"How long does veterinary technician in Alaska training take?"

"Most paths into the veterinary technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do veterinary technicians need a license in Alaska?"

"Yes. Alaska requires state-level licensing or registration for veterinary technicians, administered by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community \u0026 Economic Development - State Board of Veterinary Examiners. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for veterinary technicians in Alaska?"

"In Alaska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Veterinary Technician in Alaska

Q: "How much do veterinary technicians earn in Alaska?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary technicians in Alaska earned a median annual wage of approximately $46,480. Employment concentration in Alaska is about 1.42 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in Alaska?"

"Alaska currently employs approximately 380 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alaska veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $46,480 ($22.35/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 380 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.9% below the national median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $46,480 ($22.35/hr)
25th percentile: $37,630 per year
75th percentile: $60,510 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,820 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,010 per year
Workers employed in Alaska: 380
Versus national median: -1.9% below the U.S. median of $47,380
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.42 - this occupation is more concentrated in Alaska than the national average

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

Alaska employs approximately 380 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,480 ¹. The state’s concentration of veterinary technician jobs is 1.42x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a veterinary technician in Alaska, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Alaska

How to become a veterinary technician in Alaska? Alaska requires credentials such as Veterinary Technician, Veterinarian. The licensing authority is the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - State Board of Veterinary Examiners ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Alaska? Yes. Alaska has licensing or registration requirements for veterinary technicians. The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - State Board of Veterinary Examiners oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do veterinary technicians earn in Alaska? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Alaska is $46,480 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,010 and experienced professionals can earn $75,820 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - State Board of Veterinary Examiners
Median wage (Alaska): $46,480 per year ¹

Veterinary Technician License Requirements in Alaska

The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - State Board of Veterinary Examiners oversees veterinary technician licensing in Alaska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Veterinary Technician	Application $100 License $100
Veterinarian	Application $200 License $600 Examination $200

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), veterinary technologists and technicians wages in Alaska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Anchorage	270	$49,850	$58,840	$36,700	$75,820
La Crosse-Onalaska	60	$45,930	$46,270	$38,460	$55,470

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 .

Top Metros for Veterinary technicians in Alaska

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest veterinary technician employment within Alaska according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Anchorage	270	$49,850

Explore More Trades in Alaska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in Alaska? Alaska currently employs approximately 380 veterinary technicians ¹. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a veterinary technician in Alaska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - State Board of Veterinary Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Alaska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Alaska.

How much do veterinary technicians earn in Alaska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Alaska is $46,480, which is $500 above the national median of $45,980 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - State Board of Veterinary Examiners - Licensing Information: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofVeterinaryExaminers.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)