To become a veterinary technician, you typically earn a 2-year associate's degree in veterinary technology, pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), and then get credentialed by your state, which may call it registered, licensed or certified. Veterinary technologists, a related role, usually need a 4-year bachelor's degree instead.
The two titles sound almost identical, but the degree you need is different. Getting that right at the start saves you choosing the wrong program.
Facts below come from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook and the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), both read on 26 October 2026. It's a careers guide, not animal health advice.
Vet tech careers in numbers
| Measure | BLS figure (technologists and technicians) |
|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $47,380 a year |
| Lowest 10 in every 100 earned less than | $35,710 |
| Highest 10 in every 100 earned more than | $63,180 |
| Jobs in 2025 | 131,400 |
| Projected growth 2025 to 2035 | 9%, much faster than average |
| Openings each year | About 13,400 on average |
Pay figures are as of October 2026.
Technician or technologist?
| Veterinary technician | Veterinary technologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical degree | 2-year associate's in veterinary technology | 4-year bachelor's in veterinary technology |
| Credentialing exam | Usually required by the state | Usually required by the state |
| Credential | Registered, licensed or certified, depending on the state | Registered, licensed or certified, depending on the state |
BLS says most veterinary technology programs offer the 2-year associate's for technicians, while others offer the 4-year bachelor's for technologists.
Becoming a vet tech, step by step
- Take biology and other sciences in high school. BLS says it's good preparation.
- Choose an accredited veterinary technology program: associate's for a technician, bachelor's for a technologist.
- Complete the program.
- Check your eligibility pathway for the VTNE before you apply, as AAVSB advises.
- Sit and pass the VTNE. AAVSB says most states and provinces require a passing score for a veterinary technician to be credentialed.
- Apply to your state for your credential, and keep up with any continuing education it requires.
Passing the exam isn't the same as being credentialed
This is the bit that confuses new graduates. AAVSB owns and runs the VTNE and sends your score to the state or province where you'll practise, but it doesn't license or credential veterinary technicians itself. Your credential comes from the state. So after you pass, there's still an application to make, and each state regulates technicians a little differently.
AAVSB also keeps a board and agency directory so you can find your state's contact, and it says scores now appear in your MyAAVSB portal within three days rather than by email. Keep an eye on the portal after your exam, and have your state application ready to go.
Where vet techs work
Veterinary services, meaning private clinics and animal hospitals, employ 89% of veterinary technologists and technicians. Others work in laboratories, colleges and universities, and humane societies.
| Setting | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Educational services; state, local and private | $52,200 |
| Veterinary services | $47,170 |
| Social advocacy organizations | $45,970 |
Those are BLS medians as of October 2026. Educational settings paid the most of the three, though there are far fewer of those jobs than in clinics.
The hard parts of the job
It's important to go in with your eyes open. BLS says veterinary technologists and technicians have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, because they can be bitten, scratched or kicked by scared or aggressive animals. The work can also be emotionally demanding, including seeing abused animals and helping euthanise sick or injured ones. Evenings, weekends and holidays are common.
Skills that help
- Compassion for animals and their owners.
- Steady hands and calm handling of frightened animals.
- Attention to detail with records and lab work.
- Good communication with vets, colleagues and pet owners.
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Choosing a veterinary technology program
Check that the program meets your state's rules and the VTNE eligibility pathway you plan to use, because AAVSB asks candidates to confirm their pathway before they apply. Then compare the hands-on side: how much time you'll spend with animals, which clinics or hospitals you'll train in, and whether the program covers the lab work you'll do in practice. If you think you'll want a technologist role later, ask whether credits from an associate's program carry over into a bachelor's.
How long it takes
For most vet techs, the training is the 2-year associate's degree, then the exam and the state application. Technologists spend about 4 years on a bachelor's first. AAVSB's quick score turnaround means the gap between passing and applying for your credential can be short, as long as you've already checked your state's process.
My verdict
If you love animals and want a hands-on role, becoming a veterinary technician is a realistic two-year route into the field. Make sure your program is accredited, check your VTNE eligibility pathway before you apply, and remember that passing the exam is only half of it: the credential comes from your state. Go in knowing the job is physically and emotionally tough, and the hard days are part of the role.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a vet tech?
Usually 2 years for an associate's degree in veterinary technology, followed by the VTNE and your state's credentialing process.
What is the difference between a vet tech and a vet technologist?
Veterinary technicians usually have a 2-year associate's degree, while technologists usually have a 4-year bachelor's degree in veterinary technology.
What is the VTNE?
The Veterinary Technician National Exam, run by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. Most states and provinces require a passing score to credential a veterinary technician.
Does passing the VTNE make you licensed?
No. AAVSB sends your score to your state or province, but the credential itself comes from the state where you'll practise.
How much do vet techs make?
BLS reports a median of $47,380 a year in May 2025 for veterinary technologists and technicians, as of October 2026.
Where do most vet techs work?
In veterinary services such as private clinics and animal hospitals, which employ 89% of veterinary technologists and technicians.
