How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Illinois

In Illinois, veterinary assistants are licensed as veterinarian technicians by the IDFPR.

Veterinary assistants work under the supervision of veterinarians to provide medical care to domestic animals. Their job includes tasks such as assisting examinations and X-rays, administering medications or certain vaccines and dressing wounds. In Illinois, veterinary medicine is overseen by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), which licenses veterinary assistants as veterinarian technicians. To be eligible for licensure as a veterinary assistant in Illinois, you must meet the educational and examination requirements laid out in the Illinois Administrative Code, as well as have a clean criminal background and be current on any student loan or child support payments.

Instructions

1. Complete an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited technician program. Veterinary technician education usually is structured as an associate's degree program and takes about two years. There are five schools in Illinois with approved programs; visit the AVMA website for links to information about the accredited vet tech program closest to you.

2. Submit a "Certified Veterinary Technician Application for Licensure and/or Examination" to Continental Testing Services and pay the appropriate fees. You can obtain a paper copy of the application forms at the IDFPR website or complete the application online at the Continental Testing Services website. Include on the application your current contact information, your Social Security number and information about your professional and criminal background. Additionally, whether you choose to fill out your application online or submit a paper copy, you must request official verification of your education from your current or previous school to be sent to Continental Testing Services. Until verification of your schooling is received, your application is considered incomplete.

3. Register with the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). The AAVSB will verify your eligibility to test with the state of Illinois and you will receive an "Authorization to Test" about two weeks before the first exam date, which provides information about scheduling an exam within the current testing session.

4. Arrive on time for your scheduled examination, bringing with you the Authorization to Test and a government-issued photo ID. The veterinary technician exam is computerized, so read through the Candidate Handbook available at the AAVSB website prior to your exam date and ask the proctor any questions you may have about how to enter your answers or use the test program before beginning. You must pass the exam with a score of 75 percent or better to be eligible for licensure in Illinois.

   Within three to four weeks after the exam, you will receive notification of the status of your application. If approved, you will be licensed as a veterinary technician. If denied, you will be notified as to the reason and provided with information about re-applying or filing an appeal.

5. Begin seeking employment as a veterinary assistant, being sure to include your license and any veterinary experience on your resume. Veterinary clinics, animal shelters, animal activist or rescue groups or veterinary research labs are all good places to start your search.

Tips & Warnings

• There are three testing blocks offered per year. You must submit your application and fees by the deadline for each testing session, and note that exam fees are not transferable to the next session.

References

• Illinois Administrative Code: Part 1505 Certified Veterinary Technicians
• Illinois Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation: Certified Veterinary Technician, Instructions and Application
• Continental Testing Services: Illinois - 095, Certified Veterinary Technician
• American Association of Veterinary State Boards: Veterinary Technical National Examination Candidate Handbook