Veterinary Technician Schools in Alaska

Vet Assistant Program in Alaska

There are no CVTEA-accredited vet tech programs in Alaska, nor any vet tech programs in the state. Those interested in starting their two-year Alaskan vet tech journey in a formal setting can begin at the non-accredited veterinary assistant program offered by the University of Alaska Matanuska Susitna College campus in Palmer (the Mat-Su College). Choosing to earn a vet assistant certificate qualifies a graduate to engage in basic and routine animal care practices, and may connect them to a veterinary clinic or hospital where they can go on to learn the higher-level skills required to become a veterinary technician.

The 21-credit hour veterinary assistant program at the University of Alaska offers students training to assist veterinarians in animal care. Courses in the program include basic handling and behavior of small and large animals, veterinary anatomy and physiology, veterinary office procedures, and a veterinary assistant practicum. At the close of the program, graduates earn an occupational endorsement certificate.

Online Vet Tech Programs for Alaskan Students

As stated in the introduction, the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) reported that there are various pathways for residents of Alaska to become veterinary technicians. One possible pathway is to learn skills through two years of on-the-job training (OJT), one year of which must be completed in Alaska. This may qualify a person for the AAVSB’s national test for credentialing in the profession: the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). There are very few states which offer this option toward credentialing, and the vast majority of people in this career field pursue a more traditional, academic route.

The more common pathway to this career for vet techs nationwide is to graduate from an accredited, two-to-four year program in veterinary technology. The predominant accreditation body in this field is the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), a branch of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

In order to gain entry to an accredited vet tech program, applicants typically need to submit the following:

• Official high school transcripts with proof of prerequisite coursework (e.g., chemistry, algebra, biology, English)
• Personal statement (500-600 words)
• Proof of vaccinations and/or health insurance
• Application fee

Other programs may call for test scores (e.g, SAT or ACT), personal interviews, or background checks. It also behooves candidates to have some experience working with animals.

As of September 2024, there were no CVTEA-accredited, on-campus programs for vet techs in Alaska, but there were several online vet tech programs. These web-based programs typically involve a combination of online didactic coursework and in-house clinicals, which may be completed at qualifying veterinary facilities close to a student’s home.

For example, St. Petersburg College offers a three-year, online associate of science (AS) program in veterinary technology. St. Petersburg recently completed an $11 million, 32,000 sq. ft. veterinary technology facility, and while distance-based students aren’t required to visit, they can take advantage of the world-class amenities. The online program boasts three convenient starting dates in August, January, and May and is open to applicants who have worked (or volunteered) at a veterinary hospital for at least 40 hours.

Coursework includes animal anatomy, veterinary medical terminology, animal breeds & behavior, anesthesia, emergency medicine, and avian & exotic pet medicine. One measure of a program’s effectiveness is the three-year VTNE passing rate for program graduates, a statistic that must be reported by law. Between 2021 and 2024, an impressive 80 percent of St. Petersburg’s vet tech graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.

Graduates wishing to continue their education may transfer the AS credits to the college’s Veterinary Technology Bachelor of Applied Science degree.

Purdue University offers a part-time, online associate program in veterinary nursing designed for those working as a veterinary assistant who are interested in advancing their careers. Classes in the 70 credit hour program include anatomy; physiology; pharmacy procedures; diagnostic imaging for vet techs; clinical pathology; small animal nursing; animal agriculture; anesthesia; and laboratory animal health.

This program typically requires four to six hours of studying time per week, and can be completed in 4.5 years. Between 2021 and 2024, 89.6 percent of the distance-based Purdue program graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.

These are only two of the online veterinary technology programs open to residents of Alaska. To learn more, check out the online vet tech colleges page.

Job Outlook for Alaska Vet Techs

There’s excellent news for aspiring veterinary technicians nationwide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), there’s expected to be a 19 percent increase in openings in this field between 2023 and 2033, much more substantial growth than that anticipated across all occupations during that time (4 percent).

In Alaska, the growth in this profession is expected to be slower, but still above the national average for jobs. Projections Central (2024)—a data-crunching affiliate of the US Department of Labor—reports that there will be an anticipated 12.0 percent increase in job opportunities for vet techs in the state between 2022 and 2032.

Vet Tech Salaries In Alaska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2023), here is how vet tech salaries and employment in Alaska compare to vet tech salaries and employment nationwide:

Luckily for vet techs in the Last Frontier State, salary percentiles for the Alaskan veterinary professionals tended to be higher than national averages. That said, it’s important to note that Alaska is also one of the more expensive states in which to live. By illustration, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2024) found that AK has the fifth highest cost of living in the U.S., particularly when it comes to utilities.

Where Do Alaska Vet Techs Work?

In Alaska, vet techs may be employed across a range of veterinary environments including animal hospitals, clinics, zoos, aquariums, animal sanctuaries, shelters, kennels, food inspection agencies, farms, colleges, research institutes, and humane societies.

iHireVeterinary (2024) posted vet tech openings at places such as Tongass Vet Services, and Veterinary Specialists of Alaska, among others. Additionally, Indeed (2024) had opportunities at Ethos Veterinary Health, Hillside Pet Clinic, Mission Veterinary Partners, North Pole Veterinary Hospital, Homer Veterinary Clinic, Paws for Purple Hearts, Tier 1 Veterinary Medical Center, and VCA Animal Hospitals, which is a partner with Penn Foster, a school that offers accredited online vet tech programs.

It’s important to note that some vet techs in Alaska choose to specialize in a sub-field of veterinary technology in order to become a vet tech specialist (VTS). The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) provides a guide to the societies and academies which focus on various aspects of veterinary care. A society functions as a professional association, whereas an academy typically has a specialized certification process with academic, experiential, and testing requirements for members. These specialized groups include:

• Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia
• Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians
• Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians
• Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians
• Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians
• Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians
• American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians

To learn more about how to become a VTS, including the requisite education, training, and testing across various sub-fields of vet technology, please check out the veterinary technician careers page.

Vet Tech Licensing in Alaska

As mentioned in the introduction, veterinary technicians must be licensed by the Alaska State Board of Veterinary Examiners in order to practice the profession in the state. There are varying routes to qualify, but the application to the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing calls for:

• Notarized application
• Proof of having completed an accredited two-to-four year program in veterinary technology or proof of two years (700 hours) of on-the-job training (OJT) with at least one year in AK
• Three letters of recommendation (two from licensed vets)
• Passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)
• Application fee

These licenses are valid for two years. Each state has its own requirements for licensed veterinary technicians to be able to renew their license. AAVSB maintains the RACE program (Registry of Approved Continuing Education) where professionals can find approved continuing education programs to maintain active licensure.

Vet Tech Program Accreditation

Finally, all vet tech candidates in AK who are interested in the academic route to licensure are advised to seek out programs accredited by the aforementioned Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) program-approval entity.

The CVTEA weighs many variables in its program accreditation process, including:

• Program & institutional finance management
• Quality of program curricula & faculty
• Student outcomes (e.g., VTNE passing rates)
• Availability of resources

To learn more about the process of vet tech program accreditation, check out the AVMA vet tech program accreditation criteria page.