Veterinary Technician Schools in Illinois

Every veterinary clinic or establishment is complete with the presence of a veterinary technician. Thanks to their undeniable importance, vet technicians in Illinois and nationwide continue to enjoy a significant boost in demand.

If you are an aspiring veterinary technician in Illinois looking for the best way to start your career, you have come to the right page. Below, we provide information on creating a veterinary technician career in Illinois.

We also provide other essential details such as licensure & certification requirements, top programs, potential salary, and more.

How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Illinois

All Illinois veterinary technicians must be certified through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The following are the steps involved in doing so.

Step 1: Finish High School

Along with a high school diploma or GED, most successful veterinarians have biology, chemistry, and anatomy foundations. This will be important when it’s time to gain admission into a training program – and secure employment.

Step 2: Enroll in an Accredited Vet Tech Program

Veterinary technician programs teach aspiring vet techs everything they need to know to be successful on the job. While choosing a program, it is essential to consider accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Currently, a handful of schools in Illinois fulfill the requirement. We take a look at some of them in the next section.

Step 3: Veterinary Technician National Examination

The Veterinary Technician National Examination tests candidates’ knowledge in veterinary technician topics such as surgical nursing, pharmacology, and diagnostic imaging. It is required to qualify for certification.

Consider exploring careers with similar paths:

• How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Illinois

Top Veterinary Technician Schools in Illinois

The Committee accredits five veterinary technician programs in Illinois on the veterinary technician education and activities arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association. We’ll take a look at what they each have to offer below.

Other Notable Mentions

Other notable destinations where students can acquire high-quality veterinary technician training from an accredited institution include Rockford Career College, offering a two-year associate of applied science degree in veterinary technology, consisting of 114.5 credits, and Vet Tech Institute at Fox College, offering an 18 months associate of applied science degree in veterinary technology program at Tinley Park campus. This program consists of 72 credits.

State Licensure & Certification Requirements

After completing the High School and postsecondary training requirements and passing the VTNE, the next most important step in becoming a veterinary technician in Illinois is to apply for certification through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. To do so, candidates must send in their official transcripts from the accredited training school, their VTNE results, and their application fee.

Veterinary technician certification in Illinois must be renewed every two years through 15 hours of continuing education.

Learn about licensing and certification in neighboring states:

• Veterinary Technician certification in Missouri

Salary and Career Outlook

Aspiring veterinary technicians in Illinois will be glad to know that the annual average salary for vet techs in the state is $35,881 and can get as high as $51,881. Entry-level vet techs in the state often start with an annual average salary closer to $24,816.

Along with their experience level, other factors contribute to determining how much a veterinary technician earns in Illinois. These include location specialization, credentials, type of employer, and more.

Concerning location, Aurora is the highest paying city to be a veterinary technician in Illinois. This is followed by Chicago, Lincolnshire, Lisle, Burbank, Oswego, and East Dundee.