Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Arizona
Arizona is a great place to live with its sunshine and warm climate. It’s also a promising state in which to find a job as a veterinary technician, a veterinary assistant, or an animal caretaker. Growth in these fields is expected to be positive with more jobs being added every year. These rewarding careers are also fun, but they do require a certain amount of training. To be a vet tech in Arizona requires certification through the state. [Leer en español]
Veterinary Technician Salaries
The national average salary for a vet tech is $36,850, while the average for Arizona is $36,690. The highest earners in the state can make as much as $46,860, much better than the national average. Veterinary assistants in Arizona make a little less than vet techs, at $24,290 the average, but to become an assistant requires less training and no certification.
Requirements for Veterinary Technician Certification
Veterinary technicians are like nurses for animals. They do important and challenging work, which means that training and certification are required. To be certified in Arizona, vet techs must have been trained at a school that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and approved by the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. Applicants for certification must also have passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination and the Arizona state exam for vet techs.
Veterinary Technician National Examination
The Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) is a comprehensive test that covers many areas of the vet tech job. The VTNE consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and applicants have three hours to complete it. There are four sections: clinical sciences, medical technology, pharmacology, and practice management. The exam fee for Arizona residents is $300.
Once certification is achieved, the vet tech must renew it every two years by taking continuing education classes and paying a fee. Renewal fees vary depending on the length of time since one’s last renewal and are subject to change.
Penn Foster College – Veterinary Technician Program
Full accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Clinical externships through a private practice near your home or Penn Foster College’s partner VCA Animal Hospitals. Gain hands-on experience alongside licensed veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians. Call 1-800-851-1819 today.
AVMA-Accredited Veterinary Technician Programs
Arizona requires that vet techs working in the state have attended and completed a veterinary technician program at an AVMA-accredited school. There are several of these in Arizona:
- Mesa Community College, Mesa
- Pima Community College, Tucson
- Pima Medical Institute-East Valley
- Pima Medical Institute-Mesa
- Penn Foster College, Scottsdale
Veterinary Technician Employers in Arizona
Over 2,000 vet techs and nearly 800 veterinary assistants are currently employed in Arizona, and the number of positions available is growing. There are many employers for vet techs and assistants, including animal hospitals, research facilities, kennels, and private veterinary practices. Some of the employers in the state include:
- Emergency Animal Clinic, Phoenix
- Arrow Animal Hospital, Glendale
- Oasis Animal Hospital, Chandler
- University Animal Hospital, Tempe
- Rita Ranch Pet Hospital, Tucson
- Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Tucson
Professional Organizations for Vet Techs
Veterinary technicians and assistants working in Arizona may join the Veterinary Health Care Team of Arizona (VHCTAz), a subsidiary of the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. The organization is designed to include everyone working in animal care from veterinarians to vet techs and even office staff. Vet techs can also join the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, which provides resources on a national level.
Veterinary Technician Schools in Arizona
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ Area
Carrington College-Mesa
do not remove this text1001 Southern Ave., Ste. 130, Mesa, Arizona 85210
iVeterinary Assisting – Certificate Program
The Veterinary Assisting Certificate program at Carrington College is taught at their Mesa campus in the city of Mesa. This private, for-profit college has in the order of 718 students in total, with the majority of students on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Tuition fees for the Vet Tech program are likely to be around $14,265 annually. Learning materials may cost around $580. Program completion is normally 9 months. The program includes courses on nursing skills, animal anatomy and physiology, surgical procedures, chemistry, and animal restraint, as well as office-based skills such as computer basics, telephone, and appointments.
Carrington College-Phoenix
do not remove this text8503 N 27th Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85051-4063
iVeterinary Assisting – Certificate Program
Carrington College’s Certificate program in Veterinary Assisting is taught at their Phoenix campus in the city of Phoenix. This private, for-profit college has about 617 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. The cost of tuition for the Vet Tech program is broadly about $14,265 for each academic year, while study materials may cost roughly $580. Usually, the program is completed in 9 months.
Mesa Community College
do not remove this text1833 W Southern Ave, Mesa, Arizona 85202
iVeterinary Technology – Associate Program
Mesa Community College’s Associate-level Veterinary Technology program is based at its campus in the city of Mesa, AZ. Most of the school’s 22,711 students are in 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission. The cost of tuition for students living in the state is in the order of $2,046 and for students from outside the state around $7,830 for each academic year, while books and supplies may cost roughly $1,280, although this varies from program to program.
Pima Medical Institute-East Valley
do not remove this text2160 S Power Rd, Mesa, Arizona 85209
iVeterinary Assistant – Certificate Program, Veterinary Technician – Associate Program
Pima Medical Institute offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are taught at their East Valley campus in Mesa in Maricopa County, AZ. The majority of the school’s 459 students are on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Tuition fees for the Vet Tech program are in the order of $16,443 per year, while study materials may cost roughly $1,824. Usually, the program is completed in 12 months.
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa
do not remove this text957 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, Arizona 85202
iVeterinary Assistant – Certificate Program
The Certificate program at Pima Medical Institute is offered at their Mesa campus in the city of Mesa, AZ. The majority of the school’s 1,038 students are in 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Tuition fees are about $12,024 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $670, although this will depend on the program.
Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix
do not remove this text1445 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85014-4929
iVeterinary Technician – Associate Program, Veterinary Assistant – Certificate Program
Pima Medical Institute offers multiple training options, including an Associate program and a Certificate program. All programs are taught at their Phoenix campus in the city of Phoenix. The Vet Tech program, with a duration of 1055 contact hours, is the college’s largest program. Tuition fees are about $16,443 per year, while books and supplies may cost in the order of $1,824, although this varies from program to program.
Tucson, AZ Area
Carrington College-Tucson
do not remove this text201 N. Bonita Ave., Suite 101, Tucson, Arizona 85745
iVeterinary Assisting – Certificate Program
The Veterinary Assisting Certificate program at Carrington College is offered at their Tucson campus in the city of Tucson, Arizona. This private, for-profit college has about 424 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Tuition fees for the Vet Tech program are generally about $14,265 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost roughly $580. The typical program completion time is 9 months.
Pima Community College
do not remove this text4905C East Broadway Blvd., Tucson, Arizona 85709-1275
iVeterinary Practice Assistant – Certificate Program, Veterinary Technician – Associate Program
Pima Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are taught at their campus in the city of Tucson. This public college has about 28,070 students in total, with most students in 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission. Tuition fees for in-state students are generally about $1,974 and for students from other states approximately $8,610 annually, while study materials may cost around $1,600, depending on the program.
Pima Medical Institute-Tucson
do not remove this text3350 East Grant Road, Suite 200, Tucson, Arizona 85716
iVeterinary Technician – Associate Program, Veterinary Assistant – Certificate Program
Pima Medical Institute offers multiple training options, including an Associate program and a Certificate program. Classes are taken at their Tucson campus in the city of Tucson, AZ. This private, for-profit college has around 1,948 students in total, with the majority of students on 4-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. The cost of tuition for the Vet Tech program is in the order of $12,024 for each academic year. Learning materials may cost roughly $743. Program completion is usually 8 months.
* Tuition fees and accreditation status are correct at the time of writing, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/). Confirm with the college before applying.
Other Options
See options in the neighboring states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
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