How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Arkansas

Becoming a veterinary technician in Arkansas is for someone who is very dedicated to animals.

This guide is for those who consider this as their future career.

The majority of vet technicians in this state started as veterinary assistants.

Veterinary Technician Job Description and Duties in Arkansas

Dedication to the well-being of animals is important for vet techs because they are the right-hand of veterinarians who supervise their work.

The duties that veterinarians usually assign to vet techs include:

• Administering medications
• Taking x-rays,
• Processing tissue samples,
• Assisting in surgery and emergency care
• Performing lab tests
• Teeth cleaning,
• Electrocardiography,
• Bandaging,
• Wound cleaning,
• Maintaining detailed and accurate records
  • Of meds, supplies, patients

These duties are also part of the job description of these professionals.

Surgeries and prescribing medicine are duties that belong to licensed veterinarians, not veterinary technicians.

Education and Training Required for Veterinary Technicians in Arkansas

Future veterinary technicians in Arkansas need to earn an Associate’s Degree of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology and then a license before being able to work.

If you used to be a vet assistant, you perhaps only need to become licensed.

The needed degree can be earned by graduating from an accredited training program that lasts for at least two years.

The American Veterinary Medical Association or AMVA accredits these programs.

A degree is in Animal Science specializing in veterinary technology is also accepted for this profession.

All degree programs for this occupation require field training through an internship or an externship.

In Arkansas, there’s only one school offering an accredited program, and you can see it below.

This college accepts only 40 students per year for this degree program.

However, only 20 students will be accepted in the second year.

Students need to:

• Graduate in a maximum of 3 years
• Maintain grades above “C” in all subjects

To be accepted into the program you need to be eligible for:

• ENG 1003,
• Freshman English I
• Math 1013
• Technical Mathematics V

Additionally, you’ll have to complete:

• CHEM 1003
• Introduction to Chemistry
• 20 hours of work or volunteer experience in a veterinary clinic

All applicants need to attach a letter of recommendation to their application.

Below you can see some of the topics you’ll study once you start your classes:

• Introduction to veterinary technology
• Anatomy and physiology
• Animal reproduction
• Nutrition and production
• Laboratory techniques
• Radiology
• Wild, zoo, and lab animal care
• Pathology
• English,
• Math,
• Biology,
• Veterinary medical terminology

Once you graduate, you’ll be able to earn the license that allows you to practice.

Becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Arkansas

Your license has to be issued by the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Examining Board.

To earn this license, you’ll need:

• Proof of US citizenship
• A recent photo
• A copy of one’s diploma from an AVMA-accredited program in veterinary technology
• An official copy of the college transcript
• A passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)
• A letter of recommendation from a licensed veterinarian
  • The letter has to be notarized.
• To pay the application fee – $40
• To pay the exam fee – $300

For the VTNE, you must answer 150 questions in 3 hours.

In Arkansas, the license must be renewed every year, for which you’ll have to complete 6 hours of continuing education.

There’s also an associated fee of $25.

Employment and Salaries for Veterinary Technicians in Arkansas

Where you’ll work after you graduate and your possible salary can help you decide if this is a good career choice for you.

Vet technicians work in these settings:

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

Here are some of the best employers in Arkansas for vet techs:

• Animal Emergency Clinic of Northwest Arkansas, Springdale
• Countryside Animal Hospital, Hot Springs National Park
• Green Mountain Animal Hospital, Little Rock
• Arkansas Veterinary Clinic, Fort Smith
• Humane Society of the Ozarks, Fayetteville

As far as the salary goes, it is definitely influenced by your location as much as it is by your experience.

Additional Information for Veterinary Technicians in Arkansas

Staying updated with news in the field is important and you can so with these resources:

• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
• Veterinary Career Network
• Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association