How to Become a Veterinary Technician in North Carolina

The vet tech field keeps growing in North Carolina, so you may want to become one.

But first, have a look at the criteria you need to fulfill to start your career!

Veterinary Technician Job Description and Duties in North Carolina

The job assignments you are required to complete on a daily basis are:

• Administering medications
• Taking x-rays,
• Processing tissue samples,
• Assisting in surgery and emergency care
• Performing lab tests
• Cleaning teeth
• Electrocardiography,
• Bandaging,
• Wound cleaning,
• Keeping detailed and precise records for patients, meds, and supplies

However, the duties are diverse, so you will not get bored.

Not all animal facilities will have the same job duties.

Education and Training Required for Veterinary Technicians in North Carolina

In this state, you are only required to get trained if you lack experience with animals.

In that case, you can easily fulfill the experience requirement by joining a training program.

At the end of the program, you will receive a Veterinary Technology Associate’s Degree of Applied Science degree.

This degree will last for about 2 and 3 years.

You can also get a bachelor’s degree, but it will last for about 4 years to finish.

When deciding on a program, you should choose a school that is approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

You can also get a degree in Animal Science with vet tech specialization.

In order to fulfill the lab hours criteria, you can join an internship or an externship.

Have a look at the schools below in order to find a suitable one in your area.

If you plan on attending a vet tech training program, you need to submit the following:

• Being at least 18 years old
• Having a high school diploma or GED
• An essay
• Passing an interview
• Minimum a grade of C in biology, English composition, math, basic computer science, psychology, humanities, and public speaking
  • These classes will be attended right before enrolling in the degree program.
• 2 letters of recommendation
  • One of them must come from a veterinarian
• Health insurance
• Buying a medical malpractice policy
• 360 hours of previous practical experience

You will be able to easily cover your tuition if you get into a scholarship.

The most common subjects in the vet tech theory program are:

• Introduction to veterinary technology
• Anatomy and physiology
• Emergency care and first aid
• Pathology
• Anesthesiology
• Radiology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Parasitology
• Toxicology
• Nutrition

Besides theory, you need to attend 20 hours of practice in an accredited facility.

The last semester of your program might be a preceptorship.

Becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician in North Carolina

In this state, vet techs are issued licenses by the North Carolina State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

You will first need to submit the following paperwork:

• An application form
• Proof you graduated from the training program described earlier
• To pay a fee
  • $300 for the exam
  • $100 for the license

The minimum passing score for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) is 70%.

The VTNE exam consists of 200 questions that have a 3-hour time limit.

You will also need an ATT (Authorization to Test) to take the licensing exam.

In addition, you will also have to take the North Carolina State test.

Your license has to be renewed once at 2 years and requires 12 extra hours of education.

Employment and Salaries for Veterinary Technicians in North Carolina

After finally getting your vet tech license, you probably want to know what salary you will get.

You will be eligible to work in many types of facilities, including:

• Private clinical practices
• Zoos
• Veterinary teaching hospitals
• Rescue centers
• Wildlife or exotic animal rehabilitation centers
• Humane societies,
• Research facilities,
• Feedlots,
• Pharmaceutical companies

You will have a better salary if you have more credentials or experience of many years.

Your salary will also be higher if you live in a larger region instead of a small one.

The biggest hiring companies in North Carolina include:

• Hudson Animal Hospital (Hudson)
• Wilkinson Animal Hospital (Gastonia)
• Southwoods Animal Hospital (Greensboro)
• Avian and Exotic Animal Care (Raleigh)
• Heritage Exotic Animal Services (Wake Forest)
• AniMed (Hubert)
• Academy Pet Hospital (Fayetteville)

Additional Information for Veterinary Technicians in North Carolina

You might need some additional resources in order to keep up to date, and some of these are:

• North Carolina Veterinary Technician Association
• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
• Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians
• Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists
• American Veterinary Medical Association
• Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians
• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America