Do veterinary assistants need a license in Arizona?

No statewide license is required for veterinary assistants in Arizona. Most employers expect industry certifications such as optional NAVTA AVA.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Arizona (2026)

Q: How long does veterinary assistant training take in Arizona?

Most people become a Veterinary Assistant in Arizona through on-the-job training or a short veterinary assisting certificate; optional NAVTA AVA. This is not the RVT/LVT license.

Q: How much do veterinary assistants earn in Arizona?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary assistants in Arizona earned a median annual wage of approximately $38,250. Employment concentration in Arizona is about 1.27 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for veterinary assistants in Arizona?

Arizona currently employs approximately 3,340 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arizona veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn a median annual wage of $38,250 ($18.39/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,340 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.3% above the national median of $38,150 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $38,250 ($18.39/hr)
25th percentile: $37,010 per year
75th percentile: $45,900 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $47,460 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,530 per year
Workers employed in Arizona: 3,340
Versus national median: 0.3% above the U.S. median of $38,150
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.27 - this occupation is more concentrated in Arizona than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Arizona employs about 3,340 veterinary assistants earning a median $38,250 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Veterinary Assistant here means completing on-the-job training or a short veterinary assisting certificate; optional NAVTA AVA. This is not the RVT/LVT license.

Arizona employs approximately 3,340 veterinary assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,250 ¹. The state’s concentration of veterinary assistant jobs is 1.27x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, veterinary assistant employment is projected to grow 8.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 22,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Veterinary Assistant in Arizona, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: on-the-job training or veterinary assisting certificate (find programs)
Typical timeline: on-the-job training or a short veterinary assisting certificate; optional NAVTA AVA. This is not the RVT/LVT license
Exam: optional NAVTA AVA
Median wage (Arizona): $38,250 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Arizona

How to become a Veterinary Assistant in Arizona? Complete on-the-job training or a short veterinary assisting certificate; optional NAVTA AVA. This is not the RVT/LVT license. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish on-the-job training or a short veterinary assisting certificate; optional NAVTA AVA. This is not the RVT/LVT license. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Arizona? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect optional NAVTA AVA. See the licensing section below.

What do veterinary assistants earn in Arizona? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in Arizona is $38,250 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,530 and experienced professionals can earn $47,460 or more ¹.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Arizona

Meet employer entry rules. Most assistants need a high school diploma or GED.
Train on the job or complete a short certificate. Learn restraint, kennel, and clinic support. This is not an AVMA veterinary technology degree and not a registered apprenticeship.
Optional NAVTA AVA. The Approved Veterinary Assistant exam can help hiring. It is not an RVT license.
Do not apply for RVT as an assistant. Registered veterinary technician is a different credential (AVMA program + VTNE). Do not apply for the technician license as the assistant path.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Veterinary Assistant License Requirements in Arizona

Veterinary assistants are generally unlicensed. RVT/LVT and veterinarian licenses are different occupations.

Typical path

Train on the job or complete a short certificate.
Optional NAVTA AVA.
Do not apply for RVT as the assistant path.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Veterinary Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers wages in Arizona vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler	2,390	$38,710	$41,700	$37,350	$47,600
Tucson	420	$36,430	$37,910	$31,430	$44,790
Prescott Valley-Prescott	110	$36,860	$39,040	$34,450	$44,740
Lake Havasu City-Kingman	50	$36,310	$38,170	$31,900	$42,700

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary assistants in Arizona? Arizona currently employs approximately 3,340 veterinary assistants ¹. Nationally, veterinary assistant employment is projected to grow 8.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Arizona? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arizona.

How much do veterinary assistants earn in Arizona compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in Arizona is $38,250, which is $930 above the national median of $37,320 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arizona

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)