Veterinary Technician Schools in Mississippi

Accredited Mississippi Vet Tech Programs

In the Hospitality State, veterinary technicians typically graduate from a two- to four-year program accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) main program-approval body in the country. To learn more about the accreditation process, please reference the last section of this article.

In order to gain entry into a program in veterinary technology in MS, candidates typically need to submit the following:

• Application
• Official transcripts from secondary school with proof of having completed specific classes (e.g., biology, algebra, English)
• Proof of health insurance or immunizations
• Test scores (e.g., TOEFL for non-native speakers of English)
• Personal statement
• Fee

Please note that some programs also call for experience working with animals, letters of recommendation, candidate interviews (e.g., phone, in-person, video-based), or additional college entrance exams.

There are currently two CVTEA-accredited programs in MS, located at Mississippi State University (MSU) and Hinds Community College (HCC).

Mississippi State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine

MSU offers one of the few bachelor of science (BS) in veterinary medical technology programs in the country. It takes four years to complete and takes place in a collaborative learning environment, combining both hands-on clinical experience and extensive coursework. Courses include applied anatomy and physiology for veterinary technologists; husbandry and nutrition; parasitology; small animal technician skills and nursing; pharmacology and toxicology; hematology and immunology; surgical skills; and a Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) preparatory class.

The VTNE is the predominant credentialing exam for vet techs across the country, and programs are required to divulge their three-year passing rates among graduates. 73 percent of first-time test-takers from MSU passed the VTNE between 2020 and 2023.

Hinds Community College (HCC)

A second CVTEA-accredited program can be found at Hinds Community College (HCC) of Raymond. HCC offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology. This two-year program includes coursework in animal restraint and medication; animal healthcare; principles of imaging; veterinary mathematics; surgical and hospital techniques; and several units of lab evaluations.

Please note that this program has a hybrid option for students who want to learn in both online and in-person formats. HCC also requires a candidate interview and a minimum of 30 observation hours in an animal healthcare setting for applicants to the program. Once students graduate they are eligible for both the VTNE and the Assistant Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification exam. Between 2020 and 2023, 65.79 percent of graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.

Accredited Online Vet Tech Programs for Students in Mississippi

In addition to HCC’s hybrid program in veterinary technology, there are currently several CVTEA-accredited, distance-based programs. Online and hybrid programs typically feature online coursework with supervised clinical sections in approved veterinary care settings. Licensed veterinarians and other qualified personnel sign off on skills learned at clinics located close to a student’s home.

One option is available at Dallas College Cedar Valley Campus of Lancaster, TX which provides an online associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology. Classes at Cedar Valley include surgical preparation and assistance; veterinary office management; laboratory and examination procedures; radiology and ultrasound; and pharmacy and pharmacology. The multimedia approach to learning about veterinary technology must be proving effective since it’s the only AVMA-accredited program also recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

All courses, except general education courses, are offered during every semester. Students can enroll in as many classes as fit their schedule–one, two, three, or even more–and courses are offered in the fall, spring, and summer. Notably, 67 percent of program graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt between 2019 and 2023.

Colby Community College (CCC) of Kansas provides another online AAS in veterinary nursing with classes such as zoology; principles of animal science; breeds of domestic animals; veterinary clinical procedures; and veterinary technician microbiology. This 82-credit program includes labs and work with veterinary hospitals to complete the required clinical hours.

Students can also attend optional on-campus mentorships during the weekends covering microbiology, large animals, and lab animals/exotic pets. 85.37 percent of CCC’s distance learning program graduates passed the VTNE between 2020 and 2023.

To discover more distance-based training in veterinary technology, please visit the online vet tech programs page.

Demand for Vet Techs in Mississippi

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024) projects that openings in this field will increase nationwide by 21 percent between 2022 and 2032. This is seven times the average growth anticipated for all jobs during that time period (3 percent) and will result in 25,200 new openings across the country in this field.

Second, although the wages for veterinary technicians are relatively low in Mississippi, the cost of living in MS is also incredibly low and therefore those same wages exert more purchasing power.

Vet Tech Salary in Mississippi

Average wages for veterinary technicians are close to the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2023) reported that the 122,000 vet techs working across the US had an average annual salary of $44,040. In MS, the mean annual salary for this profession was $33,990, significantly lower than the national average.

To put the numbers into perspective, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2024), ranks the Magnolia State as the fifth most affordable in the country. With significant savings in housing, a vet tech’s salary may go further than in other states.

Here are how vet tech salaries in Mississippi compare to U.S. averages by percentile (BLS May 2023:

Where Are Mississippi Vet Techs Employed?

There is a wealth of places for vet techs to work in MS, including animal hospitals, private veterinary clinics, federal and state regulatory agencies, zoos, specialty practices (e.g., avian, equine, wildlife), laboratories, public health organizations, aquariums, shelters, humane societies, pet stores, pharmaceutical companies, livestock yards, farms, biomedical research organizations, universities, and kennels. Some MS vet techs work traditional hours, whereas others may have to work weekends, holidays, or evenings to address needs of animal patients.

There are various resources for veterinary job-hunters in Mississippi. In addition to services such as LinkedIn, Monster, and CareerBuilder, iHireVeterinary (2024) offers continually updated listings at locations that include Southaven, Starkville, Madison, Jackson, Vicksburg, Biloxi, and Flowood. The Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) also provides a list of jobs with opportunities in MS and neighboring states.

It’s important to note that vet techs in MS and beyond may choose to specialize their skills in order to enhance their employment prospects and salary potential. To become a veterinary technician specialist (VTS), candidates typically need to have advanced training in a specific area, years of experience in the field, letters of recommendation, and a passing score on an exam. These specialty academies and societies have been designated by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA), and include areas such as animal behavior, surgery, critical care, nutrition, dermatology, zoological medicine, equine nursing, and other subfields.

To discover how to become a VTS, please check out the vet tech career page.

Vet Tech Certification in Mississippi

The Mississippi Veterinary Medical Board (MVMB) is the main organization that approves credentials for certified veterinary technicians (CVTs), who may also be referred to as certified animal technicians or technologists. Becoming a CVT is mandatory prior to practicing veterinary technology in MS.

To qualify, candidates must send:

• Application
• Official VTNE scores
• Copy of diploma or college transcript, ideally from an AVMA-accredited program
• Processing fee
• Passport-style photo
• Three letters of recommendation

To maintain this one-year certification, candidates must complete ten hours of continuing education (CE) annually and submit a renewal application. There is a wealth of resources available recommended by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA) for online CE such as:

• VetCheck
• VetMedTeam

Vet Tech Program Accreditation

As mentioned above, graduating from a program accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)—the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) program-approval agency—is recommended for aspiring vet techs in the state of Mississippi. The CVTEA weighs factors such as:

• Program organization and communications
• Quality of facilities and equipment
• Clinical training resources available
• Admissions processes
• Effectiveness of faculty and staff
• Curriculum comprehensiveness
• Student outcomes

Please check out the CVTEA accreditation page for more information about each of these factors and to learn more about the importance of the process.