Veterinary Technician Schools in West Virginia

In addition to assisting veterinarians during exams and surgeries, veterinary technicians in West Virginia have enough training to monitor anesthesia, help with diagnostic procedures, and provide nursing care. These professionals are also typically called upon to administer medications and perform laboratory tests.

West Virginia has straightforward requirements for prospective veterinary technicians. These include educational considerations, accreditation confirmation, and licensure/certification steps. The sections below explore all of these in more depth.

We have also dedicated some sections to showcasing specific training programs and annual average salary projections for vet techs in West Virginia.

How to Become a Veterinary Technician in West Virginia

These steps are needed to become a successful veterinary technician in West Virginia.

Fundamental Educational Requirements

Prospective veterinary technicians in West Virginia are expected to have a high school diploma or GED to secure admission into a training program. They also need minimal scores on tests such as the SAT and ACT.

Completing a Program

A veterinary technician is only possible in Virginia through a training program. Candidates are expected to attend a training program accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

These programs can be completed in around 2 years and contain around 80 credits. After training, graduates would have earned an associate degree.

A few programs meet these requirements; we list them later in the guide.

Passing the Veterinary Technician National Examination

All prospective veterinary technicians must pass the VTNE. Those who did not pass the first time can retake it after waiting for the specified period.

The exam occurs once every three months. It includes multiple-choice questions divided into four major sections. We discuss more on the VTNE below.

Consider exploring careers with similar paths:

• How to become a veterinary assistant in West Virginia

Top Veterinary Technician Schools in West Virginia

The following are the best places to receive training as an aspiring veterinary technician in West Virginia.

Explore nearby states for education and training:

• Veterinary technician schools in Virginia

Licensure & Certification Requirements

To become licensed as a veterinary technician and practice in a full professional capacity, candidates in West Virginia must take the VTNE very seriously. Administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), applicants must pay a $340 fee to apply for the examination.

Once their application has been reviewed and favorably considered, they may proceed to sit for the exam. They should be prepared to complete 200 multiple-choice questions that explore various aspects of the field.

There will be tests concerning their laboratory procedures skills, along with topics in anatomy and physiology, surgical nursing, dentistry, and pain management.

The West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine ensures that candidates renew their veterinary technician licenses annually. To do so, they must participate in 8 hours of continuing education.

Salary & Career Outlook

Wheeling is the destination where veterinary technicians have the highest relative salary in West Virginia by location alone. Professionals working here make around $35,269 per year in average return.

The annual average salary of those working in Morgantown is also notable, at $34,835, and the annual average salary of those working in Martinsburg is third, at $32,404.

Along with their locations, a candidate’s experience level, credentials, and employer also influence how much they earn annually. Without focusing on any single factor, veterinary technicians in London earn an annual average salary of $22,582 if they are among the lowest-paid, an annual average salary of $30,672 in the middle, and an annual average salary of $41,661 if they are among the highest-paid.

State residents looking to enter the profession will also be glad to know that the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 19% year-on-year growth in the employment rate for this profession across the next decade.