Veterinary technicians in Oklahoma are professionals with the training and expertise to carry out many medical duties to ease the pressure on veterinarians. Naturally, a veterinary technician is only expected to be able to perform some of the duties of a veterinarian. Still, they can do much more than other support staff like veterinary assistants.
The following sections include all the considerations an interested individual must fulfill to start a career as a veterinary technician in Oklahoma. We explore the steps involved in the process, the certification possibilities, and the top programs.
Lastly, we highlight the possible salary projections for fresh vet techs in the state to expect, based on a few determining factors.
Steps to Become a Veterinary Technician in Oklahoma
The following are the steps required to become a veterinary technician in Oklahoma.
Step 1: Enroll in an Accredited Training Program
Aspiring veterinary technicians in Oklahoma must enroll in a training program to receive training regarding their duties and tasks. More importantly, they have to enroll in an accredited training program.
The body responsible for accrediting vet tech programs nationwide is the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Step 2: Externship & Hands-on Training
After graduating from a training program, future veterinary technicians are expected to receive additional hands-on training to become familiar with how an actual veterinary practice works. To do so, most students opt for externships and other on-the-job learning environments.
Step 3: Pass the VTNE
The Veterinary Technician National Examination is mandatory for all veterinary technicians across the country practicing in states where a license is mandatory. Those in Oklahoma are also expected to pass this exam before securing employment.
Those who fail to pass the examination the first time may retake it after waiting a month. The exam focuses on key areas such as medical nursing, medical management, anatomy and physiology, and dental and laboratory.
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Licensure & Certification Requirements
In Oklahoma, Virginia, technicians must be licensed by the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. All the major requirements to receive the license have been outlined above.
Candidates must forward their official transcripts from an approved training program and VTNE results to the board for approval.
Those who wish to improve their mastery of the profession may also pursue the Registered Veterinary Technician license, which is a step above the regular license.
Top Veterinary Technician Schools in Oklahoma
Below are the top AVMA-accredited veterinary technician training programs for candidates in Oklahoma to consider.
Murray State College
At Murray State College, aspiring veterinary technicians can acquire an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology. The program comprises 76 credits that can be completed in 24 months, including all the key topics necessary to secure employment and thrive.
The school boasts a 95% first-time Veterinary Technician National Examination pass rate. Among the key focus topics are anesthesia and surgical nursing, physiology and anatomy of domestic animals, veterinary hospital management, and veterinary imaging.
Tulsa Community College
Tulsa Community College offers another accredited program with an Associate in Applied Science degree for future veterinary technicians in Oklahoma. The program contains 76 to 77 credits and offers great flexibility.
Students can, for instance, enroll in the three-year part-time program instead of the two-year full-time program. The school has a 65.4% first-time pass rate in the Veterinary Technician National Examination.
Oklahoma State University
Lastly, candidates may receive accredited veterinary technology training from Oklahoma State University in a program consisting of 69 credits. The school has a 71.4% VTNE pass rate.
Candidates will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology degree after 36 months of training.
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Salary & Career Outlook
The annual average salary for a veterinary technician in Oklahoma in the 50th percentile will be $30,513. Those who manage to scale their earnings to be among the top 10% will take home an annual average salary of around $43,398, while those who find themselves among the bottom 10% still manage an annual average salary of $21,454.
Experience and location are two of the most important factors determining how much a veterinary technician in Oklahoma will take home at the end of the year.
Concerning location, Stillwater remains the highest-paying city for veterinary technicians in Oklahoma with an annual average salary of $32,217. It is followed by Oklahoma City, where veterinary technicians take home an annual average salary of $31,923.
Tulsa, Owasso, and Norman are the top five highest-paying cities for veterinary technicians in Oklahoma, with annual average salaries of $31,808, $31,508, and $31,146, respectively.
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