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Tennessee Vet Tech School
By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February 5th, 2010
Veterinary Technician Training and Education in Tennessee
The Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners regulates and monitors the licensing process for veterinary medical technicians in the state of Tennessee. Vet techs are expected to be educated in their field, prove that they have the qualifications to work as vet techs through either an examination process or a license from another state, and continue to access training and education after they have initially earned the proper credentials.
There are a number of veterinary technology programs at brick and mortar institutions in Tennessee—two associates degree programs and one four-year baccalaureate program. Four-year programs in veterinary technology are rare and it lends credit to the state’s commitment to well-trained veterinary technicians that Tennessee has such a program.
Graduation from one of the accredited online or campus based Tennessee vet tech schools is a major requirement for those taking the VTNE exam, which in itself is a requirement for licensing in Tennessee. Students can only hope to qualify for a license in Tennessee if they attend a program that gets its accreditation from either the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).
External degrees are a very viable option for students who cannot access the three onsite programs, but students should make sure that they have the approved clinical experience component required by the AAVMA. Continuing education opportunities are available at animal hospitals, research laboratories, and through associations like the Tennessee Veterinary Technicians Association (www.tnvta.org/index.htm) and the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association (www.tvmanet.org/).