Demand

• The field for veterinary technicians is expected to grow by 36 percent through the year 2018. The reason? Pet owners increasingly have the resources to afford their family pet more advanced veterinary care. The majority of technicians work at private clinical practices under veterinarians. As the number of vets grows to meet the demand, so will the opportunities for the vet technicians who are needed to assist the vets. In addition, decisions by some clinics and hospitals to replace veterinary assistants with more highly-trained technicians will also contribute to the demand.
  
  

Education

• Veterinary technicians in North Carolina must obtain at least a two-year associate's degree from a college program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). By selecting an AVMA-accredited program--approximately 160 programs in 45 states are accredited--the graduate will be able to take the national credentialing exam anywhere in the country. Vet technicians may also choose to pursue a four-year bachelor's degree. There are about 20 colleges nationwide which offer the bachelor's program. If commuting is an issue, there are also10 schools which offer online programs/distance learning.
  
  

Testing

• Each state requires a veterinary technician to pass a credentialing exam following their graduation, which ensures that the technician or technologist has the knowledge necessary to work in a veterinary clinic or hospital. The test includes oral, written, and practical portions.
  
  In North Carolina, a veterinary technician must pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) which is adminstered by the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board. The test is conducted by the medical board twice a year, in January and June. A passing score for the VTNE is 425.
  
  Following passage of the VTNE, vet technicians must then pass the Veterinary Technician State Examination (VTSE). The test is conducted five times a year and costs $50. The test contains 70 true or false and 30 multiple choice questions, and is based on the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act. A passing score for the VTSE is 70.
  
  

Post-graduate training

• Following graduation, veterinary technicians usually will train under an experienced veterinarian in their first job. The most successful new technicians are those who have graduated from programs that offered extensive hands-on experience with diagnostic and medical equipment. Those new technicians usually find their post-graduate training is shorter and their acclimation into the first job is quicker and smoother.
  
  

Job prospects

• Because there are so few veterinary technician graduates each year, job prospects are excellent. While there are more two-year vet technician programs offered than in the past, class sizes are still small. Therefore, the number of graduates annually does not meet the demand for the technicians. In addition, many technicians choose to leave the field within 10 years of receiving their degree. That turnover also helps to increase the demand for new graduates.
  
  The same excellent job prospects exist for veterinary technologists graduating from four-year programs. But technologists will enjoy more expanded opportunities, as they will be qualified for an array of research positions in addition to traditional veterinary care.
  
  Veterinary positions are less likely to be impacted by a downturn in the economy, because pet owners remain committed to the health and well-being of their pets.