Do veterinary assistants need a license in New York?

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

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in New York (2026)

Q: How long does veterinary assistant training take in New York?

Most people become a Veterinary Assistant in New York 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 New York?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary assistants in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $44,750. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.73 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

New York currently employs approximately 5,790 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

New York veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn a median annual wage of $44,750 ($21.52/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,790 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 17.3% above the national median of $38,150 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $44,750 ($21.52/hr)
25th percentile: $38,610 per year
75th percentile: $46,560 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $53,460 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,450 per year
Workers employed in New York: 5,790
Versus national median: 17.3% above the U.S. median of $38,150
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.73 - this occupation is less concentrated in New York than the national average

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

New York employs about 5,790 veterinary assistants earning a median $44,750 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.

New York employs approximately 5,790 veterinary assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,750 ¹. 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 New York, 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 (New York): $44,750 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in New York

How to become a Veterinary Assistant in New York? 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 New York? 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 New York? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in New York is $44,750 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,450 and experienced professionals can earn $53,460 or more ¹.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in New York

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 New York

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 New York

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Wages by Metro Area in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	5,560	$46,160	$46,890	$39,200	$57,650
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	420	$38,050	$39,660	$34,600	$45,850
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	400	$39,520	$41,090	$35,230	$47,570
Rochester	360	$37,580	$39,080	$33,650	$45,830
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	240	$39,380	$41,400	$36,130	$46,990
Syracuse	220	$39,020	$41,690	$34,660	$51,240
Ithaca	90	$43,900	$42,720	$35,390	$46,600
Kingston	80	$38,690	$40,540	$35,430	$45,740
Utica-Rome	70	$36,250	$37,960	$33,280	$45,170
Binghamton	50	$36,440	$38,700	$34,200	$46,940
Glens Falls	50	$37,900	$38,490	$34,080	$44,470

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 New York? New York currently employs approximately 5,790 veterinary assistants ¹. Nationally, veterinary assistant employment is projected to grow 8.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do veterinary assistants earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in New York is $44,750, which is $7,430 above the national median of $37,320 according to BLS data ¹.

In New York

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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)