Veterinary Technician Schools in Kentucky

Occupational Outlook for Vet Techs in Kentucky

In the Bluegrass State—a place that boasts the title “Horse Capital of the World”—there’s excellent news for aspiring veterinary technicians. For illustration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024) projects that job opportunities in this field will swell 19 percent between 2023 and 2033, substantially faster than the average growth predicted for all occupations during that time (4 percent). And the addition of 24,300 vet tech openings nationwide is only part of the good news. According to the most recent data from Projections Central (2024)—an organization affiliated with the US Department of Labor—there will be a 20.1 percent increase in positions for vet techs in KY between 2022 and 2032.

Where do Kentucky Vet Techs Work?

In Kentucky, vet techs are employed in a wide range of environments. In a state famous for its horse culture, there may be ample opportunities for those with equine specialty training. In addition to stables, KY vet techs work in veterinary hospitals, zoos, farms, aquariums, laboratories, wildlife sanctuaries, kennels, shelters, private practice clinics, humane societies, and animal welfare organizations.

The Kentucky Veterinary Technician Association holds a variety of events and posts job opportunities. In addition to traditional job-hunting sites (e.g., LinkedIn, Monster, iHireVeterinary, SimplyHired, CareerBuilder), Indeed (October 2024) provides a list of vet tech openings in KY. There have been local openings posted at PetWow, BluePearl Vet, Southland Veterinary Hospital, Associated Veterinary Partners, and Metropolitan Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Services.

Finally, there is a range of subfields in the field of veterinary technology. In KY, garnering specialized experience and coursework in equine nursing is one possibility. Other popular specializations include critical care, zoological medicine, animal behavior, dermatology, rehabilitation, and clinical pathology.

To learn more about how to become a veterinary technician specialist (VTS) in one of these specializations and more, please check out the main veterinary technician careers page.

Vet Tech Salary in Kentucky

Vet techs in KY make lower salaries compared to national averages across the profession. By illustration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2023) found an average annual salary of $44,040 among the 122,000 vet techs employed nationwide. For the 1,920 vet techs employed in KY, this figure was $35,370.

It’s important to note that while the KY salaries were noticeably lower than national averages, the cost of living in the Bluegrass State is also substantially more affordable than most of the nation. As proof of point, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2024) found that KY is the 18th cheapest state in the nation, boasting particular savings in housing costs, utilities, and transportation.

In more granular terms, how much do vet techs make around the country and in Kentucky? The table below compares national and state salaries of veterinary technicians.

It’s important to note that these figures also varied based on the source of data. By illustration, Indeed (Nov. 2024) found an average annual salary of $31,919 among Kentucky veterinary technicians.

PayScale (Nov. 2024)—a data aggregator of self-reported salaries – found the following percentiles nationally:

• 10th percentile: $30,000
• 50th percentile (median): $40,728
• 90th percentile: $58,000

Accredited Vet Tech Programs in KY

For aspiring vet techs in Kentucky, it’s important to seek out accredited two-to-four-year educational programs. The primary accreditation body for veterinary technology schools is the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), a branch of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Seeking out an AVMA-accredited program is crucial to qualify for professional credentialing in most states. Although the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners—the predominant credentialing organization in the state—reserves the right to approve programs without AVMA accreditation, it is generally the exception rather than the rule. Therefore, KY vet techs are encouraged to seek out CVTEA-accredited programs.

Luckily for residents of the Bluegrass State, there are currently four accredited programs. Typical admissions requirements include sending one’s official high school transcripts with proof of specific coursework (e.g., biology, chemistry, English, algebra); writing a personal statement; showing proof of health insurance and immunizations; and paying an application fee. For non-native speakers of English, submitting qualifying TOEFL scores may also be required. Some programs also ask for experience working with animals, letters of recommendation, or a candidate interview.

MedQuest College

MedQuest College, Kentucky’s newest accredited vet tech school, offers a 24-month associate degree program in veterinary technology at the Lexington campus. Students attend lectures and lab sessions on campus and supplement their studies with 420 hours of off-campus externships and clinical rotations. Class size is limited to 20 students. Graduates are qualified for assistance from the career services department, included job placement assistance.

Among other subjects, students learn animal anatomy and physiology, animal care and nursing, surgical techniques, clinical pathology, livestock diseases, dentistry, and emergency and critical care. Additionally, they learn avian, exotic, and small mammal procedures. MedQuest’s VTNE pass rate for their first year of accreditation is 36.36 percent.

• Location: Lexington, KY
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Morehead State University

Morehead State University offers both an associate of applied science degree and a bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology. Applicants must have completed 120 hours of supervised work experience with a veterinarian before being accepted into the programs. The AAS degree is a six-semester, 86-credit program, and graduates are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).

Courses include veterinary clinical anatomy; animal care techniques; anatomy and physiology of livestock; surgical nursing; concepts of large animal disease; small animal medicine and surgery; veterinary dentistry; and much more. Enrollment is limited to 40 students.

The BS degree program through Morehead State University consists of 120 credits and includes courses such as veterinary dentistry; small animal medicine and surgery; emergency and critical care; veterinary diagnostic imaging; small animal clinics; large animal clinics; and more. Students in both programs complete labs and internships/preceptorships to meet AVMA required skills demonstration.

The vet tech program provides much of its training in the scenic 350-acre Derrickson Agricultural Complex, which houses cows, horses, sheep, and more. Finally, among program graduates, 82 percent passed the VTNE on their first attempt between 2020 and 2023.

• Location: Morehead, KY
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: AAS (36 months); BS (48 months)

Murray State University

Murray State University offers a bachelor of science (BS) in veterinary technology which prepares students to work in veterinary practices, universities, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceuticals, the animal food industry, and more. Facilities used for this program include the E.B. Howton Agricultural Engineering Building, the south wing of the Oakley Applied Science Building, greenhouses, the Agricultural Engineering Building, and 4 farm complexes near campus.

Courses may include vet microbiology; animal anatomy and physiology; vet surgery and anesthesiology; animal nutrition, horse science, vet parasitology; vet hematology; and much more. Murray State vet tech students complete some labs and internships to gain practical, real-world experience as veterinary technicians. Students can also pursue pre-veterinary medicine through Murray State University. Between 2020 and 2023, 82 percent of program graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.

• Location: Murray, KY
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 48 months

Owensboro Community and Technical College

Owensboro Community and Technical College offers an AAS degree in veterinary technology that encompasses 67 – 69 credits. This vet tech program will provide students with valuable real-world lab and clinical experiences for developing the skills needed to become valued professionals in the veterinary field.

Courses in this CVTEA-accredited program include veterinary lab procedures; pharmacology; introduction to veterinary technology; parasitology and clinical lab techniques; animal anatomy and physiology; and more. Students complete labs and clinical practicums to complete the program’s requirements and prepare for the state and national exams.

Between 2021 and 2024, 75 percent of Owensboro graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.

• Location: Owensboro, KY
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

Online Vet Tech Programs for Kentucky Students

For some students in more rural regions of KY who are unable to attend any campus-based programs, there are ten CVTEA-accredited online programs available as well. These are typically open to students who have some veterinary experience and work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian close to their home. In addition to completing online didactic classes, students progressively get their skills evaluated by veterinary mentors at approved clinical preceptor sites.

Colby Community College

One online veterinary technology program option is at Colby Community College of Kansas. The college’s online AAS degree in veterinary nursing has classes such as math for veterinary technicians, anatomy and physiology, small animal clinical procedures, animal facility management and sanitation, veterinary anesthesiology, and parasitology. The program comprises 82 credits.

Among CCC’s on-campus graduates in veterinary technology, 66.67 percent passed the VTNE on their first attempt (2021 to 2024). The first-time pass rate for graduates of the distance program was 89.47 percent in the same period.

• Location: Colby, KS
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Eight semesters

St. Petersburg College

St. Petersburg College (SPC) of Florida provides an online associate of science (AS) degree in veterinary technology. Students enrolled online will be required to complete 280 hours of clinical experience in a veterinary facility during each semester enrolled in the program.

In addition to clinical practicums located close to students’ homes, vet tech program students complete distance-based classes such as animal nursing, animal breeds and behavior, physiology, avian and exotic pet medicine, pharmacology, anesthesia, and animal emergency medicine.

This program begins in August, January, and May. Notably, between 2021 and 2024, 80 percent of program graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.

• Location: St. Petersburg, FL
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 36 months

For more information about distance-based education in veterinary technology, please visit the online vet tech programs page.

Vet Tech Registration in Kentucky

According to the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners, vet techs in KY must be registered before practice. To qualify for registration, vet techs must have the following:

• Proof of having graduated from an AVMA-accredited program, or an educational equivalent approved by the board
• Passing scores on a written and practical examination, ideally the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)
• A notarized letter of good standing from the candidate’s supervising veterinarian
• An application fee

The Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners website provides more detailed information on each of these steps.

To maintain an active registration, vet techs in KY must submit an annual renewal application with a fee and six hours of continuing education (CE). The Kentucky Veterinary Technician Association (KVTA) offers CE opportunities and other specialized conferences, events, and training sessions. There are also various CE opportunities online through sites such as VetMed Team, AtDove, the National American Veterinary Technicians Association (NAVTA), and Vetlearn.

Vet Tech Program Accreditation

As mentioned above, aspiring vet techs in KY are encouraged to seek out programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), the primary accreditation body for vet tech programs in the nation. The CVTEA evaluates programs based on the following criteria:

• Institutional accreditation
• School finances
• Organization & communications
• Quality of facilities & equipment
• Clinical training opportunities
• Libraries & other resources
• Admissions processes
• Faculty & staff
• Curriculum
• Student outcomes assessment

For more information on the process, please visit the CVTEA accreditation standards page.