A veterinary technician in Ohio must have compassion for animals and be able to work tirelessly to help alleviate suffering and improve the lives of these creatures. But while compassion and dedication are essential, they are not enough to automatically start a career as a veterinary technician in Ohio.
To begin their careers, aspiring veterinary technicians in the state must also fulfill a handful of specific requirements, including educational provisions and other vital conditions.
To help make the journey smoother and more convenient for interested individuals, we have provided the in-depth guide below containing all these requirements, conditions, and specifications.
Steps to Become a Veterinary Technician in Ohio
Below is a recommended possible path to becoming a veterinary technician in Ohio.
- Basic education prerequisites - all aspiring veterinary technicians in Ohio must have a high school diploma or GED. As a high school student preparing for a career in this field, it is advisable to focus on subjects such as anatomy, biology, and algebra, among others.
- Training program - one of the most important things to consider when choosing a training program as an aspiring veterinary technician is to ensure that the American Veterinary Medical Association accredits your final training destination. The state of Ohio has 11 such institutions.
- Pass the VTNE - The VTNE (veterinary technician national examination) consists of questions to test an aspiring veterinary technician’s proficiency in the field. Passing this exam is a must for all vet techs in the country.
State Licensure and Certification Requirements
Lastly, all aspiring veterinary technicians in Ohio must register with the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board before practicing professionally. Registration does not require any particular test but includes the following application requirements:
- Provision of a recent photograph, a sealed envelope with an official transcript,
- Payment of registration fee,
- The Bureau of Criminal Investigation carried out a background check.
Registration must be renewed every two years through 10 hours of continuing education credits.
Learn about veterinary technician licensing and certification in neighboring states:
Top Veterinary Technician Schools in Ohio
Below are some of Ohio’s top veterinary technician programs for aspiring vet technicians in the state to consider.
Columbus State College
Columbus State College boasts a top-class veterinary technician program that teaches students classroom topics that they will need to know to succeed on the job and hands-on experience through partnerships with more than 160 clinics in the state.
Students get to graduate with an associate of applied science degree. The program can be completed in 5 semesters for those who use the full-time option, while those studying part-time will need 11 semesters to complete their training.
Ross College
Students who enroll in the veterinary technology program at Ross College graduate with an associate of applied science degree through a 96-credit program. The program consists of 24 credits, including large animal medicine, small animal medicine, pharmacology, veterinary imaging, and introduction to veterinary technology.
As expected, Ross College is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Edison State Community College
At Edison State Community College, aspiring veterinary technicians in Ohio learn critical topics such as surgical preparation, animal husbandry, animal restraint, laboratory techniques, radiography, anesthesia, and animal dentistry, among others. The program contains 65 credits that can be completed in five semesters. As expected, while receiving hands-on training at clinical sites, students will become sound in theoretical principles while receiving hands-on training from clinics with which the school has established a partnership.
Kent State University
Kent State University provides aspiring veterinary technicians in Ohio the opportunity to earn their associate of applied science degree in veterinary technology with full accreditation from the AVMA. The school has two campuses in Tuscarawas and Trumbull, both of which require a minimum GPA of 2.7 for admission to be granted.
The program contains 64 credits and focuses on exotic animal medicine, clinical laboratory procedures, and veterinary office applications.
Salary and Career Outlook
With an annual average salary of $35,476 – a figure that is slightly above the national average – veterinary technicians in Ohio can be considered to be among the highest-paid in the country. Of course, it is possible to fall above or below this figure depending on optimizable factors such as experience, location, credentials, type of employer, specialization, and more.
Those who fall on the higher end of these factors earn an annual average salary of around $47,351, while those who fall on the lower end earn an average yearly salary of $26,681.
Sorting only by experience, veterinary technicians in Ohio with less than 1 year of experience take home around $33,222. In contrast, those with more than 10 years of experience earn an annual average salary of $44,290.
Avon Lake is Ohio’s highest-paying city for veterinary technicians, with an annual average salary of $41,590. Cincinnati ($38,802), Troy ($38,388), Washington ($38,197), and Columbus ($37,346) complete the top five.
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