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As the first U.S. state to establish a government separate from Great Britain in January 1776, New Hampshire has a great deal of history. Further, its New England location gives it spectacular seasonal changes from frigid, snowy winters to beautiful, colorful autumns. The Granite State is the 9th least populous state, and aspiring veterinary technicians (vet techs) should note that most veterinary technician jobs in the state are concentrated in large metropolitan areas: Nashua, Manchester, and Portsmouth.
The fifth smallest state in the U.S. by landmass, New Hampshire is quite small. This means that for those vet techs who do find jobs, it is pretty likely that the job will be nearby. New Hampshire vet techs should expect to look for work at one of the many private veterinary clinics in the state or may find work at a veterinary surgical center, an educational laboratory, or an animal shelter, working to treat and protect homeless animals.
New Hampshire veterinary technicians can apply for certification through the New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Association (NHVTA). While the NHVTA is not an official government organization offering licensure, certification is strongly encouraged for those vet techs who want to work in New Hampshire. It is also possible to apply for a reciprocal certification if you are certified or licensed in another state. In addition to certification, vet techs can find professional camaraderie and important information about continuing education opportunities through the NHVTA.
Keep reading for further information about how you can become a vet tech in New Hampshire and what employment opportunities you can expect to find.
| School Website | main address | online program | Avma Accredited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bay Community College (formerly New Hampshire Technical College) | 320 Corporate Dr, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 03801 | No | Yes |
| University of New Hampshire | 104A Barton Hall, Durham, New Hampshire, 03824 | No | Yes |
Accredited Vet Tech Programs in New Hampshire
The right education is a strong launching pad for a successful and sustainable career as a veterinary technician. The Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), the accrediting body of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), sets the standard for high-quality veterinary technician programs. CVTEA-AVMA accreditation ensures that a school is properly training vet techs for the field, including hands-on and clinical training opportunities.
As of March 2024, two campus-based accredited schools in New Hampshire are listed below.
Great Bay Community College (formerly New Hampshire Technical College), in Portsmouth, has full accreditation from the AVMA. The school offers a 67 to 70-credit associate of science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology. The expressed goal of the program is to provide students with comprehensive support to clients and general healthcare for the animal patient. Students gain hands-on experience while they work at local animal hospitals during their clinicals.
The curriculum includes courses such as introduction to veterinary technology; veterinary anatomy and physiology; quantitative reasoning; veterinary clinical methods; veterinary pharmacology; veterinary parasitology; veterinary practice law; small animal behavior; laboratory animal science; and large animal management, among others.
Between 2020 and 2023, the three-year VTNE first-time pass rate for Great Bay Community College graduates was 63.93 percent.
- Location: Portsmouth NH
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); AVMA-CVTEA
- Expected Time to Completion: Five semesters
The University of New Hampshire (UNH) College of Life Science and Agriculture also offers a two-year veterinary technology AAS degree. The program’s goals at UNH are to graduate vet techs with exceptional skills, prepare students to pass the VTNE, and become valuable members of veterinary medicine teams immediately following graduation.
Made up of 65 credits, the program includes courses such as anatomy and physiology of domestic animals; introduction to veterinary technology; animal health and laboratory diagnostics; pharmacology for veterinary technicians; large animal behavior and handling techniques; veterinary anesthesia and surgical assisting; and clinical animal nursing techniques, among others.
In addition to coursework and lab work, students will be expected to complete an internship prior to graduation. Between 2020 and 2023, the University of New Hampshire’s first-time VTNE pass rate was 45 percent.
- Location: Durham, NH
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); AVMA-CVTEA
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
Accredited Online Vet Tech Programs for New Hampshire Students
For prospective vet techs who don’t live close to either of the accredited programs in New Hampshire, there are accredited online programs that bring vet tech education closer to them.
One well-known school with an online vet tech program is Purdue University, which offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree consisting of 27 courses and 18 clinical mentorships.
Courses in this 70-credit program include an introduction to veterinary nursing; small animal nursing; surgical nursing; large animal nursing; parasitology; diagnostic imaging; principles of anesthesia; animal disease; ophthalmology, dermatology, and oncology; and public & occupational health.
Purdue’s impressive first-time VTNE pass rate for its online program is 92.9 percent, and for its on-campus program in Indiana, it is 86.8 percent (2020-2023).
- Location: West Lafayette, IN
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); AVMA-CVTEA
- Expected Time to Completion: Nine semesters
Penn Foster also offers online training for vet techs. Penn Foster’s veterinary technician program has earned AVMA accreditation, and culminates in an associate of applied science (AAS) degree. Students in this self-paced online program gain the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to work as vet techs in small or large animal hospitals or clinics.
The program’s 73-credit curriculum includes courses such as introduction to veterinary technology; introduction to biology for veterinary technicians; animal anatomy and physiology; veterinary office management and skill with people; medical nursing for veterinary technicians; pharmacology for veterinary technicians; anesthesia for veterinary technicians; laboratory animal medicine and nursing; clinical parasitology for veterinary technicians, and more.
The three-year, first-time pass rate on the VTNE for Penn Foster graduates was 78.2 percent (2020-2023).
- Location: Online
- Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC); AVMA-CVTEA
- Expected Time to Completion: Four semesters
For more information on CVTEA-accredited distance-based vet tech programs, visit our online vet tech schools page.
How to Become a Vet Tech in New Hampshire
The following outline is the most common path that vet techs take to their new career. However, it should be noted that not all vet techs follow the exact same steps or timeline. Starting a vet tech career in New Hampshire can prove a rewarding experience.
- Step 1: Graduate High School (Four Years) – According to CareerOneStop, which is a site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, just 1 percent of veterinary technicians in the U.S. do not have a high school education, which means vet techs should be sure to graduate or obtain a GED as soon as possible. Current high school students who are working towards a vet tech career will want to focus on classes like biology and chemistry to have the best chance of succeeding at the next level of their education. Furthermore, high school students who are not quite sure they want to be vet techs may find it useful and inspirational to volunteer at a local animal shelter or veterinary office.
- Step 2: Complete Accredited Vet Tech Program (Two to Four Years) – In order to be eligible for vet tech certification in New Hampshire students must complete an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program. Generally, these programs take two years to complete and culminate in an associate of applied science degree.
- Step 3: Take the VTNE (Less Than One Year) –The Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) is a prerequisite for New Hampshire certification. After graduation, vet techs must take the VTNE exam and apply for certification within five years. If two years elapse before the exam is completed, aspiring vet techs must provide evidence of continuing education during that two-year period. If five years elapse between the time the vet tech takes the exam and the time she applies for certification, she must take the exam again.
- Step 4: Apply for Certification Through NHVTA (Less Than One Year) – After completing an accredited program and passing the VTNE, new vet techs are eligible to apply for vet tech certification through the New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Association (NHVTA). Vet techs who are certified in another state may apply for certification through the NHVTA’s reciprocity program. Vet techs must earn 12 continuing education credits each year to maintain certification. If certification lapses, vet techs may apply for amnesty and pay a reinstatement fee to renew certification.
Career Outlook & Salary Information for New Hampshire-Based Vet Techs
The BLS (2024) predicts that the openings for vet techs will grow by 21 percent nationally between 2022 and 2032. This rate of growth is seven times that of the national average for all occupations during that time period (three percent). The occupational growth outlook in New Hampshire is even brighter than the predictions for national growth. According to Projections Central (2024), the vet tech profession in NH is predicted to grow 21.9 percent between 2020 and 2030.
With this rosy outlook for future vet techs, professional networking, and development can create valuable boosts to the careers of vet techs entering the field. Groups such as the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA) and local organizations like the aforementioned NHVTA offer the opportunity for techs to meet other veterinary professionals, learn about continuing education training, and establish a sense of community within the profession.
| VETERINARY CAREER | NEW HAMPSHIRE JOBS | SALARY DATA (BLS 2022) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW SALARY (10TH %ILE) | MEDIAN SALARY (50TH %ILE) | HIGH SALARY (90TH %ILE) | ||
| VET TECH | 930 | $36,210 | $44,470 | $57,160 |
| VET ASSISTANT | 460 | $27,190 | $31,690 | $39,900 |
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2022), the 118,750 veterinary technicians employed across the United States earned an average annual wage of $40,770 per year.
The following table shows what vet techs in NH have the potential to earn in comparison to national averages at various earning levels:
| United States | New Hampshire | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of vet techs employed | 118,750 | 930 |
| Average annual salary | $40,770 | $44,730 |
| 10th percentile | $29,000 | $36,210 |
| 25th percentile | $34,510 | $37,630 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $38,240 | $44,470 |
| 75th percentile | $46,740 | $48,670 |
| 90th percentile | $54,680 | $57,160 |
When thinking about earning potential, it’s also important to consider the cost of living in the region in which one works. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC, 2023), New Hampshire is the 8th most expensive region in the United States. While there are lower than average costs there in regard to transportation and groceries, the dollar in NH doesn’t stretch as far when it comes to housing and utilities. The slightly higher-than-average salaries for vet techs in New Hampshire may reflect these higher-than-average expenses.
Accreditation and Certification Information for New Hampshire Vet Techs
New Hampshire does not strictly require any licensure or certification for veterinary technicians, but it is a good idea for students to obtain certification through the NHVTA. Certification through this association helps employers to know that a vet tech has a certain level of knowledge, skill, and professionalism, which in turn makes it easier for those vet techs to find work. Vet techs who have certification in another state that matches or exceeds the requirements of New Hampshire can apply for reciprocity for their certification.
Vet techs need to renew their certification annually and pursue continuing education credits. They need to have 12 credits annually. The credits do not stack, so earning more than 12 in a single year will not carry over into the next year. Check with the association about the types of CE that are accepted and ensure a course has NHVTA approval before enrolling.
By choosing campus-based or online vet tech schools in NH with AVMA accreditation, graduates can be assured of a quality education that will help them find the veterinary technology job of their dreams. With the right foundation, aspiring vet techs can easily pursue a career and find fulfillment working with animals and veterinarians.
