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The black bear reigns as the official state animal in the Land of Enchantment. Not many people know that New Mexico was home to the original Smokey the Bear, the famed “spokes-animal” of the US Forest Service and a longtime symbol of fire prevention. Smokey was found as a cub in a tree, frightened after 17,000 acres of the Lincoln National Forest had burned. Not only does NM boast a rich history of creatures great and small, but it also is home to some top-notch animal welfare organizations as well.
For example, the Lap Dog Rescue of New Mexico has a vast network of foster homes for dogs displaced by the shelter system, owner abuse, and other sad realities. In 2017, this group rescued over 700 dogs and helped to re-home 620. Additionally, the Animal Humane of New Mexico works with both cats and dogs, providing low-cost veterinary care, pet training services, adoption connections, volunteering, and even a program for children ages 5-13 called Camp Humane, as well as Learn Humane outreach programs to provide an opportunity for kids to learn about the proper treatment of animals.
One way for animal lovers in NM to pursue their interests in a career is to become a veterinary technician or technologist. The New Mexico Registered Veterinary Technician Association (NMRVTA) has been in operation for over 40 years. It provides various services such as continuing education (CE) events, professional networking, job postings, and more.
So what do vet techs in New Mexico do? According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), these animal healthcare workers offer assistance to licensed vets with various procedures (e.g., vaccines, surgeries, dentistry, radiology, critical care, diagnostic tests, routine examinations); maintain the cleanliness of facilities; keep orderly patient records and supply inventories; monitor the health of animals; and educate pet-owners on appropriate care and nutrition for various species.
In sum, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) states that a veterinary technician is the “veterinarian’s nurse, laboratory technician, radiography technician, anesthetist, surgical nurse, and client educator.” In NM, vet techs must register with the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine (NMBVM) before seeking employment.
Local laws governing the scope of practice in this profession vary. In New Mexico, veterinary technicians may perform several services under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, such as preventative dentistry (e.g., removal of soft deposits, plaque, stains, etc.), and several procedures in emergency conditions (e.g., applying tourniquets, giving pharmaceuticals, resuscitating animals, applying splints), even in the absence of direct supervision.
This guide serves as a resource for people interested in becoming veterinary technicians or technologists in New Mexico; read on to learn about the career outlook, salary prospects, accredited vet tech programs, and how to become a registered veterinary technician (RVT) in the state.
| School Website | main address | online program | Avma Accredited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central New Mexico Community College | 525 Buena Vista SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87106 | No | Yes |
| Navajo Technical University | Lower Point Road, State Road 371, Crownpoint, New Mexico, 87313-0849 | No | Yes |
| Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque | 4400 Cutler Avenue NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87110 | No | Yes |
| San Juan College | 4601 College Blvd, Farmington, New Mexico, 87402-4699 | Yes | Yes |
Accredited Vet Tech Programs in New Mexico
Four accredited programs, one of which is an online program, are available for aspiring veterinary technicians in NM. The predominant accreditation institution in this field is the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), a branch of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
To secure entry into one of the NM vet tech programs, applicants typically need to submit the following:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts with proof of specific coursework (e.g., English, algebra, biology, chemistry, etc.)
- Personal statement (500-600 words)
- Proof of health insurance
- Application fee
Although most programs do not require SAT scores, letters of recommendation, or candidate interviews, there are exceptions. Also, for candidates whose first language isn’t English, some programs call for TOEFL scores as well.
As of October 2024, there were four CVTEA-accredited programs in New Mexico: three on-campus and one distance learning program. Here are some details about each of these programs.
Central New Mexico Community College of Albuquerque offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology, which comprises hands-on lab sessions in addition to courses such as veterinary office & hospital procedures; animal comparative anatomy & physiology; surgical technology for vet techs; radiology; dentistry; pharmacology; noninfectious & infectious diseases; clinical pathology; applied therapeutics & care for veterinary technicians; and anesthesiology.
The program takes five terms to complete. One way to measure a program’s effectiveness is by its first-time passing rate on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), the main credentialing exam in this field. Falling above the average, 68.3 percent of CNMCC’s program graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt between 2020 and 2023.
The second on-campus program is offered at Navajo Technical University. This associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology comprises 68 credits, 50 of those in core vet tech courses. In addition to courses that include labs, students complete a clinical practicum. Courses include avian, exotic, lab animal husbandry and handling; veterinary medicine and surgery; veterinary critical care; veterinary nursing; veterinary dentistry; veterinary surgical nursing; and a VTNE preparation course.
Program goals include a focus on safety, ethics, proper administration of drugs to patients, an understanding of office and hospital procedures, an understanding of radiography, and proper handling of animals. Between 2019 and 2022, 60 percent of first-time candidates from Navajo passed the VTNE.
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque
Pima Medical Institute offers a Veterinary Technician Associate of Science degree program in numerous locations, including their Albuquerque campus. Coursework includes subjects such as diagnostic imaging, small animal nursing, anatomy and physiology, dentistry techniques, exotic animal medicine and nursing, and equine medicine and nursing, along with other courses needed to work in a variety of animal care environments.
The program takes 18 months to complete. Graduates also have access to PMI’s career services for assistance with their job-seeking efforts. As the Albuquerque program is new, the three-year VTNE passing rate is not yet available.
Online Vet Tech Programs in New Mexico
For residents of more rural areas of NM or for those who have unbreakable time commitments, attending an on-campus vet tech program can be difficult. Luckily there are various accredited, distance-based vet tech programs available, including one based in NM.
San Juan College of Farmington provides an online associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology. Each vet tech course is 12 weeks in length, while general education courses run for 16 weeks. The program begins in January, May, or August, and for flexibility, all classes are offered in each term. It features coursework in vet nursing care; business procedures; small animal diseases; diagnostic imaging; medical terminology; and emergency & critical care medicine, among others.
All vet tech students are responsible for securing a Companion Animal Off-Campus Clinical Instruction (OCCI) site through which they complete their clinical experience. San Juan College has detailed requirements for a site to be approved as an OCCI site. Between 2020 and 2023, an impressive 84.62 percent of all program graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.
San Juan College isn’t the only school at which New Mexico residents can enroll in a distance-based vet tech program; in fact, there are several other CVTEA-accredited online programs around the country.
St. Petersburg College of Florida offers an online associate of science (AS) program with convenient August, January, and May start dates. Coursework includes units in animal nursing, animal breeds and behavior, large animal clinical and nursing skills, avian and exotic pet medicine, large animal diseases, laboratory animal medicine, and more.
In addition, St. Petersburg offers a bachelor of science (BS) degree. All students must volunteer for 280 hours per semester in a local veterinary clinic and complete clinical practice to graduate. Between 2021 and 2024, 80 percent of graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.
To discover the gamut of accredited online programs in veterinary technology, check out the online vet tech programs page.
Demand for Vet Techs in New Mexico
Fortunately for aspiring vet techs in NM, the employment climate looks bright on into the future. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024) predicts that there will be a 19 percent increase in openings for vet techs nationwide between 2023 and 2033, much more robust than the average growth projected across all occupations over that time period (4 percent).
This nationwide number appears to align with the predicted growth in New Mexico, specifically. Projections Central (2024)—a data-crunching affiliate of the US Department of Labor—anticipates that between 2022 and 2032, the occupation in the state will grow by 29.9 percent. CareerOneStop (2024) reports that among people in NM with two-year associate degrees, veterinary technology is expected to be the seventh fastest-growing career in the state, with a growth rate of 16 percent between 2020 and 2030.
It’s no surprise that the career outlook is promising in this field since there is an array of places where these animal healthcare professionals are employed. Not only do NM vet techs work in clinics and animal hospitals, but they also work at zoos, humane societies, farms, research facilities, kennels, rescue organizations, veterinary dentistry clinics, surgical hospitals, neurology & imaging centers, and more.
By illustration, popular job post websites offered a broad array of employment opportunities for vet techs in NM. iHireVeterinary has advertised openings at Malaherd Vet Hospital, Village Vet Hospital, and Thrive Pet Healthcare. Indeed has posted positions at Gruda Veterinary Hospital, Destination Pet LLC, Los Suenos Veterinary Group, Animal Hospital of Los Lunas, Santa Fe Animal Hospital, and Valencia Animal Clinic. Finally, the New Mexico Registered Veterinary Technician Association (NMRVTA) also maintains an active job board with opportunities at Albuquerque Cat Clinic, Aztec Animal Clinic, Ventana Animal Clinic, and Ridgeview Veterinary Hospital.
For vet techs who want to push their skills to the limit, there is an array of specialties available. By becoming a veterinary technician specialist (VTS), a person may be able to enhance his or her employment prospects, salary, and career growth. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) has designated several specialized academies and societies; an academy typically provides credentialing to VTSs who qualify, whereas a society operates more as a professional networking organization. Some of the specializations include:
- Animal behavior & psychology
- Zoological medicine
- Emergency & critical care
- Surgery
- Nutrition
- Analgesia & anesthesia
- Clinical pathology
- Equine medicine
- Avian nursing
To qualify for credentialing through an academy, VTS candidates generally need to submit a copy of their NM vet tech registration, proof of 1,000+ hours of experience in their area of expertise, letters of recommendation, a detailed portfolio, and a passing score on an exam. To discover how to join one of the vet tech specializations, check out the veterinary technician careers page.
New Mexico Vet Tech Salary
From a national perspective, the 122,000 vet techs across the United States earn an average annual salary of $44,040 (BLS May 2023). At $39,070 per year, vet techs in New Mexico earn slightly less than this average.
The following is how the salaries of 800 veterinary technicians working in the state of New Mexico in 2023 compared to national averages across different earning levels:
| United States | New Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of vet techs employed | 122,000 | 800 |
| Average annual salary | $44,040 | $39,070 |
| 10th percentile | $30,180 | $28,630 |
| 25th percentile | $36,340 | $34,060 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $43,740 | $37,230 |
| 75th percentile | $48,900 | $45,090 |
| 90th percentile | $59,310 | $50,690 |
When looking at potential earning power, it can be important to note the cost of living in any given area. Often, salaries reflect how expensive or affordable it is to live in that region. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2024), New Mexico is the 20th most affordable state in the U.S., with notable savings in housing, transportation, and utilities. The reality that New Mexico vet techs earn at a level lower than the national average may be because the state is generally an affordable one in which to live.
| Veterinary Career | New Mexico Jobs | Salary Data (BLS May 2023) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Salary (10th %ile) | Median Salary (50th %ile) | High Salary (90th %ile) | ||
| Vet Tech | 800 | $28,630 | $37,230 | $50,690 |
| Vet Assistant | 440 | $27,970 | $30,830 | $39,660 |
Vet Tech Registration in New Mexico
As mentioned in the introduction, vet techs in NM are required to register with the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine. To qualify to become a registered vet tech (RVT) in NM, candidates must:
- Submit a notarized application with a passport-style photo, a copy of a diploma from an AVMA-accredited school
- Send official transcripts from their vet tech degree program
- Send passing scores (75 percent or above) on the Veterinary Technician National Examination
- Register for and pass the New Mexico Vet Tech State Exam
These registrations last one year. To maintain active vet tech registration, candidates must complete eight hours of continuing education annually, four of which can be completed online.
New Mexico Vet Tech Program Accreditation
For aspiring veterinary technicians in New Mexico, it’s important to graduate from an accredited program in veterinary technology. As mentioned above, the main accreditation body for programs in this field is the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), which evaluates various factors in its program-approval process:
- School’s institutional accreditation status
- How finances are managed
- Availability of resources
- Quality of faculty & curricula
- Admissions processes
- Student outcomes
For a full examination of how programs are accredited, please visit the AVMA’s vet tech program accreditation standards page.
