How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Arkansas

Arkansas offers several workplace opportunities for aspiring veterinary technicians in the area. These professionals may work in various veterinary establishments, including hospitals and clinics while qualifying for employment in zoos, research facilities, and educative capacities.

Below, we explore all the major requirements that an aspiring veterinary technician in the state must know to begin their careers on the right trajectory.

By the time they are through the guide, readers will be prepared for the journey and in good positions to make optimal decisions at every step.

Steps to Become a Veterinary Technician in Arkansas

The following steps are needed to launch a successful veterinary technician career in Arkansas.

Step 1: Basic Prerequisites

The basic prerequisites to become a veterinary technician in Arkansas include having a high school diploma or GED, having a passion for animals, and having strong foundational knowledge of biology topics.

Step 2: Enroll in a Training Program

Like most professions, veterinary technicians are expected to attend a training program in the state to acquire the skills they’ll need to carry out their duties to the highest level. Candidates must attend programs accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), which belongs to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Interested individuals in Arkansas will be glad to know that several institutions and programs around them meet these requirements. We will be exploring some of them in the upcoming list below.

Step 3: Pass the VTNE

After completing an approved training program, the next step to become a vet tech in Arkansas is to pass the VTNE — the Veterinary Technician National Examination. This exam takes place for three months every year and is designed to test a candidate’s proficiency in several areas of veterinary technology, such as pharmacology and anesthesia.

Step 4: State Credentials

Veterinary technicians in Arkansas must be certified by the state board before starting their careers. We go into more detail concerning this particular requirement below.

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• Learn to become a veterinarian in Arkansas

Licensure and Certification Requirements

The State of Arkansas Veterinary Medical Examining Board oversees affairs concerning the veterinary profession in Arkansas. Currently, the board mandates that all veterinary technicians in the state receive certification before they can start working professionally.

For this, candidates must meet a few requirements, including being US citizens or eligible for citizenship, having high moral integrity and standards, and completing the abovementioned steps.

Suppose all of these conditions have been fulfilled. In that case, candidates must send in their official applications, a notarized letter of recommendation, proof of graduating from an accredited program, and VTNE scores.

Top Veterinary Technician Schools in Arkansas

Anyone looking to start a veterinary technician career in Arkansas should consider any options below for top-class training.

Online Options

Even though there is only one accredited training program in the state, aspiring veterinary technicians in Arkansas may look to online options for their training. In this regard, they may consider Jefferson State Community College of Birmingham, Penn Foster Institute, and Ashworth College of Norcross, among others.

Explore nearby states for education and training:

• Veterinary Technician Schools in Texas

Salary & Career Outlook

Among the average earners in Arkansas, veterinary technicians take home an annual salary of $30,030. Those among the top 10% take home an annual average salary of $39,767, while those among the bottom 10% make around $22,677 yearly.

Experience and location are among the major factors influencing the annual average salary of a veterinary technician in Arkansas. Those with less than a year of experience in the field earn an annual average salary of $28,068, while those who have been on the job for more than 10 years take home an annual average salary of $37,419.

As for the highest-paying places to work as a vet tech in Arkansas, they include Pea Ridge, with an annual average salary of $36,372; Fayetteville, with an annual average salary of $31,108; Bentonville, with an annual average salary of $30,696; and Springdale, with an annual average salary of $29,530.

Veterinary technicians in Little Rock earn an average salary of around $29,215 annually.