Vet Tech Programs in Massachusetts

Job Outlook for Vet Techs in Massachusetts

The future looks very strong for veterinary technicians in Massachusetts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2023) predicted that national openings in this profession will grow 21 percent between 2022 and 2032, much faster than the average projected for all occupations (3 percent). With 25,200 fresh vet tech positions expected in the coming decade nationwide, there should be ample opportunities for animal lovers seeking to break into this career.

With this growth in new jobs, the field of veterinary technology is strong nationally and in Massachusetts. According to Projections Central (2022), the anticipated growth rate for vet techs in the state between 2020 and 2030 is 17.9 percent.

For those who graduate from one of the accredited vet tech schools in Massachusetts, there are employment opportunities across a variety of environments, including small clinics, animal hospitals, universities, zoos, farms, biomedical research facilities, and more. According to Indeed (Sept. 2023), vet techs have opportunities to find jobs in Massachusetts at places like the Veterinary Emergency Group, Harvard University, Callanan Veterinary Group, Petco, and South Arbor Animal Hospital.

The Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association (MVTA) provides several services for people in this field such as continuing education (CE) opportunities, job postings, and professional networking.

Finally, there are several specialties for vet techs designated by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). Some vet techs may choose to pursue these specialized skills and credentials in order to enhance their employment prospects and earning potential. Some of the popular subfields include anesthesia & analgesia, animal behavior, clinical pathology, dermatology, critical care, internal medicine, surgery, zoological animals, nutrition, and more.

To learn more about these specialties and how to become a veterinary technician specialist (VTS), please check out the main page on veterinary technicians.

Vet Tech Salaries in Massachusetts – How Much Do Vet Techs Make?

In addition to a strong occupational outlook, Massachusetts boasts salaries that are higher than the national average. According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics (May 2022), the 118,750 vet techs across the nation earned an average annual salary of $40,770. In comparison, the 3,380 vet techs working in Massachusetts earned $43,920 per year, roughly 7 percent more than the national average.

The following chart illustrates earning potential for vet techs in Massachusetts at various earning percentiles, compared to national figures:

When considering earning potential, the cost of living is a key piece of the puzzle. Vet Techs in MA fared much better than people in this industry nationwide. It’s important to note that the cost of living in Massachusetts is also significantly higher than in many other regions. In fact, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2023) found that MA is the third most expensive state in which to live, experiencing especially steep housing costs relative to the rest of the country. Please keep this in mind while evaluating the salary data within this region.

CVTEA-Accredited Vet Tech Programs in Massachusetts

For prospective vet techs in Massachusetts, there are five programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), the predominant accrediting body for vet tech programs nationwide. Graduating from a CVTEA-accredited program is a prerequisite to credentialing in most states in the US.

Also, according to O*NET (2022)—a data organization and affiliate of the US Department of Labor—26 percent of its vet tech respondents nationwide held associate degrees.

Here is a breakdown of the five CVTEA-accredited vet tech programs in Massachusetts:

Holyoke Community College

Holyoke Community College has a two-year, CVTEA-accredited AAS program to impart the fundamentals of the field such as how to handle animal patients, administer medications, collect and process laboratory samples, and carefully document records.

Holyoke expresses a wealth of objectives for their veterinary technician program graduates. In addition, they follow the code of ethics outlined by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), and veterinary students take an oath, promising to provide excellent care to animals, alleviate their suffering, and more.

Courses at Holyoke include veterinary practice management; anatomy and physiology of domestic animals; animal diseases; animal nursing; vet laboratory procedures; exotic pets; and veterinary radiology, among others. The program comprises 67 credits. Students complete two externships during the program. Holyoke graduates had a first-time pass rate on the VTNE of 48.48 percent between 2020 and 2023.

• Location: Holyoke, MA
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: In-state student ($24 per credit); New England regional compact student ($36 per credit); out-of-state and international student ($230 per credit)

Massasoit Community College

Massasoit Community College also offers a two-year AAS degree in veterinary technology at their Canton Campus. This program also requires attendance at an information session to apply. Prerequisites include intermediate algebra, preparing for college reading; introductory writing; and biological principles.

Students are trained in vertebrate anatomy & physiology; veterinary microbiology; veterinary parasitology; veterinary clinical methods; veterinary pharmacology; veterinary imaging; large animal medicine & management; laboratory animals and exotics; veterinary anesthesia & surgery; veterinary management; veterinary pathology; and more. The program is made up of 64 credits. Massasoit graduates had a first-time pass rate on the VTNE of 93.5 percent between 2020 and 2023.

• Location: Canton, MA
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: Four semesters
• Estimated Tuition: In-state ($24 per credit); out-of-state ($230 per credit)

Mount Wachusett Community College

Mount Wachusett Community College offers a two-year associate degree in veterinary technology for prospective applicants seeking a highly selective program. Courses in this 73-credit program include veterinary clinical nursing skills; anatomy and physiology of domestic animals; veterinary pharmacology; domestic animal behavior; domestic animal disease and nutrition; veterinary parasitology; farm animal medicine; laboratory animal medicine and management; veterinary clinical laboratory procedures; surgical nursing and dentistry; and veterinary radiology.

Students also complete two 120-hour internship rotations where they can intern in emergency and specialty medicine, wildlife, farm animals, aquatic medicine, and even exotic species! The first-time pass rate for the VTNE exam from 2020-2023 is 50 percent.

• Location: Gardner, MA
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: Four semesters
• Estimated Tuition: Massachusetts residents ($25 per credit); New England regional student ($37.50 per credit); non-resident and international students ($230 per credit)

North Shore Community College of Danvers

North Shore Community College of Danvers offers a two-year associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology with classes such as canine and feline behavior; medical terminology; veterinary parasitology; ethics and law for pet care professionals; mathematics for veterinary technology; surgical nursing and anesthesia; theriogenology; and more. The program consists of 64 credits.

Because the admission process is selective, all prospective students must attend an information session in which they will learn about the program and admission requirements as well as import application dates. A certificate of attendance will be administered upon completing the information session which must be submitted with the application.

Notably, NSCC ensures all animals used at the institution are handled, treated, housed, cared for, and transported in humane and ethical ways through their Institution Animal Care and Use Committee which is guided by the Animal Welfare Act. North Shore boasts a 79.41 percent first-time passing rate on the VTNE among its graduates between 2020 and 2023.

• Location: Danvers, MA
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: Massachusetts residents ($25 per credit); New England regional student ($37.50 per credit); out-of-state ($257 per credit)

University of Massachusetts – Amherst

The University of Massachusetts – Amherst (Mount Ida campus) is offering a new four-year bachelor of science (BS) program in veterinary technology. This rigorous program provides students with two years of intensive classroom and lab instruction at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, followed by two years at the dedicated veterinary technology facilities at the Mount Ida campus.

Coursework includes large animal clinical nursing; veterinary microbiology; small animal anesthesia and surgery; veterinary diagnostic imaging; veterinary management; cell and molecular biology; and even parasitology. UMass Amherst, Mount Ida vet tech graduates had a first-time pass rate on the VTNE of 68.75 percent between 2020 and 2023.

• Location: Newton, MA
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: 48 months
• Estimated Tuition: In-state ($691.25 per credit); out-of-state ($1,605.25 per credit)

Online Vet Tech Programs for Massachusetts Students

For some students with time or distance-based restrictions, attending an on-campus program can be difficult. Luckily there are currently several CVTEA-accredited online programs in veterinary technology. These programs typically involve a rigorous combination of online coursework and clinical mentorship, which can be completed close to a student’s home.

It’s important to note that Massachusetts has relatively strict regulations with respect to online education, and some programs acknowledge in “state authorization” disclosures that they’re unable to provide their program to MA-based students. Prospective students are encouraged to verify with program administrators that MA residents are eligible prior to applying.

Northern Virginia Community College

One CVTEA-accredited online program is offered part-time through Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), which requires two to three visits to the Loudoun, VA campus per semester. In addition, there are some required training activities and off-campus field trips.

This program—ideal for veterinary assistants working at least 20 hours weekly who want to advance their skills—includes general education classes and vet tech fundamentals such as animal diseases; clinical pathology; and wildlife medicine. Between 2018 and 2021, an impressive 76.99 percent of program graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.

• Location: Sterling, VA
• Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Full-time (24 months); part-time (36 months)
• Estimated Tuition: Virginia resident students ($185.01 per credit); out-of-state ($364.26 per credit)

For more information on web-based programs for vet techs, please visit the online veterinary technician programs page.

Massachusetts Vet Tech Certification

As of September 2023, professional credentialing is not necessary to practice as a vet tech in MA. That said, there are some advantages to being certified in MA. It can not only enhance one’s employment prospects within MA, but can also set up a vet tech for licensure, registration, or certification should he or she choose to relocate to another state.

Here are the typical steps to becoming a certified veterinary technician (CVT) in Massachusetts:

• Graduate from high school
• Enroll in a two- to four-year veterinary technology program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)
• Pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)
• Apply for certification through the Massachusetts Veterinary Technicians Association (MVTA)

To qualify for certification through the MVTA, candidates must submit an application, pass the VTNE with a score of at least 425, and send in an official transcript from a CVTEA-accredited program in veterinary technology (there are other paths to membership if the vet tech did not attend a CVTEA-accredited program), and pay a $65 application fee. Please note that for candidates without CVTEA-accredited degrees and extensive experience, there is some flexibility.

These certifications are valid for one year and can be renewed following the completion of 12 continuing education units (CEUs). There is a $50 fee to renew and a $25 late fee after December 31st of that year. The MVTA provides a list of approved continuing education (CE) resources such as:

• VetMedTeam
• VetBloom

Vet Tech Program Accreditation

As mentioned previously, those seeking a program in veterinary technology in Massachusetts are encouraged to pursue programs approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities. The CVTEA evaluates several factors in its program-approval process such as institutional accreditation, curricula, admissions processes, student outcomes assessments, quality of physical facilities, and program finances.

For a detailed look at the criteria, please visit the CVTEA standards of accreditation on its website.