Become a Vet Tech in Delaware

By Susan Maphis, allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 4 2010

Steps to Become a Veterinary Technician in the State of Delaware

1. Earn either a high school diploma or a GED.
2. Apply to one of the schools that offer online or campus based Delaware vet tech programs. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) must have accredited this program in order for graduates to become licensed in the state of Delaware. Upon graduation, you will earn either an Associate's degree or a Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Technology.


3. Delaware does accept some alternative degrees/programs to become licensed as a Veterinary Technician. These include:

• a Bachelor's degree in animal science (approved by the Board) plus 2625 hours of practical experience under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian
• a degree from a veterinary technician program not AVMA-accredited but approved by the Board plus 2625 hours of practical experience under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian
• a Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, psychology, physics, or in a similar scientific field of study approved by the Board plus 3500 hours of practical experience under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian
• 60 credit hours of postsecondary coursework approved by the Board, plus 5250 hours of practical experience under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian
• no degree/coursework but 7000 hours of practical experience under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian

4. Your school must send transcripts of your grades directly to the office of the Board of Veterinary Medicine. These can be mailed to:

State of Delaware
Department of State
Division of Professional Regulation
Board of Veterinary Medicine
Cannon Building
861 Silver Lake Blvd, Suite 203
Dover, DE 19904-2467
Phone: (302) 744-4500

      5.   In order to be eligible to take the national Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), you must first be approved by the Board. Therefore, submit your application for licensure first. This can be found at www.dpr.delaware.gov/boards/veterinarymedicine/documents/Veterinary_Technician_Application.pdf.

      6.   Fill out the application in its entirety and have it notarized. Send it along with a processing fee of $71 to the address above.
      7.   After you have filed your application with the State of Delaware, you may apply online to sit for    the VTNE without waiting for formal approval from the Board. This can be done at www.aavsb.org. All questions, forms and fees for the exam should be sent directly to the AAVSB, not the Board of Veterinary Medicine in Delaware:

AAVSB
380 W 22nd St., Suite 101
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 931-1504