Vet Tech Schools in Washington

You can qualify to get a license to practice as a veterinary technician (vet tech) in Washington from an accredited vet tech school. Vet tech schools in Washington have to be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

The other requirements are that you have passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and the Washington State Examination for Veterinary Technicians.  The Washington exam is specifically about laws and regulations about vet techs relating to Washington state while the VTNE is related to national standards.  The Washington exam can be taken six months before graduation from a vet tech school and a 90% pass score is required.

Washington used to permit appropriate equivalent experience to count towards eligibility for taking the VTNE and Washington state exams.  However since July 2010 that route is no longer available to new candidates.

There are 5 colleges accredited by the AVMA to provide vet tech training in Washington.

Bellingham Technical College

A technical college was first established in Bellingham in1911.  Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute was renamed Bellingham Technical College in 1999.  It was first accredited by the AVMA to provide vet tech courses in 2010.

The Associate Degree in Applied Science – Veterinary Technician is studied full time over 6 quarters.  The training is covered in 3 stages:

“1.     Understanding normal anatomy, physiology, and behavior of health for the species studied
2.      Understanding the causes of disease and understanding the process of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of animal disease
3.      Understanding the profession of Veterinary Technician including: occupational safety, public health, client and colleague communication, ethics of animal welfare, and the human-animal bond.”

Bellingham Technical College
3028 Lindbergh Ave.
Bellingham,
Washington 98225
360-752-8755
www.btc.ctc.edu/DegreesCertificates/Programs/PRG-ProgramMain.asp?Program=90

Pierce College

Pierce College was founded in 1967.  It offers a 2 year 6 quarter training to get an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology.

The program provides training in “records keeping, surgical assistance, reception, radiology, and clinical laboratory work. Graduates will have proficiency in all tasks critical to the nursing care of a variety of large and small animals, laboratory animals, and exotic animal species.”

The College was first accredited by the AVMA in 1974.

Pierce College Ft. Steilacoom
Veterinary Technology Program
9401 Farwest Dr., SW
Lakewood,
Washington 98498
253-964-6668
www.pierce.ctc.edu/dept/vettech/

Pima Medical Institute – Renton & Pima Medical Institute – Seattle

The Pima Medical Institute offers accredited vet tech training courses in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, California and in Washington – Renton and Seattle.

The Pima Medical Institute was founded in Tucson, Arizona in 1972.  The 16 month Associate Degree vet tech course covers general science, animal nursing, radiology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, surgical nursing, dentistry, emergency procedures and includes an externship in a vet’s practice to build up hands-on skills.

Pima Medical Institute-Renton
555 S. Renton Village Place, Suite 110
Renton,
Washington 98057
425-228-9600
pmi.edu/careers/veterinary_technician.asp

Pima Medical Institute-Seattle
Veterinary Technology Program
9709 Third Ave. NE, Suite 400
Seattle,
Washington 98115
800-477-7462
pmi.edu/careers/veterinary_technician.asp

Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC)

The YVCC was founded in 1928.  It offers a two year course leading to an Associate Degree in Applied Science – Veterinary Technology.  The training covers the following topics: “restraint and nursing of pets, food animals, clinical laboratory procedures, dental anesthesia and radiology techniques, use of routine hospital equipment, medical record keeping, computer technology, horses, exotic and laboratory animals, surgical assisting, medication administration, client communications, inventory control, and veterinary ethics.”

Yakima Valley Community College
Veterinary Technology Program
P.O. Box 22520
Yakima,
Washington 98907-1647
509-574-4759
www.yvcc.edu/Students/AcademicOptions/Programs/WED/VeterinaryTechnology/Pages/default.aspx