How to Become a Certified Veterinary Technician

As noted in another post on this site, the basics of how to become a certified veterinary technician vary by state. There are different requirements that states put forth concerning requirements that veterinary technicians must meet in order to be able to work in the field. Sometimes the credentialing requirements mandated by a particular state are known as certification and at other times licensing or registration, and this depends on the state in which you are getting credentialed. However there are commonalities in the credentialing process. The following are the basic steps in becoming a certified veterinarian technician.

Complete you Education

The first thing you need to do is to get educated. This generally means completing a veterinarian technician program of either two or four years. Two year programs resulting in an Associate’s degree are the most common option. These programs are offered at vocational schools, community colleges, and technical schools. They are considered adequate preparation for veterinary technician work and will prepare you as well to pass whatever state credentialing exam is given in your area.

The other option here is a Bachelor’s degree. These degrees are the end result of four year programs that go more in depth into veterinary technology or animal science. These will usually more than qualify an individual for state certification/registration/licensing exam registration.

Find out State Certification Policies

The next step after getting a degree is to determine exactly what the credentialing requirements for your state are. Each state has different requirements and specifics in this regard. You will simply have to find out what your state’s credentialing policy is. Some states certify veterinary technicians, other states register them, and still others give licenses. In addition, states may do a combination of these. There may also be a few different eligibility requirements that must be met which vary by state.
The common element in all these credentialing processes is that states require an individual to take and pass an exam. Though this exam itself may vary by state, the one most commonly used is called the National Veterinary Technician (NVT) exam. So in some cases, the answer to the question of how to become a certified veterinary technician is simply to take and pass this exam. In other words, this is the case on states that give certification titles to technicians who pass the state exam.

If the credentialing process for your state is known as registration or if licenses are issued, the process is usually the same. You need to pass the exam and then the appropriate credentials are granted.

Register for and Take Certification Exam

Once you have found out what the certification requirements, policies, and prerequisites that your state has in place are, make sure you met the eligibility criteria, register for the exam, and take it. Study guides and practice tests for the NVT exam can be found online or in commercially available guide books. Upon completion of this exam you will become a certified veterinary technician if that’s the title the state confers.

As is evident, there is a variable answer to the question of how to become a certified veterinary technician. However, the differences are not all that important, as the same basic process applies in most states whether it is known as certification, registration, or licensing. The best way to find out the specifics for your state is to contact your state education department and to search for the information online.