Veterinary Technician Schools in South Carolina

The duties of a veterinary technician in South Carolina include assisting with surgery, treatments, and emergency care. They also sometimes take on administrative roles, including patient communication and record-keeping.

In the following sections, we will explore all the important details that an aspiring veterinary technician in South Carolina must know to begin their careers on the best possible trajectory. We touch upon the basic prerequisites, educational requirements, licensure, and certification requirements.

Before they’re done reading, candidates will know the best destinations for top-class veterinary technician training in the state and the possible salary figures to expect at various points of their careers.

How to Become a Veterinary Technician in South Carolina

The following are the considerations needed to become a veterinary technician in South Carolina.

Have a High School Diploma or GED

Anyone looking to become a veterinary technician in South Carolina will have an easier time doing so if they already have a high school diploma or GED. Those who don’t have one may have to apply for a GED to get an equivalent qualification.

Training

The most important aspect of becoming a veterinary technician anywhere is receiving appropriate field training. This is done by attending a training program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), particularly the association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA).

These programs tend to last between 2 - 4 years, with the majority drifting towards the 2-year duration. Topics to be learned during training include animal nursing, anesthesia, research methods, and veterinary medicine ethics.

Veterinary Technician National Examination

The Veterinary Technician National Examination is a 3-hour professional examination that all aspiring veterinary technicians in South Carolina (and several states) must pass before practicing professionally. Administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, the examination requires a fee of $330 and must be completed in three hours.

Licensure & Employment

Before securing employment and becoming official professionals, candidates must obtain a license from the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. We take a look at the requirements for doing so below.

Some notable employers of veterinary technicians in South Carolina include Animal Medical West in Charleston, Palmetto Animal Hospital in Myrtle Beach, and Advanced Veterinary Hospital in Sumter.

Explore other careers with similar paths:

• Learn to become a veterinarian in South Carolina

Top Veterinary Technician Schools in South Carolina

Below are a few veterinary technician training programs for candidates in South Carolina to consider.

Explore nearby states for education and training:

• Veterinary Technician Schools in Tennessee

Licensure and Certification Requirements

The requirements for receiving a license from the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and thus becoming an official veterinary technician in the state start with meeting the requirements below.

Candidates must then send in documents to prove they have done so, along with an official app for a veterinary technician license. The state of South Carolina is one of the many in the country that requires a state jurisprudence exam for veterinary technicians.

Vet techs licensed in other states may not have to go through the verification step. They will, however, still have to participate in the jurisprudence examination.

Salary & Career Outlook

As a veterinary technician in South Carolina just starting a career, the annual average salary to look forward to is typically around $33,258. This is the figure estimated for the average earners in the state.

Naturally, professionals can fall below or above this figure. Those who land among the lowest-paid in the state earn an annual average salary of $23,062, while those who earn the most (the top 10%) take home an annual average salary of up to $47,962.

Sorting with location as the predominant factor, Charleston is the highest-paying location for veterinary technicians in South Carolina, with an annual average salary of $38,442. It is followed by Bluffton and Fort Mill, with annual average salaries of $36,819 and $36,370.

Also among the top five are Greenville, with an annual average salary of $34,716, and West Columbia, with an annual average salary of $33,296.