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To qualify as a veterinary technician in Arkansas, a person must graduate from a two to four-year veterinary technology program accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), the program-approval entity of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Read the last section of this article to learn more about the accreditation process.

In Arkansas, there is currently one AVMA-accredited vet tech program: the AAS in Veterinary Technology program at Arkansas State University at Beebe (ASUB).

Arkansas State University at Beebe (ASUB) offers an AVMA-accredited program to applicants with at least 20 hours of work or observation experience in a veterinary setting. This associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology involves 71 credits of courses such as anatomy and physiology; animal reproduction, nutrition and production; laboratory techniques; wild, zoo, and lab animal care; radiology; and pathology; among others.

Please note that many of the general education courses are offered online and may minimize the amount of time a person needs to spend on campus. One measure of program effectiveness is the program graduate passing rate on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). Among ASUB veterinary technology graduates, 75 percent passed the VTNE on their first attempt between 2017 and 2020.

ONLINE VET TECH PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS IN ARKANSAS

For some aspiring veterinary technicians and technologists, attending a traditional brick-and-mortar school can prove difficult due to familial or professional obligations. Luckily there are also eight AVMA-accredited online programs across the country, which involve a combination of web-based courses and clinical experiences at approved, local sites close to a student’s home. During the course of these programs, essential vet tech skills are acquired and typically signed off on “abilities checklists” by licensed veterinarians.

For students who are available for clinical experiences in nearby Alabama, the Jefferson State Community College of Birmingham offers an online associate degree in veterinary technology. Ideal for applicants who work 20 hours per week at a veterinary clinic, Jefferson provides online didactic instruction in the anatomy and physiology of mammals; vet tech emergency and first aid; clinical procedures and pathology; animal diseases and immunology; and anesthesia and diagnostic imaging.

To qualify for this program, candidates must have at least 360 hours of practical experience in an animal healthcare setting and be available to interview at the Jefferson campus. Among Jefferson’s graduates, 68 percent passed the VTNE on their first attempt between 2017 and 2020.

Dallas College (Cedar Valley campus) provides an AVMA-accredited online associate of applied science (AAS) in veterinary technology. Core coursework includes units in surgical preparation; canine and feline clinical management; veterinary pharmacology; anesthesia and surgical assistance; radiology and ultrasound; and veterinary office management. An impressive 68 percent of Cedar Valley’s program graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt between 2017 and 2020.

To learn more about the distance-based programs available, check out the online vet tech programs page.

CAREER OUTLOOK FOR VET TECHS IN ARKANSAS

In Arkansas, there’s a growing pool of job openings in the field of veterinary technology. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2020) predicts that the number of positions in this field will increase 16 percent nationwide between 2019 and 2029. This is four times the average growth projected for all occupations during that time period (4 percent), adding 18,200 fresh vet tech positions around the country. And the swelling number of job openings is only part of the story.

These skilled professionals can seek employment in a range of facilities in AR and beyond, including veterinary hospitals, biomedical research facilities, specialty animal clinics (e.g., avian, equine, exotic, etc.), food inspection agencies, zoo and wildlife centers, parks, farms, shelters, kennels, aquariums, public policy organizations, and humane societies.

Indeed maintains active vet tech job postings in AR with opportunities at places such as Bellevue Animal Clinic, Benton Veterinary Hospital, Spring Park Animal Hospital, Hancock Veterinary Services, and Wedington Animal Hospital. Additionally, the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has a careers page and advertises vet tech openings as well.

Finally, to enhance one’s salary or employment prospects, some AR vet techs invest in acquiring the specialized knowledge and skills needed to become a veterinary technician specialist (VTS). To become a VTS, candidates typically need to seek certification through an organization such as the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians or the Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians.

To qualify, vet techs must generally have at least 1,000 or more hours of experience in their specialty of choice, letters of recommendation from supervising veterinarians, and a passing score on a comprehensive examination. Other specialties include clinical practice, dentistry, veterinary nursing, internal medicine, dermatology, equine nursing, nutrition, and zoological medicine.

To learn more about how to become a VTS, check out the vet tech careers page.

VET TECH SALARIES IN ARKANSAS

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2020), the 109,490 veterinary technicians employed across the United States earned an average salary of $37,860 per year. The table below shows how vet tech salaries in Arkansas compare to national averages at all various salary percentiles:

	UNITED STATES	ARKANSAS
Number of vet techs employed	109,490	510
Average annual salary	$37,860	$32,420
10th percentile	$25,520	$22,150
25th percentile	$30,030	$26,040
50th percentile (median)	$36,260	$31,050
75th percentile	$43,890	$37,110
90th percentile	$52,410	$45,290

While vet tech salaries are lower in Arkansas than national averages, it’s important to note that the cost of living is also substantially below average and therefore lower salaries come with more purchasing power in the Land of Opportunity. By illustration, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2021) ranked AR the fourth most affordable state in the United States. Arkansas boasts particular savings in housing, healthcare, and utility costs relative to the rest of the country.

VETERINARY CAREER	ARKANSAS JOBS	SALARY DATA (BLS 2020)
LOW SALARY (10TH %ILE)	MEDIAN SALARY (50TH %ILE)	HIGH SALARY (90TH %ILE)
VET TECH	4510	$22,150	$31,050	$45,290
VET ASSISTANT	950	$21,700	$28,290	$38,930