Health care · Ohio
Veterinary technician: what the job actually is
The nurse of the animal clinic: restraining and caring for animals, running lab tests, taking x-rays, preparing for surgery and monitoring anesthesia under a veterinarian.
By Nick Gonzalez, founder, U.S. Air Force veteranChecked against official Ohio sources Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
The work
What this job actually is
- Holding animals still, safely, for exams, shots and blood draws, including animals that bite and scratch.
- Lab work, x-rays, dental cleanings and surgical prep.
- Monitoring anesthesia during surgery under the veterinarian.
- Cleaning cages, wiping up waste, and doing laundry. A lot.
- Talking to worried owners, and sometimes helping with euthanasia.
A Tuesday
What a normal day looks like
Not a good day or a bad one. The ordinary version, which is what you would actually be living.
- 7:30 a.m.: Check on hospitalized animals, give medicines, clean kennels.
- 8:30: Admit surgery patients and draw pre-surgery blood.
- 9:30: Monitor anesthesia for a dog spay, then a dental cleaning.
- 12:30: Lunch, interrupted by a hit-by-car emergency.
- 2:00 p.m.: Appointments: vaccines, nail trims, a cat that does not want to be here.
- 5:30: A euthanasia appointment. Then treatments, cleaning and discharge instructions.
Honestly
Who loves this, and who should not do it
- You love animals and are not afraid of a scared or angry one.
- You like hands-on medical work and variety.
- You can stay calm and kind with worried owners.
- Euthanasia would be too much for you. It is a regular part of the job.
- Cleaning up waste every day sounds terrible.
- You are allergic to animals or afraid of getting bitten.
The route in
How you actually get there in Ohio
Graduate from a Board-approved veterinary technology program
Ohio defines a registered veterinary technician as a graduate of a veterinary technology college approved by the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board who has passed an exam the Board approves.Pass the VTNE
Ohio rule requires a passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Examination for registration.Register with the Ohio board
Send the board an application, your transcript and the fee, and complete a criminal records check within a year of requesting registration.
While you are still in high school
- Ask whether your career center has an animal science or veterinary assistant program.
- Volunteer at an animal shelter. It is the easiest way to see whether you like the hands-on, messy side.
- Use College Credit Plus for biology or chemistry courses with no tuition for public school students at public colleges.
Where this comes from: Ohio Revised Code 4741.01: Definition of a registered veterinary technician · Ohio Administrative Code 4741-1-01: Registered veterinary technician registration · Ohio Department of Higher Education: College Credit Plus FAQs (costs, course rules) · Ohio Revised Code 3365.03, College Credit Plus eligibility. Rules change, so check the official page before you rely on a detail.
The money
What it pays in Ohio
Last on purpose. Pay matters, but it is a bad reason to pick a job you would dislike for thirty years.
- $47,990
- Median pay in Ohio, a year
- $23.07
- Median pay in Ohio, an hour
- 4,790
- People doing this job in Ohio
- $47,110
- Median pay in the Akron area, a year
Most people in Ohio earn between $34,760 (the lowest-paid tenth, usually new starters) and $61,360 (the highest-paid tenth) a year.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Ohio and Akron, OH metro area. Median means half earn more and half earn less.
Try it this week
Spend a shift with animals that are not yours
Sign up for a volunteer orientation at a local shelter or humane society.
Do the cleaning jobs too, not just the dog walking.
Ask a vet tech at your own vet's office what the hardest part of the job is.
Write down how you felt about the cleaning, the noise and the animals that were scared.
Questions to ask somebody who does it
- How do you handle euthanasia appointments emotionally?
- What can you do as an RVT that an assistant cannot?
- How hard was the VTNE?
- Do you have a specialty interest, like dentistry or emergency?
Can you own one?
Not really: this job is almost always done for an employer.
Questions
Quick answers
- How much does a veterinary technician make in Ohio?
- The median pay for a veterinary technician in Ohio is $47,990 a year ($23.07 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2025. Most people earn between $34,760 and $61,360.
- How do you become a veterinary technician in Ohio?
- Graduate from a Board-approved veterinary technology program. Pass the VTNE. Register with the Ohio board.
Close cousins
Jobs like this one
- Dental assistantWorking next to the dentist: handing instruments, keeping the mouth clear, cleaning and sterilizing tools, taking x-rays once certified, and keeping patients calm.$47,970 a year
- Medical assistantKeeping a doctor's office running: rooming patients, taking vital signs, giving some shots and doing basic tests, plus a lot of front-desk and computer work.$42,810 a year
- PhlebotomistDrawing blood for tests, donations and research, labeling it correctly and keeping nervous patients calm while you do it.$39,770 a year
Still deciding?
Start with you, then look at the work
Living in Canada? Our Ontario job page has Canadian pay and routes.