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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 Indiana, Louisiana, California, South Dakota, Idaho, Wisconsin, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Washington, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Oregon, Kansas, Alaska, New York, Michigan, Tennessee, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Maine, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Dakota.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 Indiana, Louisiana, California, South Dakota, Idaho, Wisconsin, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Washington, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Oregon, Kansas, Alaska, New York, Michigan, Tennessee, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Maine, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Dakota (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: Indiana, Louisiana, California, South Dakota, Idaho, Wisconsin, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Washington, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Oregon, Kansas, Alaska, New York, Michigan, Tennessee, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Maine, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Dakota. Indiana, Louisiana, South Dakota, Idaho, Wisconsin, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Washington, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Missouri, Iowa, Oregon, Kansas 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

State Licensing Requirements

Select a chart to view:
Burden Rank State Occupations Licensed Fees Estimated Calendar Days Lost Education Experience Exams Minimum Grade Minimum Age
1 Indiana 37 $393 730 2 years None 2 12 18
2 Louisiana 77 $420 730 2 years None 2 12 0
3 California 75 $1,076 730 2 years None 1 0 18
4 South Dakota 32 $345 730 2 years None 2 12 0
5 Idaho 66 $525 730 2 years None 2 0 18
6 Wisconsin 42 $490 730 2 years None 2 0 18
7 Alabama 63 $425 730 2 years None 2 0 18
7 Mississippi 65 $425 730 2 years None 2 0 18
7 North Carolina 66 $425 730 2 years None 2 0 18
7 West Virginia 67 $425 730 2 years None 2 0 18
11 Maryland 58 $410 730 2 years None 2 0 18
12 South Carolina 60 $375 730 2 years None 2 0 18
13 Washington 76 $595 730 2 years None 2 0 0
14 Nebraska 61 $470 730 2 years None 1 0 19
15 Oklahoma 42 $455 730 2 years None 2 0 0
16 New Mexico 66 $450 730 2 years None 2 0 0
17 Nevada 75 $425 730 2 years None 2 0 0
18 Arizona 68 $150 730 2 years None 2 0 18
19 Georgia 41 $375 730 2 years None 1 0 18
20 Missouri 33 $375 730 2 years None 2 0 0
21 Iowa 71 $370 730 2 years None 2 0 0
22 Oregon 69 $360 730 2 years None 2 0 0
23 Kansas 35 $345 730 2 years None 2 0 0
24 Alaska 64 $525 730 2 years None 1 0 0
25 New York 41 $502 730 2 years None 1 0 0
26 Michigan 48 $463 730 2 years None 1 0 0
27 Tennessee 69 $445 730 2 years None 1 0 0
28 Delaware 42 $427 730 2 years None 1 0 0
29 Virginia 72 $390 730 2 years None 1 0 0
30 Ohio 40 $378 730 2 years None 1 0 0
31 Illinois 41 $375 730 2 years None 1 0 0
32 Maine 46 $366 730 2 years None 1 0 0
33 Arkansas 72 $365 730 2 years None 1 0 0
33 Pennsylvania 50 $365 730 2 years None 1 0 0
35 Kentucky 38 $350 730 2 years None 1 0 0
35 North Dakota 65 $350 730 2 years None 1 0 0

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report