Do veterinary assistants need a license in North Dakota?

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

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in North Dakota (2026)

Q: How long does veterinary assistant training take in North Dakota?

Most people become a Veterinary Assistant in North Dakota 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 North Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary assistants in North Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,160. Employment concentration in North Dakota is roughly 0.77 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 North Dakota?

North Dakota currently employs approximately 270 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

North Dakota veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn a median annual wage of $37,160 ($17.87/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 270 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.6% below the national median of $38,150 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $37,160 ($17.87/hr)
25th percentile: $35,800 per year
75th percentile: $43,880 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $46,830 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $33,800 per year
Workers employed in North Dakota: 270
Versus national median: -2.6% below the U.S. median of $38,150
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in North Dakota than the national average

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

North Dakota employs about 270 veterinary assistants earning a median $37,160 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.

Key Facts

Median wage (North Dakota): $37,160/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in North Dakota: 270 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.77x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 8.7% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

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 (North Dakota): $37,160 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in North Dakota

How to become a Veterinary Assistant in North Dakota? 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 North Dakota? 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 North Dakota? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in North Dakota is $37,160 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,800 and experienced professionals can earn $46,830 or more ¹.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in North Dakota

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 North Dakota

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 North Dakota

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Fargo	100	$36,100	$38,110	$33,010	$44,060
Bismarck	50	$36,660	$39,980	$30,890	$48,630

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 North Dakota? North Dakota currently employs approximately 270 veterinary assistants ¹. Nationally, veterinary assistant employment is projected to grow 8.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do veterinary assistants earn in North Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in North Dakota is $37,160, which is $160 below the national median of $37,320 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Dakota

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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)