Veterinary Technician Schools in North Carolina

Veterinary technicians in North Carolina work side-by-side with veterinarians to provide care for animals and pets. Compared to doctors of veterinary medicine, there is quite a limitation to what a veterinary technician can do.

However, they still perform essential duties, as they can also carry out several clinical procedures.

Below, we look at everything an aspiring veterinary technician in North Carolina will need to know to begin their careers on the best possible path. Among other things, we’ll discuss the steps involved in the process, the educational requirements, licensing requirements, possible certification, and more.

How to Become a Veterinary Technician in North Carolina

Below are the steps involved in becoming a veterinary technician in North Carolina.

Step 1: Graduate from an accredited training program.

There are five training programs in North Carolina for veterinary technicians accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Most of these programs offer either a 2-year associate degree program or 4 years bachelor’s degree. We take a look at them in the next session.

Step 2: Pass the veterinary technician national examination.

Administered by the American Association of Regional State Boards, the VTNE national examination tests a veterinary technician’s knowledge of critical concepts in the field. Nearly all states require veterinary technicians to pass this examination before beginning their careers.

After these two steps are complete, the next important milestone is to apply for licensure through the state board. We discuss more on this below.

Consider exploring careers with similar paths:

• Steps to Become a Veterinary Assistant in North Carolina

Top Veterinary Technician Schools in North Carolina

There are five accredited veterinary technician programs in North Carolina. We take a look at them below.

Choose nearby states for the same career:

• Veterinary Technician Schools in Georgia

State Licensure & Certification Requirements

The state board responsible for licensing veterinary technicians in North Carolina is the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board ( NCVMB). To become licensed, vet techs in North Carolina must apply for the state exam offered three times a year. The exam consists of 50 questions and requires a 75% passing score. Once a license is issued, candidates must work towards renewing this credential every two years by completing 12 hours of continuing education credits.

Salary and Career Outlook

In North Carolina, veterinary technicians earn an annual salary close to the national average. This figure of $32,782 can be improved upon by optimizing factors such as location, experience, and specialization.

Those who do so successfully earn as high as $44,930 in annual average salary. Those who fail to optimize these factors may earn around $23,919 – the average yearly salary for the lowest-earning veterinary technicians in the state.

Sorting by location only, vet technicians in Matthews are the highest paid in the state, with an annual average salary of $38,069. Other high-paying cities for veterinary technicians in North Carolina include:

• Charlotte – with an average yearly salary of $35,575,
• Chapel Hill - $34,102,
• Wilmington - $31,830,
• Raleigh – $31,712.