Vet Tech Schools in Arizona

To become a veterinary technician (vet tech) in Arizona you can seek the graduate qualification from a number of vet tech schools in Arizona.

To get a license to practice as a vet tech the school has to be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board (VMEB).

The other requirement is that you have passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) or the state exam set up by the VMEB.  A 70% pass is required to enable the VMEB to grant a licensing certificate.

It used to be possible to qualify as a vet tech by demonstrating equivalent experience working as an assistant to a veterinarian, but from April 2010 Arizona law required all vet techs to have qualified from an accredited school.

Arizona law requires that vet techs be of good moral character. Using illegal substances, being drunk, or guilty of a crime will jeopardize your certification.

The AVMA has accredited 5 schools in Arizona.

1) Pima County Community College

Situated in Tucson, the College is a public institution founded in 1969.  The college offers an associate’s degree in veterinary science. To enroll in the program, applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, and complete prerequisite courses in mathematics, biology, computer science and chemistry.

The college provides a two year course with required classes, including communications, pathology, anatomy, anesthesia, radiography and pharmacology.

Pima County Community College
8181 East Irvington Road
Tucson, AZ 85709
520-206-7414
www.pima.edu

2) Pima Medical Institute

Situated in Mesa the Institute was founded in 1986.  It was first accredited for vet tech early in 2011, Pima’s vet tech school program focuses on medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, office management, examination techniques, radiological, dental and surgical procedures as they relate to veterinary care.

Pima Medical Institute-Mesa
Veterinary Technology Program
2160 S Power Road
Mesa, AZ 85209
480-898-9898
www.pima.edu

3) Mesa Community College

The college has more than 27,000 students. The program’s two-year curriculum includes tuition in accounting and office management, pharmacology, radiography, anesthesia, emergency nursing, physiology, microbiology and equine healthcare.

Mesa Community College
1833 West Southern
Mesa, AZ 85202
480-461-7000
www.mesacc.edu

4) Kaplan College

The college is part of the Kaplan University group.  It has been accredited since 2005 for its Associate in Occupational Studies course.

Kaplan College
Veterinary Technology Program
13610 N. Black Canyon Hwy., Suite 104
Phoenix, AZ 85029
602-548-1955
http://phoenix.kaplancollege.com/Pages/Veterinary_Technology_Associate_Degree.aspx

5) Penn Foster College

The College is a Distance Learning College based in  Scottsdale AZ.

Penn Foster College
143000 N. Northsight Road, Suite 120
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
800-275-4410
www.pennfostercollege.edu

While licensing arrangements for vet techs are different in different states, by graduating from one of these schools you will not only be able to get a license in Arizona but you should be able to get a license in other states.