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In the Land of Steady Habits, there is a longstanding culture of protecting domestic animals and wildlife. By illustration, Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection offers information about the breeding seasons of local wildlife organized by month, increasing awareness of local inhabitants such as black bears, coyotes, beavers, deer, gray squirrels, and robins, to name a few.
Additionally, the Connecticut Humane Society aims to discourage puppy mills—the for-profit breeding operations that are especially prevalent in Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania—and advocates for adoption instead. The Humane Society elucidates the state’s tough legal protections for all creatures, including CGS 53-247 which “prohibits people from overdriving, overloading, overworking, torturing, depriving of substance, mutilating, cruelly beating or killing, or unjustifiably injuring any animal.”
In 2022, the Humane Society boasted a 95.4 percent live release rate where the organization served a large number of pets through dog walking, cat cuddling, and the provision of exams, vaccinations, and surgeries. For those interested in animal welfare, becoming a veterinary technician in Connecticut (CT) is one way to translate this love of animals into a growing career.
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) states that vet techs operate as nurses for animals, taking on varied responsibilities such as maintaining animal medical records; helping veterinarians with common procedures (e.g., dental, diagnostic, surgical, anesthetic, etc.); educating pet-owners about nutrition and other aspects of proper care; managing supply inventories; analyzing lab samples to diagnose medical issues; and sterilizing equipment. They assist in the restraint and hygienic care of animal patients, working in a range of environments such as clinics, hospitals, zoos, sanctuaries, kennels, aquariums, aviaries, biomedical research institutes, farms, universities, and more.
Veterinary technicians do not need to be certified, registered, or licensed in Connecticut, and there is no mention of veterinary technicians in the Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine’s Practice Act. It’s also one of the few states that does not have a credentialing body.
Read on to discover the promising career outlook for vet techs in CT, as well as to explore accredited programs and what to do in lieu of professional credentialing to prepare for this high-growth field.
School Website | main address | online program | Avma Accredited |
---|---|---|---|
Middlesex Community College | 100 Training Hill Rd., Middletown, Connecticut, 06457 | No | Yes |
Northwestern Connecticut Community College | Park Place East, Winsted, Connecticut, 06098 | No | Yes |
Norwalk Community College | 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk, Connecticut, 06854 | No | Yes |
Accredited CT Veterinary Technician Programs
As mentioned above, for prospective vet techs in CT, attending a program accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)—a branch of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)—provides some professional benefits. As the CVTEA is the main accreditation agency nationwide for vet techs, its program approval process can serve as a proxy for the quality of instruction. For more information about how programs are accredited, please see the “Accreditation” section below.
In order to gain entry to an associate of applied science (AAS) program in veterinary technology, students must typically submit their official high school transcripts; letter(s) of recommendation; a personal essay; proof of health insurance and immunizations; and an application fee. Additionally, programs such as the one at Middlesex Community College ask program applicants to be able to lift 55 lbs. (25 kg) and have at least a ‘C’ in secondary school biology, chemistry, algebra, English, and basic computing skills.
There are currently three CVTEA-accredited programs in Connecticut.
Middlesex Community College (MXCC) provides an AS degree in veterinary technology in collaboration with Pieper-Olson Veterinary Hospital, also located in Middletown. The hospital provides rotations for clinicals including small animals, laboratory procedures, and radiology. In addition, Yale University provides vet tech students in this program with laboratory animal rotations.
This 69-credit is a two-year, full-time program and is cohort-based. In addition to general education courses, students take classes in animal care and handling; introduction to veterinary technology; small animal clinical nursing; large animal clinical nursing; veterinary anatomy & physiology; principles of veterinary imaging; animal pathophysiology; veterinary anesthesia and surgical nursing; and veterinary parasitology. Also, students participate in a hands-on supervised externship under a licensed veterinarian to put their newfound skills and abilities to the test.
Middlesex Community College has a first-time pass rate on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) exam of 70.21 percent between 2020 and 2023.
- Location: Middletown, CT
- Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
Northwestern Connecticut Community College
Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NWCC) of Winsted also offers an AS program preparing students for immediate employment in the animal production industry, drug and feed manufacturing companies, biological research facilities, and veterinary offices. The main objective of this program is to provide students with classroom, field, and laboratory experiences that will prepare them for entry-level jobs in the field with a special focus on companion animal medicine and practice.
Graduates of this program will be eligible to transfer to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut to major in either animal science or pathobiology. This 69 to 76-credit program includes courses such as introduction to veterinary technology; veterinary office management & communication; animal care and handling; clinical diagnostic imaging for the veterinary technician; large animal clinical nursing; veterinary anesthesia & surgical nursing; periodontology and oral radiography; veterinary parasitology; and two rigorous clinical externships.
Learning outcomes include demonstrating an in-depth understanding of all course material including lab procedures, surgical nursing skills, clinical pathology, and more.
NWCC has a first-time pass rate on the VTNE of 82 percent between 2020 and 2023.
- Location: Winsted, CT
- Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
Norwalk Community College (NCC) in Norwalk, offers an AS program that takes two years to complete as a full-time student. Providing a combination of classroom, lab, and field experience, NCC’s program prepares graduates for work in a wide range of settings including vet offices, shelters and rehab clinics, research facilities, and more.
This 70-credit program includes courses such as veterinary medical terminology; introduction to animal care; vet anatomy & physiology with lab; small animal vet tech with lab; large animal vet tech with lab; principles of pharmacology vet tech; clinical vet tech procedures with lab; principles of imaging with lab; parasitology; and diseases of animals. Students also have the opportunity to complete two externships where they will experience hands-on work under the supervision of an experienced veterinary professional.
Between 2020 and 2023, 68.75 percent of NCC graduates passed the VTNE on the first try.
- Location: Norwalk, CT
- Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
Online Vet Tech Programs for Connecticut Students
Given that there are only three CVTEA-accredited programs in CT, it may be difficult for some qualified students to attend a campus-based program. Luckily, there are several CVTEA-accredited, distance-based vet tech programs as well.
With dedicated faculty, affordable pricing, and interactive content, Penn Foster’s 73-credit associate program in veterinary technology has courses such as introduction to biology for veterinary technicians; veterinary office management and skill with people; medical nursing for veterinary technicians; pharmacology for veterinary technicians; anesthesia for veterinary technicians; clinical parasitology for veterinary technicians; surgical nursing for veterinary technicians; radiography for veterinary technicians; and animal nutrition, reproduction, genetics, and aging, among others.
As part of the program, students participate in clinical hours at sites located close to their homes. Opportunities are available at Banfield and VCA Animal Hospitals, or at approved private practices in CT towns and cities. Also, Penn Foster had 78.2 percent of its program graduates pass the VTNE on their first attempt between 2020 and 2023.
Penn Foster also offers a bachelor of science degree in veterinary technology that is designed specifically for students who have already earned an AVMA-accredited associate degree.
- Location: Online
- Accreditation: AVMA-CVTEA; Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Associate degree (nine to 12 months); Bachelor’s degree (six to nine months)
For more information on distance-based programs for vet techs, please check out the online veterinary technician programs page.
Finally, vet tech students in CT may choose to specialize in order to deepen their skills and enhance their job candidacy. Several subfields of veterinary technology have been designated by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), including zoological medicine, critical care, anesthesia and analgesia, animal behavior and psychology, dentistry, equine nursing, and nutrition. To learn more about how to become a veterinary technician specialist (VTS), please visit the main veterinary technician page.
Career Outlook and Salary Data for Vet Techs in Connecticut
As mentioned above, there is a very bright job outlook for veterinary technicians in Connecticut and nationwide. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2023) anticipates that openings for veterinary technicians and technologists will explode between 2022 and 2032, increasing an impressive 21 percent during that period. This is seven times the average growth projected across all occupations over that time (3 percent). This picture is mirrored in Provisions State. Projections Central (2024)—a data organization partnered with the US Department of Labor—reported that there would be a 20.5 percent increase in vet tech positions across Connecticut between 2020 and 2030.
Vet techs of the Nutmeg State stand to make more money annually than national averages. As proof of point, the BLS (May 2022) reported that among the 118,750 vet techs around the country, there was an average annual salary of $40,770. By comparison, for the 1,850 vet techs in CT, the annual mean salary was $44,880. In more granular terms, the following chart illustrates the earning potential for vet techs in Connecticut at various earning percentiles, compared to national figures:
United States | Connecticut | |
---|---|---|
Number of vet techs employed | 118,750 | 1,850 |
Average annual salary | $40,770 | $44,880 |
10th percentile | $29,000 | $32,440 |
25th percentile | $34,510 | $36,970 |
50th percentile (median) | $38,240 | $45,110 |
75th percentile | $46,740 | $48,950 |
90th percentile | $54,680 | $57,700 |
It’s important to keep in mind that while wages for vet techs in CT are significantly higher than national averages, this state also has a different cost of living. The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2023) found that Connecticut is the 12th most expensive state in which to live—especially in terms of housing and utilities costs—and this is something to consider.
In addition to common employment search sites such as Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn, the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) maintains active job postings for vet techs openings around CT, featuring places such as Enfield Animal Hospital, Ellington Center Animal Clinic, Hillside Small Animal Hospital, Mid Island Animal Hospital, Douglasville Veterinary Hospital, Davis Pet Hospital, and Highland Animal Hospital, to name a few. Many of these employers offer events, animal advocacy resources, and other services.
Since CT does not require professional credentialing, many of these vet tech positions call for at least a high school diploma and at least one year of experience. That said, it may still be wise to enroll in an accredited veterinary technology program for several reasons.
- First, for vet techs who may relocate to another state, having graduated from a program accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)—a branch of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)—is typically an entry-level requirement.
- Second, to prepare for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)—the main credentialing exam for vet techs across the country—candidates must have graduated from a CVTEA-accredited program.
- Third, these programs are designed to give aspiring vet techs the skills necessary to succeed in these professions.
For anyone looking for knowledge and a degree that’s transferable to another US state, it may be wise to pursue this course of action.
Veterinary Career | Connecticut Jobs | SALARY DATA (BLS, May 2022) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Low Salary (10th %ile) | Average Salary (Median) | High Salary (90th %ile) | ||
Vet Tech | 1,850 | $32,440 | $45,110 | $57,700 |
Vet Assistant | 1,070 | $29,730 | $35,380 | $62,740 |
Connecticut Vet Tech Certification
As mentioned in the introduction, there is no formal credentialing body for veterinary technicians in Connecticut, although there have been proposals according to public minutes of meetings of the Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine. In 2002, House Bill No. 5590 was proposed which would establish a formal certification body in this occupation. The Connecticut Veterinary Technician Association is now available for membership and other services.
Connecticut does not require its veterinary technicians to become certified, licensed, or registered, but to get a vet tech job in most states, candidates must qualify for professional credentialing. Therefore, graduating from a program accredited by the aforementioned Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) and taking the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)—the main national credentialing exam in this occupation offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB)—may be advisable, particularly for those candidates interested in being employable in other states.
The VTNE costs $345 per application and is offered during three month-long test windows annually. The exam covers ten domains of knowledge:
- Pharmacy & pharmacology
- Surgical nursing
- Dentistry
- Laboratory procedures
- Animal care & nursing
- Diagnostic imaging
- Anesthesia
- Emergency medicine & critical care
- Pain management & analgesia
- Communication and veterinary professional support services
Vet Tech Program Accreditation
For those looking to attend a vet tech program in CT, be advised to seek out programs accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), a program-approval branch of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). CVTEA evaluates programs according to their admissions procedures, institutional accreditation, quality of physical facilities & equipment, resources available for instruction, student outcomes (i.e., VTNE first-time passing rates), and comprehensiveness of curricula. To learn more about how programs are accredited, please visit CVTEA.