How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Utah

Veterinary Technician Job Description

Utah is a state that values its wilderness and its people, and of course, its animals.

This makes it an attractive choice for aspiring veterinary technicians.

Registered Veterinary Technicians can find employment in a variety of capacities such as medical specialty clinics, rescue shelters, exotic animal rescue, and rehabilitation facilities, teaching colleges, research laboratories, non-profit organizations, and in the military and government.

Even though they devote so much attention to their nature, it is interesting to note that unlike many other US states, Utah does not use its state authority to regulate veterinary technicians.

Interested people can start work as a vet tech once they finish high school, with no formal training, but we think that this is not such a wise decision.

If you are someone who wants to find a good job and have a future in this career, our suggestion is to attend courses that will make you a serious vet tech who will know his/ her duties once he/she enters the facility.

It is a good idea to start with formal education and training before jumping into a clinical setting and the best education is provided through programs accredited by the  Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), the accrediting body of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Accredited Utah Veterinary Technology Programs

Unfortunately, the state of Utah has only one American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program which is offered on-campus.

However, there are numerous online options for students if they prefer it or if they cannot enroll in the Broadview University-West Jordan.

Broadview – West Jordan offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology and the students will need to attend it for 18 months to complete it.

It is a 94 credit hours program with a combination of 30 general education credits and 64 vet tech course credits.

The program does not only offer regular classes but also provides training in all of the fundamentals and basic vet tech skills that veterinarians might look for when offering employment.

Some of the courses that students will attend are the following:

• Anesthesiology
• Animal anatomy
• Small animal emergency care
• Hematology
• Medical terminology
• Imaging
• Physiology of animals
• Surgical assisting

Students will gain hands-on experience through lab work, and when they complete a veterinary externship and a career capstone course which are obligatory.

The school’s accreditation means that graduates are well prepared to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) when they finish their studies.

The program includes a VTNE review course with mock exams that students find quite useful.

Students who want to consider CVTEA-accredited distance learning programs can try enrolling in an online program offered by Penn Foster College.

The online program can even help to pair students with local clinics to receive hands-on training.

Penn Foster College offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology  as well as San Juan College of New Mexico,

Its program requires 4-6 hours of study per week, and students must enroll in Off-Campus Clinical Instruction (OCCI) sessions to complete required hands-on training.

Requirements to Become a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Utah

Being that it is always better to be licensed, as you will be able to find better jobs and earn a higher salary, we suggest that you meet the prerequisites so as to be able to become certified.

Prior to finding employment in the vet tech field, you will need to be a high school Graduate.

If you are a current high school student interested in a vet tech career, you need to focus on classes like biology and chemistry.

The next step requires the completion of an Accredited Vet Tech Program, which might take you 2 to 4 years.

Vet techs in Utah are not required to be licensed, there is no strict requirement that they attend a vet tech program.

But still, it will be much easier to find employment and know what to do if you get the job in case you attend a vet tech program.

Unlike the other states, Utah does not require that the program has accreditation, but it is the fact that accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA) proves that the school will be able to offer the best educational opportunities.

In Utah, the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) is optional, but those who pass it demonstrate the commitment and knowledge.

Job Prospects and Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Utah

If we take into consideration the fact that Utah currently employs 1,000 veterinary technicians who work in private veterinary practice clinics and surgical centers, animal shelters, and educational facilities, and that there is only one accredited vet tech program in the state, you might think that job prospects for aspiring vet techs would not be so great.

However, just like in the whole U.S., the overall demand for vet techs is expected to grow and Utah is not an exception.

What is even better, job growth in Utah is expected to be much higher.

If you become licensed you can expect better jobs and higher salaries being that more and more veterinarians utilize trained technicians and technologists replacing lower-skilled veterinary assistants.

The average salary is not so high, as it ranges from $27574 to $38936.

Regional Salary in Utah

Veterinary Technicians by State