Veterinary care
Veterinary technician
Support veterinary teams with animal nursing, laboratory tests and clinical procedures.
BLS · May 2025
EDUCATION & ENTRY
Veterinary technology program + certification
A veterinary technology associate route includes practical animal care. Confirm program entry, the national examination and Oregon certification steps. Veterinary technician and veterinarian are different careers.
The state’s typical entry education classification is “Associate's degree.” This describes the occupation broadly; employers, programs and licensing bodies set specific requirements.
CONNECT THE CAREER TO A PLACE TO LEARN
Oregon training options
These are related routes to investigate. Confirm the full preparation, current admissions and eligibility for your intended role with the provider.
Portland Community College
Veterinary Technology
Prepare for veterinary technician work through animal care and laboratory study.
Ask: Which prerequisites, clinical placements and certification exams are required?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Central Oregon Community College
Veterinary Technician
A selective-entry degree preparing veterinary technicians for the national examination. Required preparation includes biology, chemistry, communication and appropriate mathematics placement; program courses follow a sequence.
Ask: Which preparation, timetable and complete budget apply to my Veterinary Technician plan?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Take this question to a counselor.
Am I comfortable with animal illness, detailed procedures and communicating with owners?
Before choosing a program, ask for prerequisites, the complete timeline, class and placement schedules, and a full cost estimate including supplies, exams, travel and living expenses.
Build a working cost estimate →Understand the numbers.
The median is the midpoint of estimated wages for Oregon workers in this occupation. The hourly median is $26.83. These figures describe workers across experience levels; they are not starting pay or the earnings of graduates from the programs below.
Oregon projects employment moving from 1,656 jobs in 2024 to 1,906 in 2034. The projected 1,912 openings over the decade include growth and replacement needs as workers leave an occupation. Dividing that total by ten gives the rounded annual average shown above. These are projections, not today’s vacancies.
How to read wage information →