Browse below to learn how to become a veterinary technician (vet tech) in Texas (TX), including advice on the top vet tech schools and colleges near you, certification and licensing requirements, and income and employment data.
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How to become a Vet Tech in Texas
If you wish to become a vet tech in Texas it is a requirement that you have graduated from an accredited vet tech program.
Once you have graduated from an accredited program, you will need to obtain your vet tech certification by passing the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) exams – which are administered by the American Association of Veterinary – if you wish to work as a vet tech in Texas. As a final step, you will need to obtain your license before securing employment as a veterinary technician.
Top Vet Tech Programs in Texas
| School | Area | Degree Level |
|---|---|---|
| Blinn College | Bryan, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Pima Medical Institute | El Paso, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Austin Community College | Elgin, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Pima Medical Institute | Houston, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| The Vet Tech Institute of Houston | Houston, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Texas A&M University | Kingsville, TX | Bachelor of Science |
| Dallas College | Lancaster, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Palo Alto College | San Antonio, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Pima Medical Institute | San Antonio, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Lone Star College | Tomball, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Tyler Junior College | Tyler, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| McLennan Community College | Waco, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Weatherford College | Weatherford, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
| Collin College | Wylie, TX | Associate of Applied Science |
There are currently 14 accredited veterinary technician programs in Texas.
Programs are accredited by the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA).
Texas Vet Tech License
Once you have successfully graduated from an accredited program and passed all necessary certification examinations you will need to apply for your veterinary technician license in Texas.
The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners can provide more specific information on all the necessary certification and licensing requirements. You can contact them directly using the contact details below:
Address: 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-810, Austin, TX 78701-3942
Phone: 512-305-7555
Email: nicole.oria@tbvme.texas.gov
Website: http://www.tbvme.state.tx.us
Vet Tech Salary Texas
| Average Vet Tech Salary TX | $30,820 |
|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $14.82 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $43,610 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $20,830 |
| #'s Employed | 10,570 |
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data (May 2017) the average veterinary technician salary in Texas is $30,820 – 11% below the national average of $34,710.
This equates to an hourly wage of $14.82.
There are currently 10,570 persons employed as veterinary technicians in Texas.
Texas Vet Tech Careers by Metro Area
If a career as a veterinary technician in Texas strongly appeals to you then it is a great time to pursue your dreams. The demand for vet techs has been steadily on the increase over the last ten years and is projected to grow by 14.7% over the coming years with an additional 14,330 jobs predicted to be created in the sector between 2016 and 2024.
The table below details salary and employment levels of veterinary technicians in the main towns and cities in Texas.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | $27,040 | $35,110 | $20,520 | - |
| Amarillo, TX | $28,500 | $39,090 | $20,450 | 110 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | $28,190 | $37,470 | $19,140 | 1,390 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $25,060 | $37,900 | $16,550 | 220 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $34,550 | $52,870 | $22,150 | 90 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $33,680 | $47,620 | $23,360 | 300 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $27,110 | $34,360 | $20,500 | 110 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $34,160 | $48,200 | $23,770 | 2,900 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX | $36,580 | $49,550 | $26,120 | 1,880 |
| El Paso, TX | $27,290 | $37,210 | $20,100 | 260 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $29,700 | $38,470 | $20,380 | 1,020 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $29,270 | $39,620 | $19,790 | 1,860 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $26,470 | $37,210 | $20,120 | - |
| Longview, TX | $31,130 | $40,050 | $24,570 | 80 |
| Lubbock, TX | $27,670 | $37,160 | $20,330 | 150 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $31,630 | $49,770 | $19,930 | 110 |
| Midland, TX | $31,950 | $47,660 | $21,290 | 40 |
| Odessa, TX | $29,350 | $36,910 | $23,520 | 40 |
| San Angelo, TX | $25,580 | $36,210 | $17,590 | 60 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $31,230 | $40,130 | $23,410 | 1,380 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $30,820 | $38,120 | $22,020 | 60 |
| Tyler, TX | $26,830 | $36,740 | $19,730 | 110 |
| Victoria, TX | $31,810 | $39,210 | $22,520 | 60 |
| Waco, TX | $25,060 | $31,770 | $17,930 | 110 |
Vet Tech Career Comparison in Texas
Is vet tech a good career in Texas? How does vet tech fair as a career by comparison to other career options in Texas? For answers to these questions see the tables below for career comparisons.
Veterinary Careers Texas
The first table compares salary and employment data between veterinary technicians and veterinarians and veterinary assistants in Texas.
| Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|
| Vet Tech | $30,820 | 10,570 |
| Veterinarian | $109,920 | 4,210 |
| Vet Assistant | $25,100 | 5,400 |
Related Health Careers Texas
The table below compares the average veterinary technician salary and employment in Texas with salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|
| Vet Tech | $30,820 | 10,570 |
| Nursing Assistants | $26,390 | 88,500 |
| Medical Assistants | $30,880 | 58,090 |
| Ultrasound Tech | $78,250 | 5,270 |
| X Ray Tech | $70,570 | 2,760 |
| Dental Assistants | $35,920 | 29,790 |