVSB's sample questions first.

4. 4Get your state credential

   Time: A few weeks to a few monthsCost: State application feeSources 5, 6, 8

   Apply to your state veterinary board or credentialing agency with your transcript and VTNE score. Depending on the state, you become a registered, licensed or certified veterinary technician (RVT, LVT or CVT). Some states add a jurisdiction exam on laws and rules, and a few still have alternate routes for people trained on the job, though these are rare and shrinking. Check the CareerOneStop License Finder and your state board for details.

5. 5Keep your credential and consider a specialty

   Time: OngoingCost: Renewal and continuing education feesSources 9

   Many states require continuing education to renew a vet tech credential. After a few years in a focused area, you can pursue Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) status through one of NAVTA's approved academies, which cover areas such as clinical practice, surgery, zoological medicine, equine nursing, nutrition, ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging and physical rehabilitation. Each academy sets its own experience, case log and exam requirements.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Safe animal handling

Holding a frightened cat for a blood draw or a large dog for an x-ray without anyone getting hurt is a daily task.

Anesthesia monitoring

Vet techs often watch the anesthetized patient during surgery and must catch a falling blood pressure or slowing breath before it becomes a crisis.

Math and precision

Drug doses, fluid rates and dilutions are calculated by body weight, and small errors can be fatal in a cat or puppy.

Client communication

Techs explain discharge instructions and costs to worried owners and are often the ones who sit with them during euthanasia.

Physical stamina

Shifts involve standing, lifting and bending for hours, often in emergency hospitals that run around the clock.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, speaking, writing.

Training cost

$10.3K–$15.3K

Before financial aid

Time

2-2.5 years

Typical path

Median pay

$47,380

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

No premium

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: 2 years x College Scorecard median public in-state tuition for veterinary technology associate programs, $4,975 = $9,950, plus the VTNE fee of $375. High: 3 years at the same tuition, for programs with prerequisites or part-time schedules, = $14,925, plus $375. Not included: lab and program fees, scrubs and supplies, state credential fees, books and living costs. Private, online and bachelor's programs can cost considerably more; the median federal loan debt for associate graduates is $16,375.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Veterinarian$130,100 median

  Requires a bachelor's degree with prerequisite sciences, a 4-year DVM or VMD and the national veterinary licensing exam; vet tech experience strengthens an application.

• Lab technician$62,930 median

  Vet techs with strong lab skills can move into research or clinical laboratories, though human clinical labs usually require a medical laboratory degree and certification.

• Veterinary Technician Specialist

  Focused experience in one discipline plus the requirements and exam of a NAVTA-approved academy, such as surgery or clinical practice; each academy sets its own rules.

• Practice or hospital manager

  Experienced techs often move into supervising staff and running clinic operations; some add business coursework or a practice manager certification.