What is Occupational Licensing?
An “occupational license” is, put simply, government permission to work in a particular field. To earn the license, an aspiring worker must clear various hurdles, such as earning a certain amount of education or training or passing an exam. In the 1950s, only one in 20 U.S. workers needed the government’s permission to pursue their chosen occupation. Today, that figure stands at almost one in four.
Veterinary Technician Occupational Licensing
License required in 36 states
15th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$428
What They Do
Veterinary technicians generally work in private clinical practices under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. They may perform laboratory tests, such as a urinalysis, and help veterinarians conduct a variety of other diagnostic tests. They may also talk with animal owners about a pet’s condition or how to administer medication prescribed by a veterinarian.[c]Adapted from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians.htm#tab-2[/c]
Veterinary Technician Licensing Overview
Thirty-six states (more than half of states) require a licence to work as a Veterinary Technician. On average, these laws require $428 in fees, 730 days of education and about 2 exam. Veterinary Technician Licenses have the 15th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Fees for a license exceed $1000 in California.
Where is a Veterinary Technician the most regulated?
Out of the 36 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Veterinary Technician has the highest burden in Indiana. Indiana requires $393 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 2 years education.
Where is a Veterinary Technician the least regulated?
Out of the 36 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Veterinary Technician have the lowest burden in Kentucky, North Dakota
Where is a Veterinary Technician license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Veterinary Technician costs the most in California. California requires $1076 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years education.
Where is a Veterinary Technician license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Veterinary Technician costs the least in Arizona. Arizona requires $150 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and 2 years education.
Where does it take the longest to obtain a Veterinary Technician license?
An occupational license for a Veterinary Technician takes the longest to obtain in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia.It takes 730 days (2 years).
Where is it fastest to obtain a Veterinary Technician license?
An occupational license for a Veterinary Technician takes the least time to obtain in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia (730 days).
What states require exams for a Veterinary Technician license?
To obtain an occupational license for a Veterinary Technician there is at least one exam required in: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia. Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia require 2 exams.
Thirty-six states require veterinary technicians to obtain licenses. On average, these laws require $380 in fees, two years (730 days) of education and experience, and around two exams—the 16th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because veterinary technicians are not licensed everywhere, the occupation ranks as the 27th most widely and onerously licensed.
License requirements are mostly uniform. Every state requires two years (730 days) of veterinary technician education (Washington also requires a four-hour HIV/AIDS course) and one or two exams. In addition, 32 states require fees of $330 to $477. However, there is some variability: Alaska and Washington require fees over $500, while Arizona and New York require fees under $200. Also, only Indiana, Louisiana and South Dakota require a high school diploma.
States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations
More Burdensome Less Burdensome
Based on data released in November 2022| Burden Rank | State | Occupations Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Alaska | 64 | $525 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Alabama | 63 | $425 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 33 | Arkansas | 72 | $365 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Arizona | 68 | $150 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | California | 75 | $1,076 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 28 | Delaware | 42 | $427 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Georgia | 41 | $375 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 21 | Iowa | 71 | $370 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Idaho | 66 | $525 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 31 | Illinois | 41 | $375 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Indiana | 37 | $393 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| 23 | Kansas | 35 | $345 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 38 | $350 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 77 | $420 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 12 | 0 |
| 11 | Maryland | 58 | $410 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 32 | Maine | 46 | $366 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Michigan | 48 | $463 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Missouri | 33 | $375 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Mississippi | 65 | $425 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 66 | $425 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 35 | North Dakota | 65 | $350 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Nebraska | 61 | $470 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 19 |
| 16 | New Mexico | 66 | $450 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Nevada | 75 | $425 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | New York | 41 | $502 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Ohio | 40 | $378 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 42 | $455 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Oregon | 69 | $360 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | 50 | $365 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | South Carolina | 60 | $375 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | South Dakota | 32 | $345 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 12 | 0 |
| 27 | Tennessee | 69 | $445 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Virginia | 72 | $390 | 730 | 2 years | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Washington | 76 | $595 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 42 | $490 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | West Virginia | 67 | $425 | 730 | 2 years | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
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