Part III: Getting Your State License
Before you go out and get your first job as a veterinary technician, you'll need to pass an exam called the State Boards, which will give you an official license to practice in your state. Nobody is going to hire you without one!
Note: Each state has a different name for licensed vet techs. In some states they are called Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT), Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT), or Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVT). These are all the same job, they just have different names depending on where you live.
To get your state license exam you'll have to check the specific procedure for your state, because they are all different. Most states require you to pass a test called the National Veterinary Technician Exam. This is a multiple choice test that examines your understanding of the knowledge necessary to have an entry level job as a vet tech.
Make sure to study hard - this exam will test you on everything you learned throughout your entire 2 years in vet tech school! There are plenty of study guides and practice tests available, so make good use of them. After you pass your test, you're officially ready to become a veterinary technician!
Start sending out those resumes and cover letters, and you'll land an interview and your first paying job in no time - the field of veterinary technology is always in demand! In fact, it's expected to grow faster than the national average for all occupations through 2020. A recent study found that for every graduate, there are 68 open positions - comforting news for someone coming fresh out of school. Best of luck to you!
For more career resources, click here!
Note: Each state has a different name for licensed vet techs. In some states they are called Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT), Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT), or Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVT). These are all the same job, they just have different names depending on where you live.
To get your state license exam you'll have to check the specific procedure for your state, because they are all different. Most states require you to pass a test called the National Veterinary Technician Exam. This is a multiple choice test that examines your understanding of the knowledge necessary to have an entry level job as a vet tech.
Make sure to study hard - this exam will test you on everything you learned throughout your entire 2 years in vet tech school! There are plenty of study guides and practice tests available, so make good use of them. After you pass your test, you're officially ready to become a veterinary technician!
Start sending out those resumes and cover letters, and you'll land an interview and your first paying job in no time - the field of veterinary technology is always in demand! In fact, it's expected to grow faster than the national average for all occupations through 2020. A recent study found that for every graduate, there are 68 open positions - comforting news for someone coming fresh out of school. Best of luck to you!
For more career resources, click here!