Most licensed veterinary technicians have received an Associate’s Degree from a 2-year program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). These programs include a heavy dose of clinic and lab work with live animals that give students hands-on experience that prepares them for real-world work environments.

There are also many AVMA-accredited online vet tech programs that you can enroll in. Read more about become a veterinary technician online.

It is possible to become a tech without school, but this path affects job outlook and salary. In the near future, this may no longer be an option for those seeking entry into the vet tech profession. Some states do allow vet techs to be hired and trained on the job without any formal academic study. This route, however, is becoming less and less common as lawmakers strive to regulate the profession and make licensure mandatory. Unlicensed vet techs are also in less demand and are paid less than licensed technicians. Typically they are referred to as “vet assistants,” not techs.

In 2009 there were nearly 160 veterinary technician programs in 45 states that had full or partial accreditation from the AVMA. Completing an AVMA-accredited vet tech program allows students to take the credentialing exam in any state. If you pass the exam  you become a licensed vet tech in that state.

Most states use the National Veterinary Technician (NVT) exam. Techs can usually have their passing scores transferred from one state to another, so long as both states use the same exam.

Licensed vet techs are given the title of RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician), LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician), or CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) depending on which state they pass the board exam in. They are essentially all the same position, only the title is different.

The tests generally require students to demonstrate competency with oral, written, and practical portions.

For students who are interested in research facility positions as a vet tech, most employers recommend they pursue American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification. AALAS offers certification for three levels of technician competence, with a focus on three principal areas: animal husbandry, facility management, and animal health and welfare.

Click here for an updated list of AVMA-accredited vet tech programs.