Veterinary Technology

Provide Quality Care for Animals Great and Small

Do you love taking care of animals? Our veterinary health technology option can help you put your passion to work. Animal health care is a growing field that needs qualified professionals, and our veterinary health technology program is one of the most comprehensive in the country.

UT Martin is one of fewer than 30 institutions nationwide to offer an accredited four-year program in the area of veterinary health technology. Unlike two-year programs that have a limited focus, our veterinary technology concentration will prepare you to work with a wide variety of animal patients—everything from livestock to exotic pets.

Our comprehensive curriculum is just one of the reasons why our students have such a high rate of success. In fact, 96% of our veterinary technology students are hired in the field within 60 days of graduation—and many even have multiple job offers!

Program Highlights

Workplace Settings

  • Vet Clinics
  • Zoos
  • Research Institutions

Learn to Work With

  • Large Animals
  • Exotic Animals
  • Companion Animals
  • Equines

VTNE data

  • July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2023
  • 3 year VTNE pass rate : 77%

Accreditation

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) accredits programs in veterinary technology that graduate veterinary technicians. UTM has been awarded Full Accreditation. All students who graduate after accreditation has been granted will be recognized as graduates of an accredited veterinary technology program.

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)
Education and Research Division
1931 N. Meacham Rd., Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4630
800/248-2862 ext. 6624
www.avma.org

Graduation from the veterinary technology option allows students to take the Veterinary Technology National Licensing Exam and following successful completion of both the option and exam, students are eligible for licensure in all states.

Academic Program Requirements

Application Process

Students must meet the following criteria to enter the program:

Students must apply to UT Martin.

Once accepted to UTM, students can start taking general education and animal science requirements in veterinary technology.

Students can then apply specifically to the veterinary technology program when they meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of a minimum of 45 hours of undergraduate coursework
  • A minimum GPA of 2.8
  • 12 hours of the following courses: CHEM 111 or 121, CHEM 112 or 122, BIOL 130 & 140 and MBIO 251
  • All animal science and veterinary technology courses (and any courses that transfer and/or substitute for animal science and veterinary technology courses) must be completed with a grade of C or better for successful completion of program.
  • Minimum of 40 hours career experience with a veterinarian or veterinary technician.

New classes will be admitted to the program each fall and spring semester. Deadline for fall applications will be May 1 of the year student plans to enter the program and applicants will be notified by July 1 of acceptance or denial. Deadline for spring applications will be December 1 and applicants will be notified by January 4 of acceptance or denial.

Veterinary Health Technology Program Admission Packet

Tennessee Licensure

1730-3-.04 QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE. To be eligible for licensure as a veterinary medical technician, an applicant must meet all of the following qualifications.

(1) Veterinary Medical Technician by Examination

(a) Be a graduate of the Veterinary Technology program from a school whereby the veterinary technology curriculum was approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

(b) Pass the examination as provided in paragraph (1) of Rule 1730-3-.08.

1730-3-08 EXAMINATIONS.

  1. Individuals seeking licensure by examination, as provided in Rules 1730-3-.04 and 1730-3-.05, shall be required to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination. This examination is developed by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
  2. The passing score shall be the criterion-referenced passing grade established by the testing agency.
  3. All examination applications and fees for the Veterinary Technician National Examination shall be sent directly to the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
  4. Official examination scores shall be submitted to the Board's administrative office directly from the testing agency whenever the examination was taken outside the Board's jurisdiction.
  5. The Board adopts the Veterinary Technician National Board Examination as its state and national examinations, pursuant to T.C.A. 63-12-115.

Authority: T.C.A. 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-12-106, 63-12-114, 63-12-115, and 63-12-135. Administrative History: Original rule filed September 13, 1987; effective November 14, 1987. Repeal and new rule filed April 28, 1995; effective July 12, 1995. Amendment filed September 29, 2000; effective December 13, 2000. Amendment filed March 23, 2007; effective June 6, 2007.

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“I chose UT Martin because of the outstanding agriculture programs! UTM is an affordable school where everyone is so friendly and supportive. ”
Altonia Rencher
Altonia Rencher
Animal Science Undergraduate

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Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources
CONTACT:
Dr. Wesley Totten, Chair
LOCATION:
257 Brehm Hall
The University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN 38238