Vet Tech Schools in West Virginia

Choosing an Accredited Vet Tech Program in West Virginia

Students who are looking for veterinary technician schools in WV will find three that have received American Veterinary Medical Association CVTEA accreditation. This accreditation ensures a school provides a quality vet tech program and the needed instruction to its students.

Further, AVMA accreditation is required for graduates of vet tech programs who want to work as registered vet techs in West Virginia. The following programs are worth investigating, but aspiring vet techs should be sure the program meets their individual needs before applying.

Carver Career & Technical Center (joint program with the BridgeValley Community & Technical College), in Charleston, is one of the schools for potential vet techs to consider. The program has full accreditation from the AVMA, which it first earned in 2009. The joint program offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology, and tuition is paid to Carver Career & Technology Center. All courses with the exception of microbiology lab and animal anatomy & physiology are delivered at Carver Career Center.

Courses in this five-semester program include animal science; surgical techniques and nursing; veterinary medical terminology; veterinary pathology; veterinary pharmacology; veterinary parasitology; companion animal diseases; and more. The program encompasses 65 credits including two preceptorships and a veterinary capstone course.

Note that the job placement rate is 100 percent for Carver graduates. The first-time pass rate on the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) for program graduates was 63.6 percent between 2017 and 2020.

Another accredited veterinary technician program in WV is Pierpont Community & Technical College. This program has been accredited through the AVMA since 1981. Students receive an associate of applied science (AAS) degree when completing the vet tech program and take courses such as:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Technical microbiology
• Diseases of domestic animals
• Animal care for veterinary assistants
• Clinical procedures
• Diseases and medications for veterinary assistants
• Communication and client relations

The program consists of 74 credits. Students complete two preceptorships and an applied clinical experience in addition to labs. The first-time pass rate for Pierpont graduates was 60 percent on the VTNE between 2017 and 2020.

The third on-campus option is offered through MountWest Community and Technical College. This 74-credit, two-year program culminates in an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology for graduates. Courses include veterinary emergency and critical care; veterinary office technician procedures; veterinary nursing; veterinary imaging; small animal vet dentistry; veterinary anesthesia; veterinary surgery; and more.

Students complete labs and an externship to learn hands-on skills in veterinary technology. MountWest earned AVMA accreditation in February of 2016, and between 2018 and 2021, their VTNE first-time pass rates were 81 percent.

Students interested in online education have options as well. One of the online vet tech schools to consider is San Juan College. It is fully accredited and leads students to an associate of applied science degree. This can be an ideal choice for those aspiring vet techs who want to work while they are in school or who are unable to attend campus courses due to scheduling or physical distance.

It should be noted that online students will still have to complete a clinical practicum before they are eligible for registration with the state of West Virginia. For more information on CVTEA-accredited distance-based options, visit our online vet tech schools page.

How to Become a Vet Tech in West Virginia

In order to become a veterinary technician and find a job in West Virginia, it is important that students follow the required steps to earn the right credentials as efficiently as possible. The following path is the most common one for vet techs:

Step 1: Graduate High School (Four Years)
A high school diploma or GED is required as a stepping stone towards a vet tech career. High school students who want to pursue this path should be sure to aim for high grades in natural sciences, like biology, for the best chance at obtaining admission to a vet tech program down the line.

Step 2: Complete a Vet Tech Program (Two Years)
While vet tech programs are not uniform, most last two years and result in an associate of science degree in veterinary technology. In West Virginia, in order to become registered as a veterinary technician, students must graduate from an AVMA-accredited institution.

Step 3: Take the VTNE (Less Than One Year)
The Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) is a computer-based exam administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). The timeline for eligibility to take the exam depends on when the student graduates from the vet tech program. The windows for the exam are available from the AAVSB website. Students must submit their transcript from their vet tech program in order to be eligible for the exam.

Step 4: Take the West Virginia State Jurisprudence Exam (Less Than One Year)
To become a registered vet tech in West Virginia, you must also complete the West Virginia State Jurisprudence Exam, which covers the state’s WV Veterinary Practice Act and Rules and Regulations. The exam is offered on the first Monday in June each year, or alternate dates may be scheduled with the West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine (WVBVM).

Step 5: Apply for West Virginia Registration
Once finished with steps 1 through 4, a vet tech is eligible to apply for registration with the WVBVM. Along with transcripts and test scores, the new vet tech must submit a birth certificate and recent photo. More documentation may be required in the event that the applicant has had any name changes or is not a citizen of the U.S.

Step 6: Renew Registration Annually
West Virginia vet techs must renew their registration each year. In order to renew, vet techs must submit proof of at least 8 hours of continuing education units over the previous year, at least four of which must relate directly to veterinary science. Registration renewals are only available from October 1 to February 1.

Salary & Career Outlook for Vet Techs in West Virginia

Anyone considering a career as a vet tech in the Mountain State will want to know what the outlook is like in terms of demand and expected salary. With a total population of less than two million, there are understandably not a large number of jobs in West Virginia. In fact, as of 2020, there were just 430 vet tech jobs in the state.

According to the BLS (May 2020), current state and national figures are as follows:

The discrepancy is largest in the 90th percentile, where vet techs in West Virginia can expect to earn about 18 percent less than the national average. One aspect to keep in mind however is that West Virginia is more affordable than many states in the nation. It is the 18th most affordable state, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2021), with lower than average housing, utilities, and health costs.

Those vet techs who are committed to finding work in West Virginia should be advised that they may have difficulty landing the perfect job or earning a high salary, however it is possible to succeed in the career with enough perseverance. While there is no state group for vet techs to find camaraderie with their peers, vet techs may consider joining a national association such as the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA).

Vet Tech Certification and Accreditation Requirements in West Virginia

The West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine regulates and licenses those who work in the field of veterinary medicine, including vets, vet techs, and euthanasia techs. Students who want to work as registered vet techs in the state need to make sure they attend a school with AVMA accreditation. They will also need to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam, which tests their competency in the field. Afterward, they can apply for licensure through the board.

In West Virginia, vet techs need to renew their license annually. During the year, they need to have completed eight hours of continuing education. At least four of the hours need to relate directly to veterinary science, but techs should always consult the board to make sure the CE they are considering has board approval.

The AVMA accreditation process, which is done through the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), involves a self-assessment on the part of the school, as well as site visits from CVTEA members. Accredited institutions must have a curriculum in place that provides the education required for vet techs as well as faculty and facilities to support this curriculum. New institutions are granted initial accreditation for five years until they can be fully vetted.

Students considering the career should see if the vet tech schools in WV they are considering have AVMA accreditation. Only vet tech programs with this accreditation are guaranteed to meet or surpass the minimum requirements needed for a vet tech education. The AVMA looks at many different items when granting accreditation, including:

• Admissions
• Course of study
• Physical facilities
• Resources
• Staff