Do veterinary assistants need a license in South Dakota?

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

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

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

Most people become a Veterinary Assistant in South 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 South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary assistants in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $34,700. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.67 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 South Dakota?

South Dakota currently employs approximately 250 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

South Dakota veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn a median annual wage of $34,700 ($16.68/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 250 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -9.0% below the national median of $38,150 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $34,700 ($16.68/hr)
25th percentile: $29,320 per year
75th percentile: $36,100 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $36,700 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $28,390 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 250
Versus national median: -9.0% below the U.S. median of $38,150
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.67 - this occupation is less concentrated in South Dakota than the national average

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

South Dakota employs about 250 veterinary assistants earning a median $34,700 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 (South Dakota): $34,700/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in South Dakota: 250 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.67x 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 (South Dakota): $34,700 per year ¹

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

How to become a Veterinary Assistant in South 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 South 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 South Dakota? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in South Dakota is $34,700 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,390 and experienced professionals can earn $36,700 or more ¹.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in South 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 South 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 South Dakota

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Sioux Falls	60	$36,250	$34,880	$28,420	$41,400
Rapid City	40	$35,640	$33,020	$27,670	$36,860

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 South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 250 veterinary assistants ¹. Nationally, veterinary assistant employment is projected to grow 8.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do veterinary assistants earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in South Dakota is $34,700, which is $2,620 below the national median of $37,320 according to BLS data ¹.

In South 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)