Veterinary Technology, A.A.S. - TSAS, UNH

Why UNH Vet tech?

• We offer all the benefits of a small school (small class size, personal attention)with access to all that a state university can offer (support services, housing, dining, clubs, sports, activities, etc.).
• We believe in hands-on learning and start our students off working with animals in their first semester (see next FAQ).
• We offer students real-world training in our state-of-the-art teaching clinic right on campus.
• We offer students access to comprehensive large animal training with equine and dairy herds right on campus.

How much hands-on/live animal work do you offer?

• Students start working with animals in the first few weeks of their first semester. There is at least one hands-on/live animal class each semester. Seniors spend ½ day per week working with real patients in our teaching clinic and working in the medical department of local animal shelters. They also run an off-campus wellness clinic for underserved pets twice a month.
• Of course, there’s a lot of material to learn too, but we believe our students learn best by putting their knowledge into practice. You start working on gentle, relaxed animals as a freshman in various labs. In the teaching clinic, students perform all the duties legally allowed of vet techs. Here are just a few of the things you’ll do:
  • Performing physical examinations and administering injections
  • Taking blood samples
  • Running lab tests on blood, urine, and feces
  • Speaking to clients
  • Administering and monitoring anesthesia
  • Performing radiography
  • Performing dental procedures
• The only things legally restricted to veterinarians are diagnosing disease, prescribing treatment, and performing surgery. Everything else is for you to do!

Can I get a bachelor’s degree in Vet Tech?

• Ours is a 2-year program that awards an associate degree.
• You can transfer to the UNH Animal Science program as a junior after completing our program and complete their program in just 2 more years. You basically get 2 degrees in 4 years!

Why would I want to go on to a bachelor's program?

• If you want to pursue veterinary graduate school, you would start that path through your bachelor’s program. UNH’s Animal Science and pre-vet programs are a well-known path to vet school.
• A bachelor’s degree could be useful if you decided to change careers in the future.
• You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to be a successful vet tech. You will not get better jobs or better pay as a vet tech with a bachelor’s degree.
• You can make this decision to continue as late as your final semester in our program so there’s no rush!

How successful are your graduates?

• 100% of our graduates who seek work as vet techs are successful. The demand for veterinary technicians continues to grow and many practices are short-staffed. There are more job openings than there are qualified technicians across the country.

If you are not yet a UNH student, apply now:

Undergraduate Admissions Office

If you are currently a UNH student in another major:

You may apply to transfer into the Veterinary Technology program.  It is recommended to begin the program in a Fall semester due to the required sequencing of courses.

A complete application includes:

• Change of Program Form
• A typed, double-spaced essay (maximum 500 words). The essay should address the following:
  • Explain your reasons for applying to this program.
  • How do you feel about your coursework and/or how your life experiences have prepared you for this program?
  • What does being a Vet Tech mean to you?
• One or two letters of reference discussing your interpersonal and animal-related abilities. Each letter must be submitted in a sealed envelope signed across the back by the individual(s) who wrote the reference. Letters should address the following:
  • Length of time the student has been known by the person writing, and in what capacity
  • Academic ability
  • Analytic ability
  • Oral and written communication skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Animal interaction skills

Admission decisions are based on several factors, including:

• academic achievement (especially in animal science-related courses),
• the applicant’s understanding of veterinary technician responsibilities,
• evidence of an informed decision about entering the field, and
• references who can attest to the applicant’s academic potential for completing the program successfully and to the applicant’s personal qualities that relate to success in the animal health field.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is recommended for application. All applicants will be notified via email of the decision regarding their application.

• Deadline for Fall admission: May 1st
• Deadline for Spring admission: Dec 1st

Click here to apply.

Direct any questions about the program or the application process to Mary Wiley.

To become a certified veterinary technician (CVT) in NH, you must complete these steps:

1. Graduate from an AVMA accredited program. (Like ours!)
2. Pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).*
3. Apply for certification from the NH Veterinary Technician Association (NHVTA).
4. Keep your certification current by completing 12 hours of continuing education (CE), and paying the license fee each year.

Most states that offer credentialing require the first two steps.  The organization where you apply for licensure and the CE requirements differs from state to state.

Why Become Credentialed?

Under updated state regulations, individuals practicing as veterinary technicians in New Hampshire must have passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and be certified by May 2026. This change brings New Hampshire in line with the vast majority of states that regulate the profession and require credentialing in order to practice or use the title “veterinary technician.”

Becoming credentialed demonstrates that you have successfully completed an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program and met nationally recognized standards for competency, education, and ethics. It signals to employers, clients, and colleagues that you have achieved a professional benchmark and are qualified to perform the technical and clinical responsibilities entrusted to veterinary technicians.

Credentialing also enhances professional mobility. Because most states regulate veterinary technicians through licensure, certification, or registration requirements, passing the VTNE is essential if you intend to work outside of New Hampshire. In addition, credentialed technicians are often more competitive in the job market and may command higher compensation due to their verified training and qualifications.

Ultimately, earning your credential is both a legal requirement and a professional commitment, one that reflects your dedication to high standards of patient care and to advancing the veterinary technology profession.

Helpful links:

• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
• New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Association
• Maine Board of Veterinary Medicine
• Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association
• Rhode Island Veterinary Technician Association
• Vermont Veterinary Technician Association

If you wish to continue beyond the 2-year associate degree in Veterinary Technology, you can transfer into the UNH Animal Science program and in just two more years, receive a bachelor’s degree. This articulation only applies to graduates of the UNH Vet Tech program.  Students who transfer out of VTEC before graduation may not receive ANSC major credit for VTEC classes as described below.

Veterinary technology coursework transfers into the UNH Animal Science baccalaureate program as described below, making it possible to complete the Animal Science B.S. degree in 2 additional years of study. It is a simple process to transfer to the Animal Science program. In the final semester of the veterinary technology program, students complete the UNH Transfer Application found in Step 1 of the undergraduate admissions process. For students interested in pursuing graduate/veterinary school the pathway will require three additional years to fit in the required extra coursework.

Curriculum checklist for VTEC graduates transferring into ANSC as juniorsrs

Veterinary Technology Program Information Sheet

P.A.W.S stands for Pet Access to Wellness Services.  The PAWS Veterinary Clinic offers low-cost veterinary care to qualifying pet owners during the academic year.  We serve residents of the Dover Housing Authority and other qualifying low-income pet owners.  Clients qualify by providing proof of some type of government assistance.

• UNH Equine Facility
• UNH Fairchild Dairy
• PAWS Veterinary Clinic
• NH Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Referral Partner Animal Shelters

• NHSPCA, Stratham, NH
• Pope Memorial Humane Society at Cocheco Valley, Dover, NH

Related Links

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities
• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
• NH Veterinary Technician Association (NHVTA)

• WMUR: Investigation underway after extremely emaciated dog found stumbling around NH neighborhood (Interview of UNH Alumna Jordan Daigle ‘17
• UNH Veterinary Clinic Makes Pet Ownership Possible: Lower-income pet owners now have access to affordable wellness services
• A Vet Clinic for Good: UNH’s on-campus clinic helps pets and owners in need
• Animal Ambition: Four vet tech students talk about the value of learning by doing
• Leader of the Pack: University’s veterinary technology program named one of the best

Visit our website to see whether our program meets your professional licensure requirements.