About 160 veterinary technician programs yielding an Associate in Science degree exist in the United States today as either two- or three-year programs. Accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the programs are designed to uphold high standards in care and education. Graduates are eligible to take a national licensing exam, as well as required state exams where applicable. Responsibilities of a licensed veterinary technician include patient exam and history, client education, care of patients, administering medicines/vaccines, clinical laboratory tests, dental prophylaxis, radiology and anesthesiology, and surgical assistance. All duties of a veterinary technician are under the direct supervision of a fully licensed veterinarian. Career opportunities range from animal hospital employment to teaching, farm management, military service, diagnostic laboratory work, zoo/wildlife administration, and veterinary medical sales and research. According to AVMA, as of 2010 45 U.S. states are home to colleges that offer accredited veterinary technician programs (no accredited programs are offered in Alaska, District of Columbia, Hawaii, North Dakota or Rhode Island). Two examples of colleges offering the program are Central Carolina Community College, in Sanford, North Carolina, and Cosumnes River College, in Sacramento, California.
Qualified to take on the same responsibilities as that of veterinary technicians, veterinary technologists must hold a four-year Bachelor of Science degree, and are further qualified for higher-paying positions involving management and teaching. According to AVMA, as of 2010 there are 20 accredited programs in 14 states for veterinary technologist degrees: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, in West Lafayette, Indiana, is one example of a college that offers this program.
Online veterinary technician and technologist degrees also are available, along with many non-accredited programs. Choosing an accredited online degree will ensure qualification for obtaining a practicing license and increase job options with higher salaries. Required hands-on skills for the online degree are obtained through employment or volunteering at veterinary hospitals, as well as internships. According to AVMA, as of 2010 nine colleges in the United States offer accredited distance-learning programs for veterinary technician and technologist degrees: Blue Ridge Community College; Cedar Valley College; Jefferson State Community College; Moraine Park Technical College; Northern Virginia Community College; Penn Foster College; Purdue University, School of Veterinary Medicine; St. Petersburg College; and San Juan College.
Specialty areas, such as dentistry and anesthesia, further increase the career scope and salary to both licensed veterinary technicians and technologists through continuing education and certification. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America qualifies a veterinary technician or technologist in a specialty area through approved continuing education and training to acquire the title of Veterinary Technician Specialist. Certification is obtained through continuing education conferences via veterinary colleges and veterinary technician associations, such as the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA), as well as state-level associations. Continuing education specialty course locations vary year to year.
Veterinary assistants provide generalized care to patients (i.e., feeding, cleaning, grooming) and assistance to veterinary and technical staff. Currently, there is no accredited course for veterinary or animal assistants recognized by AVMA. Training is usually "on the job," directed by a licensed veterinarian, and offers no credentialing for promotion or better salary. In 2010, however, NAVTA created veterinary assistant guidelines for schools with these programs to follow. Graduates of approved programs are eligible to take a national exam and, upon passing, be credentialed as an Approved Veterinary Assistant. As of the end of 2010, two colleges offer NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant programs: Front Range Community College, in Colorado (four campus locations); and Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.