How To Become a Veterinary Technician in Indiana

Anyone looking to become a veterinary technician in Indiana must have a love of animals, strong interpersonal skills, and be able to communicate clearly and concisely. All these skills make the job a lot easier, but ultimately the most important skills you will need to succeed as a veterinary technician are those you’ll obtain from a training program.

Luckily, aspiring veterinary technicians in Indiana can count on many high-quality institutions in the state to obtain this training. Below, we provide a comprehensive list of these schools’ most prominent ones.

We also dive into some other important things about becoming a veterinary technician in Indiana, including the steps involved and potential salary.

Steps To Become a Veterinary Technician in Indiana

Interested candidates must graduate from an accredited program to become a veterinary technician in Indiana. As it happens, most vet tech training programs in Indiana have the same requirements, which specify that applicants must already have a high school diploma or GED.

They may also ask for high school transcripts showing proficiency in Biology, Mathematics, and English.

Choosing a Training Program

There are several high-quality training programs for aspiring veterinary training in Georgia, Indiana. Most of them have impressive facilities and top-quality instructors. And while all of these are important when deciding, the most important criterion is accreditation.

Accreditation is vital to ensure a high educational standard. Participating in the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) is also mandatory, an examination every aspiring vet tech must pass after graduation.

The organization responsible for accrediting vet tech programs nationwide is the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA).

Externships/Internships

Veterinary technicians must have a strong theoretical foundation for the duties they will carry out on the job. They must also have enough experience putting this theoretical knowledge to work in a clinical setting.

And while most programs provide the theoretical base through classroom sessions, the hands-on training must be completed through an internship or externship.

It is common to see programs require certain hours of clinical internship as a criterion for graduation.

Pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).

As mentioned earlier, every aspiring vet tech must sit for and pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). The exam seeks to test graduates’ knowledge in key topics and areas such as animal care, biochemistry, mathematics, parasitology, introduction to vet technology, and pharmacology.

The Veterinary Technician National Examination is organized by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), and registrations are opened three times a year.

Related: Curious about the exciting world of veterinary technician as a careers? Learn all about the essential responsibilities, skills, and opportunities in this rewarding field by checking out our informative guide

Licensure and Certification Requirements

As one would expect, veterinary technicians in Indiana must first register with the state board before they can work professionally.

Typically, the steps involved in becoming a registered vet tech in Indiana include graduating from high school, completing an accredited vet tech program, passing the veterinary technician national examination, and registering with the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

The board conducts background checks and examines your transcript and VTNE scores before registration is approved. Candidates must also pass a state-specific test and pay a $30 registration fee.

The license must be renewed every two years by completing 16 hours of continuing education.

Top Veterinary Technician Schools in Indiana

1. Ancilla College of Marian University

Vet tech students at Ancilla College of Marian University can begin their careers on the wrong foot by earning an Associate of Applied Science in veterinary nursing, focusing on animal husbandry, laboratory skills, surgical assisting, veterinary pharmacology, and radiology.

2. Purdue University

Another incredible option for aspiring vet techs in Indiana is Purdue University, based at West Lafayette. Students of this on-campus program graduate with an associate of applied science degree or a Bachelor of Science degree.

The program includes 70 credits spanning a variety of classes, such as pharmacology, parasitology, small animal nursing, and microbiology, among others.

3. International Business College

Despite the name, International Business College in Indianapolis is for more than just finance students. Aspiring vet techs can also take advantage of the school’s associate of applied science degree in veterinary technology to start their careers on the right foot.

Related: Not sure about the difference between a Veterinary Assistant and a Veterinary Technician? Read our post to help you decide which profession suits you best in animal care.

Indiana Veterinary Technician Salary and Job Outlook

Veterinary technicians in Indiana earn an annual average salary of $34,320. Entry-level workers just starting often make around $25,540, while those who fall in the top ten percent of earners take home as high as $42,770 annually.

Sorting by location, vet techs in Fishers earn an annual average salary of $38,361, while those in the Indianapolis area earn an average yearly salary of $37,998.

There are currently around 8,580 veterinary technicians in Florida. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a 15% increase in demand for veterinary technicians between 2020 to 2030 which will see an addition of 17,000 new vet tech jobs nationwide.