Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related FieldsSpecialization of Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

Best institutions to study Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

CIP 01.8399New in CIP 2020

Any instructional program in veterinary or animal health technologies not listed above.

3 U.S. institutions graduated 42 Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.8399, a specialization of Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (CIP 01.83), and leads most directly to the Veterinary Technologists and Technicians occupation (BLS SOC 29-2056).

Other Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians specializations
Institutions
3
offering CIP 01.8399
States offered
3
with graduates reported
Graduates / yr
42
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Women
95%
share of graduates
US median pay · Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
$47,380
BLS OEWS May 2025
Share of Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
0.5%
of all Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates

About Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs

Official NCES definition · CIP 01.8399
Any instructional program in veterinary or animal health technologies not listed above.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).

The Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program focuses on training students in the essential skills needed to support animal health and veterinary practices. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about animal care and seeking a career in veterinary technology or animal health services. Students will learn to assist veterinarians in various settings, ensuring the well-being of animals.

What you'll learn

Core coursework includes critical skills such as administering anesthesia, monitoring animal recovery, performing laboratory tests, and preparing medications. Students will also gain knowledge in medicine, biology, and customer service, equipping them to effectively support veterinary practices.

Credentials awarded

What Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).

  • Associate's degree30 graduates / yr · 2 institutions
    71%
  • Master's degree12 graduates / yr · 1 institution
    29%

Graduates over time

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.

42graduates in 2025
+35% since 2020
202020253142
Graduates per year (IPEDS completions)
YearGraduates
202031
20210
202222
202329
202425
202542

CIP 01.8399 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.

Top 3 institutions for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, ranked by graduates

Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.

#InstitutionGraduates / yrGrad rateNet price
1Valley College - Cleveland
Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's
2357%$30,304
2Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's
1250%$18,981
3Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
Martinsburg, WVPublicAssociate's
732%—

Offered in 3 states

Where Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates come from. Each state links to all Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.

StateInstitutionsGraduates / yrTop institution by graduates
Ohio123Valley College - Cleveland23 / yr
Tennessee112Lincoln Memorial University12 / yr
West Virginia17Blue Ridge Community and Technical College7 / yr

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-2056, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, and its national outlook.

Graduates of this program typically pursue careers as Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, with a promising job outlook. The field is expected to grow by 9.1%, with approximately 14,300 annual job openings. Most positions require an Associate's degree, and the median wage for this occupation is around $45,980.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+9.1%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~14,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$45,980
typically Associate's degree
National employment
129,140
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
US average pay
$49,120
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$47,380
annual

Top-paying metros

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$68,370avg
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$68,210avg
Corvallis, OR
$68,140avg
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$62,780avg
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$62,770avg

Career pathways for CIP 01.8399

The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.

OccupationUS median payGrowthOpenings / yrTypical entry education
Veterinary Technologists and Techniciansprimary
SOC 29-2056
$47,380+9.1%
Much faster than average
~14,300Associate's degree
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
SOC 31-9096
$38,150+8.7%
Much faster than average
~22,200High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation needed

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Related careers

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
$49,120 avg · 129,140 jobs
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
$40,340 avg · 126,580 jobs

Skills & knowledge in Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Monitoring
Writing
Active Learning
Learning Strategies

Knowledge areas

Medicine and Dentistry
Customer and Personal Service
Biology
English Language
Mathematics
Chemistry

Abilities that matter most

Near Vision
Oral Expression
Deductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning
Problem Sensitivity
Oral Comprehension

Day-to-day work activities

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Assisting and Caring for Others
Documenting/Recording Information
Getting Information
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Performing General Physical Activities

What graduates do on the job

  • Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
  • Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
  • Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
  • Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
  • Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
  • Restrain animals during exams or procedures.

Tools and technology used

Animal Intelligence Software Animal IntelligenceFileMaker ProMcAllister Software Systems AVImarkMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPoint

Other Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians specializations

The 1 other 6-digit CIP codes under Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (CIP 01.83).

Common questions

What degree do I need for this program?+

An Associate's degree is typically required.

What skills will I develop?+

You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and animal care.

What is the job outlook for this field?+

The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 9.1%.

How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+

There are currently 3 colleges offering this program in the U.S.

What is the CIP code for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians?+

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians is CIP 01.8399 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (CIP 01.83). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in veterinary or animal health technologies not listed above.

How many institutions offer Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs?+

3 U.S. institutions reported Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 3 states, awarding 42 credentials in the year. That is 0.5% of all Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates.

How much do Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?+

Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Veterinary Technologists and Technicians occupation, which Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians most directly leads to, pays a median of $47,380 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians by stateOhioTennesseeWest Virginia
Other Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians specializationsVeterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.

Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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