Veterinary technicians enjoy diverse career opportunities, from general practice to specialized fields such as anesthesia, exotic animal care, and emergency medicine. Whether they choose to specialize or not, all vet techs must obtain a strong base education from an accredited program.
Thankfully, there is plenty of impressive schools in Hawaii for aspiring veterinary technicians. Below we look at some of the most prominent of these schools and provide a breakdown of additional steps involved in becoming a veterinary technician in Hawaii.
How To Become a Veterinary Technician in Hawaii
Interested individuals must obtain certification from the state board to become a veterinary technician in Hawaii. Before they get to that point, however, they must have satisfied the following requirements:
- Have a High School Diploma or GED Equivalent - a high school diploma is needed to gain admission into a training program and get certified. A GED is also admissible as an alternative.
- Graduate from an Accredited Program - Accreditation of veterinary technology program is usually carried out by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Most training programs offer a two-year associate of applied science degree.
- Obtain Real-World Experience - Real-world experience is important for vet techs before securing employment. Through internship programs, they consolidate their classroom training with real-world duties.
They also get to experience for the first time how it feels to work as part of a vet team with other professionals.
- Pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination - Aspiring veterinary technicians who graduate from an accredited program are only halfway to practicing professionally. One of the last few hurdles to cross is the veterinary technician national examination, taken by all graduates of accredited vet tech programs nationwide.
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Top Veterinary Technician Schools in Hawaii
Aspiring vet techs in Hawcan choose between on-campus, online, and hybrid programs. On-campus programs offer a feeling of familiarity, while online programs are known for their flexibility and convenience.
Those seeking both may choose the hybrid options. Below are some of the most noteworthy options in these categories.
Windward Community College
Honolulu, HI Online + Campus
The associate of science degree program in veterinary technology at Windward Community College is the only CVTEA-accredited program in the state. Students can also enroll in a three-year part-time hybrid format with more flexibility and the two-year full-time option.
Tuition
$3,194 - $8,330Contact
(808) 235-7400
winccar@hawaii.edu
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN Online Only
Purdue University is one of a handful of CVTEA-accredited vet tech programs that can be completed online. This provides a veritable alternative for students in Hawaii who wish to consider a different option to the one above.
Tuition
$420 - $700 per CreditContact
(765) 494-1776
admissions@purdue.edu
Penn Foster College
Chandler, AZ Online Only
Another popular online program for students in Hawaii looking for an accredited vet tech program, Penn Foster College, teaches the fundamentals of veterinary technology, focusing on key topics such as clinical pathology, medical mathematics, veterinary nursing, office management skills, radiography, and pharmacy procedures.
Tuition
$1,599 - $1,999 per SemesterContact
(800) 471-3232
infoims@pennfoster.com
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Hawaii Licensure and Certification Requirements for Veterinary Technicians
To become a registered veterinary technician in Hawaii, you must have completed an accredited training program and passed the veterinary technician national examination. You must also register with the state.
It used to be that candidates must have a base level of experience before they could apply, but nowadays, no such requirement exists anymore.
Hawaii also allows the transfer of licenses from other states under certain conditions.
Veterinary Technician Salary and Job Outlook in Hawaii
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are around 210 veterinary technicians in Hawaii, and they all earn an annual average salary of $38,580. This figure is only slightly lower than the national average of $37,860.
Those in the top ten percent of earners in the state earn an annual average salary of $51,610, while those in the bottom ten percent earn $27,240 on average yearly.
The BLS also projects that the demand for veterinary technicians nationwide is set to increase by a 16% margin in the next ten years.