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Veterinary Technician Job Description
Texas is the state which is calling for educated and trained Veterinary Technicians who will assists veterinarian with exams, surgeries, and first aid.
Their jobs can be numerous, such as:
- Monitor vital signs and condition of animals
- Takes X rays, EKG, Ultrasound,
- administer anesthesia and injections,
- perform dental prophylaxis, catheterization, and other procedures under the supervision of a veterinarian.
They even work with pet owners and instruct them on how to administer medication.
If you think that this is the career that suits your interests and desires, we suggest to keep on reading as we will provide you with some of the most significant details that each aspiring vet tech should know.
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Accredited Texas Veterinary Technology Programs
Taking into consideration the fact that we know how difficult task it can be when you try to find the best education so as to become a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) in Texas, we decided to help you make your decision.
It is essential that you graduate from a program accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), a branch of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
The good thing is that there are currently 11 of these programs in Texas, so the opportunities are numerous.
One of those schools offers both online and on-campus programs.
Even though licensure is not essential for practice as a veterinary technician in Texas, we suggest that you apply for it upon graduation as it can enhance your job prospects.
The Vet Tech Institute of Houston provides an associate of applied science (AAS) degree program in veterinary technology and it students can be sure that after graduation they will gain all the essential job skills recommended by AVMA’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)
Cedar Valley College in Lancaster offers two vet tech associate degree programs: a traditional on-campus option and a distance education veterinary technology program (DEVTP).
You should know that its web-based program is open to students employed at least ten hours per week in an approved facility such as a veterinary clinic.
McLennan Community College in Waco provides an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology.
Students can finish this 60credit hour program in six semesters time.
Austin Community College offers a CVTEA-accredited program in Elgin, TX.
Some of the courses include canine and feline clinical management; veterinary radiology; veterinary office management; large animal assisting techniques; anesthesia and surgical assistance; and many more.
Palo Alto College in San Antonio features an AAS vet tech program which is designed so as to combine rigorous hands-on experience and classes such as veterinary nutrition, canine and feline clinical management, and exotic animal clinical management.
Blinn College in Bryan, TX, offers a two-year AAS degree program which is offered in collaboration with Texas A&M University.
Lone Star College in Tomball also offers a veterinary technology AAS degree that takes two years to complete and students should know that credits earned in the veterinary assistant certificate program can be applied to the AAS degree.
Texas A&M University in Kingsville is a great choice for future vet-techs looking to study in the Lone Star State.
The graduates of this program get a four-year BS degree in veterinary technology, and only 30 students are admitted each year.
Pima Medical Institute offers an 18-month AAS degree in veterinary technology at their Houston and El Paso locations, while Tyler Junior College offers an AAS degree in veterinary technology that takes 2 years to complete.
If none of the above-mentioned schools suits you, there are CVTEA-accredited, distance-based vet tech programs that are designed for students with personal or work obligations unable to attend on-campus classes.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Austin Community College | 1501 West U.S. Hwy. 290, Elgin, Texas, 78621 |
| Blinn College | 301 Post Office Street, Bryan, Texas, 77801 |
| Cedar Valley College | 3030 North Dallas Ave, Lancaster, Texas, 75134-3799 |
| Lone Star College | 30555 Tomball Pkwy, The Woodlands, Texas, 77375 |
| McLennan Community College | 1400 College Drive, Waco, Texas, 76708 |
| Palo Alto College | 1400 W Villaret Blvd, San Antonio, Texas, 78224-2499 |
| Pima Medical Institute - El Paso | 6926 Gateway Boulevard E, El Paso, Texas, 79915 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Houston | 10201 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas, 77024 |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 700 UNIVERSITY BLVD., Kingsville, Texas, 78363 |
| Tyler Junior College | 1237 South Baxter Avenue, Tyler, Texas, 75701 |
| Vet Tech Institute of Houston | 4669 Southwest Fwy Ste 100, Houston, Texas, 77027 |
Earn your accredited, affordable Veterinary Technician Associate Degree online with Penn Foster!
Requirements to Become a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Texas
Even though the Texas Board of Veterinary Examiners does not require licensure so as to practice as a veterinary technician in the state, we suggest that you seek licensure for several reasons.
It would be necessary in case you relocate to another region of the country where it is mandatory.
Only licensed candidates who have passed the national Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) can qualify and employers typically prefer candidates who have the highest credentials when offering them jobs.
Lst, but not least, if you are licensed, you may even qualify for higher pay than unlicensed professionals and a better job in this field.
You will need to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) which is designed so as to test students’ knowledge across 11 domains and once you pass it, you can apply for licensure through the Texas Board of Veterinary Examiners and pass the Texas state exam: the Licensed Technician Veterinary Examination (LVTE).
A person applying must submit an application, proof of graduation from an AVMA-accredited vet tech program, and pass two exams: the VTNE (first) and Texas’s special state exam, the LVTE.
Job Prospects and Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Texas
Being that there are so many places where you can attend vet tech classes, Texas is the state which also offers an outstanding employment environment for current and aspiring veterinary technicians. 7
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are 11,920 vet techs working in the state, and this number is expected to rise 26 percent.
The salary of vet techs might vary depending on the region and facilities he/she works, but it ranges from $27979 to $39522.
This means that you can expect that there are also variations in salary according to region, some of which pay much more than the state average of $33260.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Austin | $34,659 |
| Arlington | $34,282 |
| Corpus Christi | $32,682 |
| Dallas | $34,900 |
| El Paso | $30,824 |
| Fort Worth | $34,338 |
| Garland | $34,825 |
| Houston | $36,121 |
| San Antonio | $34,268 |
| Plano | $34,750 |
Regional Salary in Texas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 80 | $32,420 | $15.59 | $45,530 | $22,980 |
| Amarillo, TX | 150 | $30,540 | $14.68 | $37,080 | $23,250 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 1,530 | $34,620 | $16.65 | $45,290 | $27,480 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 150 | $32,590 | $15.67 | $42,640 | $23,970 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 100 | $33,520 | $16.12 | $56,140 | $22,640 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 170 | $31,010 | $14.91 | $42,790 | $22,610 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 150 | $31,370 | $15.08 | $39,190 | $22,910 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,660 | $34,630 | $16.65 | $44,940 | $27,350 |
| El Paso, TX | 210 | $30,560 | $14.69 | $39,440 | $22,320 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 3,070 | $34,020 | $16.36 | $44,870 | $24,850 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 160 | $31,180 | $14.99 | $37,400 | $23,270 |
| Laredo, TX | 50 | $35,620 | $17.12 | $61,320 | $22,370 |
| Longview, TX | 120 | $31,480 | $15.13 | $38,830 | $22,940 |
| Lubbock, TX | 180 | $31,310 | $15.06 | $37,650 | $22,630 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 170 | $31,110 | $14.96 | $43,510 | $22,090 |
| San Angelo, TX | 50 | $30,320 | $14.58 | $36,870 | $22,950 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,310 | $33,290 | $16.01 | $44,830 | $23,930 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 40 | $30,050 | $14.45 | $37,020 | $23,360 |
| Tyler, TX | 110 | $30,240 | $14.54 | $37,220 | $22,670 |
| Waco, TX | 100 | $33,290 | $16.01 | $38,770 | $23,880 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 70 | $30,000 | $14.42 | $36,850 | $22,660 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Technicians by State