How to Become a Veterinary Technician in North Carolina

Veterinary Technician Job Description

If you are wondering what Veterinary Technicians do in North Carolina, we are here to inform you.

As a Licensed Veteran Technician your tasks may include:

• Observe and record an animal’s behavior and condition
• Provide nursing care to ill animals
• Administer emergency first aid
• Assist in surgery, administer anesthesia, monitor responses and vital signs
• Collect blood, urine, or tissue samples for laboratory testing
• Perform lab tests
• Take and develop x rays
• Administer medications, vaccines, and treatments prescribed by a veterinarian
• Communicate with animals’ owners

Taking into consideration the fact that there are a number of renowned, accredited veterinary technician programs for animal-lovers in North Carolina, there is a chance for everyone to enroll in and start his/her journey towards this rewarding, yet demanding career.

The reason why you need to get a high-quality education is that you will need to possess appropriate knowledge and experience to be able to perform daily tasks.

This means that you need to attend a veterinary Technician program that offers students hands-on experience and gives an opportunity to work with lab animals including mice, rats, and guinea pigs.

Furthermore, the quality of education is especially necessary and useful to those graduates who decide to pursue additional education, whether a four-year veterinary technology degree or a degree in a related area such as animal science.

Accredited North Carolina Veterinary Technology Programs

We would like to mention that the only way of becoming a licensed veterinary technician in North Carolina is by attending an Accredited North Carolina Veterinary Technician program.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are currently four accredited programs in North Carolina which future students can choose from.

The graduation from an AVMA-accredited program is a prerequisite to sit for the national and state exams and we offer you a short description of all the CVTEA-accredited vet tech programs in North Carolina.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College has a program that is six-semesters long and you will get an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology.

At this Asheville school, students will gain essential skills for this demanding and challenging career, including the preparation of animals, equipment maintenance, anesthesia administration, dental procedures, and laboratory techniques.

Furthermore, students complete several clinical practices and work-based learning experiences.

Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) offers a veterinary medical technology program which was the first of its kind in North Carolina.

This program is located in Sanford which is 45 miles southwest of Raleigh and is designed to be completed within two years during which students will attend courses including veterinary diseases; veterinary anatomy and physiology; veterinary office practices; veterinary lab techniques and will be required to complete several clinical practices and work-based learning experiences with an approved employer.

Gaston College offers 71 credit program during which students must complete general education requirements, clinical practice courses, and a work-based learning experience. The program takes two full years to complete and it is limited to 40 students.

Finally, Miller-Motte College offers a 23-month veterinary technology program whose curriculum consists of vet tech-specific courses, labs, and an externship.

Courses that students will attend are husbandry and disease of small and large animals; veterinary radiology and diagnostic imaging; veterinary nutrition; among many others.

Requirements to Become a Licensed Veterinary Technician in North Carolina

If you are wondering how you can become a veterinary technician in North Carolina, here are the steps that you will need to take to reach this goal.

After finishing high school, you will need to enroll in an accredited vet tech program.

Then, you ill need to Graduate from a program and pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).

The VTNE is administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) and it is significant to know that that passing this exam is a prerequisite for practice in nearly every state in the country.

When you get the exam results, you will need to apply for licensure through the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board (NCVMB) and pass the North Carolina Veterinary Technician State Exam.

This test is offered six times annually, comprising 100 questions based on the “Practice Act,” the general rules governing veterinary medicine in the state and you must score at least 70 to pass.

This is not the end of your education, as you will need to renew licensure every two years with 12 hours of continuing education credits.

Job Prospects and Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in  North Carolina

Now that you are familiar with educational requirements we are sure that you want to know what you will do after graduation and certification.

After becoming a registered veterinary technician (RVT) in North Carolina, there are a number of job opportunities available and according to the statistics offered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is expected that this occupation job prospect grows 20%.

Furthermore, this will affect the salaries and currently, the average annual salary in North Carolina is $ 33196, which is slightly lower than the national average.

However, this is in line with the living standard, being that North Carolina falls 20th in the least expensive states in which to live.

You need to bear in mind that salary ranges and employment numbers also vary by region as well as the place where you work and the job you perform.

Once you become certified, you can use your knowledge for employment in university teaching hospitals, nonprofit and government animal services facilities, veterinary practices, pharmaceutical and biological research laboratories, and many other places.

Regional Salary in North Carolina

Veterinary Technicians by State