If you want to become a veterinary technician (vet tech) in Iowa you need to have qualified from one of the right vet tech schools and to have passed the right exams.
The vet tech school you attend must be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine
The other requirement is that if you have passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), which, as the name implies is a national exam and the Iowa Veterinary Technical Examination (IVTE).
A particular feature of Iowa law is that the Iowa Board requires veterinary technicians to undergo continuing education training after qualification in order to retain the license.
It used to be possible to qualify as a vet tech by demonstrating equivalent experience working as an assistant to a veterinarian, but from the end of 2010 Iowa law required all vet techs to have qualified from an accredited school.
All the colleges below offer two year courses which enable you to qualify as a vet tech.
The AVMA has accredited 4 vet tech schools in Iowa
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
DMACC was established as a community college 45 years ago. It has been accredited for vet tech training by the AVMA since 2005 To be eligible for admission to the vet tech course the prospective student must students must demonstrate an ability in word processing skills, produce evidence of grade “C” or better in one year of high school biology or equivalent, and produce evidence of grade “C” or better in one year of high school chemistry or equivalent.
Des Moines Area Community College
Veterinary Technology Program
2006 S. Ankeny Blvd FFA_EC
Ankeny, IA 50023
800-362-2127
Iowa Western Community College
The Iowa Western Community College was established in 1966. It has been accredited for vet tech training since 2007. Its pre entry admission requirements are Grade “C” or higher in: Introductory Biology or higher (or one year high school biology); Introduction to General Chemistry or higher (or one year high school chemistry); Introduction to Computers or higher (or high school computer applications)
Iowa Western Community College
Veterinary Technology Program
2700 College Road, Box 4-C
Council Bluffs, IA 51502
712-325-3431
http://iwcc.cc.ia.us/programs/departments/veterinary-tech.asp
Kirkwood Community College
Kirkwood Community College was founded in 1966. It was accredited for vet tech training by the AVMA in 1989. Prospective vet tech students take a biology placement exam and COMPASS, which are Kirkwood’s reading, writing and math placement test.
Kirkwood Community College
Animal Health Technology Program
6301 Kirkwood Blvd., SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
319-398-4978
www.kirkwood.edu
Muscatine Community College
Muscatine Community College was founded in1929. It was accredited for vet tech training by the AVMA in February 2011. Prospective students must have achieved “C” grade or higher at college in chemistry and math.
Muscatine Community College
Veterinary Technology Program
152 Colorado Street
Muscatine, IA 52761
563-288-6001 563-288-6001
http://www.eicc.edu/highschool/programs/career/ag/vet/
All of these trainings produce a qualification for an Associate of Science Degree in Veterinary Medicine.
By qualifying from this degree at a school in Iowa and passing the national and Iowa technical exams you will be eligible to find employment as a vet tech and your qualification is likely to be recognized in other states.
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