Students & new grads

Veterinary Students and New Grads

Your first veterinary job sets the tone for your career. Here's how to find externships, get credentialed, know what entry-level pay looks like and walk into day one ready.

Externships and first jobs

Externships

Ask your program which clinics already host students. A clinic that trains well usually keeps doing it.
Pick by what you'll learn: caseload, specialties, how much hands-on time students get.
Treat it as a long interview. Plenty of first jobs start as externships.

Your first job

Ask who will mentor you and what your first 90 days look like.
Ask about CE allowance, credential fees, scrubs and student loan help.
Get the schedule in writing: shifts, weekends, on-call and how overtime is paid.

First-job checklist

Résumé updated with clinical skills, species and software you've used
A short cover letter for each clinic (it's worth it)
Credential application started, or VTNE / NAVLE date booked
Two or three references who've seen you work
Questions ready about mentorship, schedule and CE
Your pay floor, checked against your state in the salary guide
Job alerts set for your role and state

Build your cover letter Check entry-level pay

Getting credentialed

Most US states credential veterinary technicians, and most require a passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), run by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). The title on your credential, such as CVT, RVT, LVT or LVMT, depends on your state's practice act, as do the rules on who can use it. We don't restate each state's rules here because they change; check with your state board.

Look up your state board (AAVSB)Find an AVMA-accredited vet tech program

Credentialing by state

State	Credential title and rules	Pay for vet techs
Alabama	Check your state board	$36,590 median
Alaska	Check your state board	$46,480 median
Arizona	Check your state board	$46,300 median
Arkansas	Check your state board	$38,360 median
California	Check your state board	$60,630 median
Colorado	Check your state board	$49,650 median
Connecticut	Check your state board	$50,950 median
Delaware	Check your state board	$48,370 median
District of Columbia	Check your state board	$61,270 median
Florida	Check your state board	$46,380 median
Georgia	Check your state board	$43,060 median
Hawaii	Check your state board	$48,550 median
Idaho	Check your state board	$42,120 median
Illinois	Check your state board	$46,440 median
Indiana	Check your state board	$48,720 median
Iowa	Check your state board	$45,560 median
Kansas	Check your state board	$45,810 median
Kentucky	Check your state board	$39,590 median
Louisiana	Check your state board	$35,530 median
Maine	Check your state board	$50,810 median
Maryland	Check your state board	$47,350 median
Massachusetts	Check your state board	$49,540 median
Michigan	Check your state board	$49,710 median
Minnesota	Check your state board	$57,270 median
Mississippi	Check your state board	$36,380 median
Missouri	Check your state board	$43,520 median
Montana	Check your state board	$41,170 median
Nebraska	Check your state board	$43,680 median
Nevada	Check your state board	$50,250 median
New Hampshire	Check your state board	$48,780 median
New Jersey	Check your state board	$49,050 median
New Mexico	Check your state board	$44,790 median
New York	Check your state board	$59,010 median
North Carolina	Check your state board	$47,620 median
North Dakota	Check your state board	$48,790 median
Ohio	Check your state board	$47,990 median
Oklahoma	Check your state board	$39,100 median
Oregon	Check your state board	$55,810 median
Pennsylvania	Check your state board	$46,430 median
Rhode Island	Check your state board	$45,310 median
South Carolina	Check your state board	$39,020 median
South Dakota	Check your state board	$45,300 median
Tennessee	Check your state board	$42,810 median
Texas	Check your state board	$39,410 median
Utah	Check your state board	$40,560 median
Vermont	Check your state board	$49,490 median
Virginia	Check your state board	$52,090 median
Washington	Check your state board	$59,740 median
West Virginia	Check your state board	$37,700 median
Wisconsin	Check your state board	$47,020 median
Wyoming	Check your state board	$38,650 median

What new grads earn

New DVMs, private practice: $131,210
New DVMs, all paths: $106,963
Vet techs, lowest 10%: $35,710
Vet assistants, lowest 10%: $30,120

For the class of 2025, AVMA puts average full-time starting pay at $129,000 in 2024 dollars, and average debt among borrowers at $212,499 (AVMA 2026 Economic State report, as reported by VeterinaryPracticeNow).
Entry-level pay usually sits toward the low end of your state's range. Use the salary calculator with 0 years to see yours.

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Sources

AVMA 2025 Economic State of the Veterinary Profession, 2025 (class of 2024)
AVMA 2026 Economic State report, as reported by VeterinaryPracticeNow, Jul 28, 2026
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, released May 15, 2026
NAVTA 2022 Demographic Survey, released Jan 16, 2023

BLS figures are employer-reported wages for all workers in the occupation (credentialed or not), before bonuses and benefits. Annual pay assumes 2,080 hours. Buying power = median pay ÷ (state price level ÷ 100).