How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Nebraska

Veterinary Technician Job Description

The main duty of a veterinary technician is to assist the veterinarian in every aspect of care in the facility.

Some of the tasks that they daily perform include surgery and emergency care, administering medications and anesthesia, taking x-rays, and performing laboratory tests such as hematology, urinalysis, and parasitology, as well as record keeping, animal intake, and discharge.

A new veterinary technician has to know that a strong educational background is essential for success in this filed and now is an ideal time to study to become a vet tech in Nebraska.

This is due to the fact that the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the extraordinary growth of job prospects across the country.

It is considered that the demand for vet techs is expected to grow and if you believe that working with animals is the ideal career for you, it may be the right time to start researching the different schools that could lead to a fulfilling career as a licensed vet tech in Nebraska.

Accredited Nebraska Veterinary Technology Programs

If you are considering enrolling in an accredited program in Nebraska, we can say that there are two schools with vet tech programs that have been accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), the accrediting body of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

The accreditation means that students will be provided with the appropriate training and experience they need to be able to start working in the field and to get the certification in the Cornhusker state.

One of those two schools is Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, in Curtis, which boasts full AVMA accreditation since 1973.

Students can enroll in an associate of applied science (AAS) degree that takes 3 years to complete.

The program teaches students how to care for many different types of animals and the most attractive thing is that students can join the Safari Club, which takes them to wildlife refuges, zoos, and other areas.

Students are supposed to complete an internship and work at research facilities in the area, as well as to take an exit exam once they complete the 76 required credit hours.

To be able to graduate, they must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The second school is Northeast Community College, in Norfolk, which also has had full AVMA accreditation since 1997.

What the school has to offer is an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology and education is provided both through classroom study and clinical and lab study.

Students will take courses including animal husbandry and restraint; anatomy and physiology of domestic animals; laboratory techniques; radiology and ultrasonography, etc.

Students must also complete general education requirements, an internship, and a review course for the VTNE.

It is good to have in mind the deadlines for application, as some schools’ deadlines are in early spring for the fall semester, so we suggest that you check each school’s website for this information.

Requirements to Become a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Nebraska

The vet tech career has determined educational requirements, but according to ONet Online, 68% of working veterinary technicians have an associate’s degree while 12% have only a high school diploma or GED.

In Nebraska, there are minimum requirements to become a vet tech and they are the following:

The applicant must be a high school graduate, meaning that he/she has to possess a high school diploma or GED if he/she wants to gain entrance to a vet tech program.

Then, they will need to complete an Accredited Vet Tech Program which typically requires 2 years of courses and hands-on training.

Graduates of the program will earn an Associate’s degree, but so as to be able to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), which is the next step, they need to enroll in a program that has been accredited by the AVMA.

Applicants who are eligible to take the exam must register for the exam through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).

The last step of becoming a licensed vet tech in Nebraska consists of completing an application and send it along with their VTNE scores, proof of graduation from an AVMA accredited vet tech program, a $100 application fee, and a photocopy of documentation that proves the applicant’s age to the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services.

Getting a license is not where your education ends.

Actually, in order to maintain certification as a veterinary technician in Nebraska, you will be required to complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years and submit proof to the Department of Health & Human Services.

That way you will remain well educated and get the updated knowledge related to this career field.

Job Prospects and Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Nebraska

All the students now attending vet tech programs consider a career as a veterinary technician, and they are all eager to know how difficult it will be to find employment in this field.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Nebraska currently employs 800 vet techs who work in private veterinary clinics, research laboratories, animal shelters, government offices, etc.

A good thing to mention is that there are expectedly a few more jobs in the state’s biggest cities, but also there are jobs for vet techs in more rural areas.

Also, when the salaries are in question, the region where vet techs find work will have an impact on what types of salaries they will earn.

According to the statistics, Boise City boasted the highest employment and the highest average annual salaries for vet techs in the state.

Regional Salary in Nebraska

Veterinary Technicians by State