"How long does it take to become a veterinary technician in Oklahoma?"

"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 Oklahoma?"

"Yes. Oklahoma requires state-level licensing or registration for veterinary technicians, administered by the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Oklahoma, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information."

How to Become A Veterinary Technician in Oklahoma

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary technicians in Oklahoma earned a median annual wage of approximately $39,100. Employment concentration in Oklahoma is roughly 0.74 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"Oklahoma currently employs approximately 1,060 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

Oklahoma veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $39,100 ($18.80/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,060 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -17.5% below the national median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $39,100 ($18.80/hr)
25th percentile: $36,070 per year
75th percentile: $46,720 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $53,880 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,390 per year
Workers employed in Oklahoma: 1,060
Versus national median: -17.5% below the U.S. median of $47,380
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.74 - this occupation is less concentrated in Oklahoma than the national average

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

Oklahoma employs approximately 1,060 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,100 ¹. 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 Oklahoma, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Veterinary Technician in Oklahoma

How do I become a veterinary technician in Oklahoma? Oklahoma requires credentials such as Certified Animal Euthanasia Technician (CAET), Veterinarian Technician, Non Veterinary Equine Dental Technician. The licensing authority is the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical 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 Oklahoma? Yes. Oklahoma has licensing or registration requirements for veterinary technicians. The Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do veterinary technicians earn in Oklahoma? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Oklahoma is $39,100 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,390 and experienced professionals can earn $53,880 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: Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
Median wage (Oklahoma): $39,100 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Veterinary Technician License Requirements in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners oversees veterinary technician licensing in Oklahoma ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Certified Animal Euthanasia Technician (CAET)	JOB DESCRIPTION: A certified animal euthanasia technician is an employee of a law enforcement agency, an animal control agency, or animal shelter that is recognized and approved by the Board, who is c…
Veterinarian Technician	JOB DESCRIPTION: A veterinary technician works with supervision of a veterinarian to perform routine animal care, surgical preparation, laboratory analysis, and other animal-related activities.
Non Veterinary Equine Dental Technician
Non Veterinary Reproductive Service Technician
Horse Racing Veterinarian	JOB DESCRIPTION: A horseracing veterinarian must provide evidence of an Oklahoma license to practice veterinary medicine.
Faculty-Veterinarian
Veterinarian	JOB DESCRIPTION: A veterinarian diagnoses and treats animal diseases, disorders, and injuries.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in Oklahoma

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Oklahoma

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), veterinary technologists and technicians wages in Oklahoma vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Oklahoma City	370	$40,260	$43,360	$35,470	$51,890
Tulsa	230	$45,110	$44,370	$35,640	$56,240

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 2025.

Top Metros for Veterinary technicians in Oklahoma

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Oklahoma City	370	$40,260
Tulsa	230	$45,110

Explore More Trades in Oklahoma

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in Oklahoma? Oklahoma currently employs approximately 1,060 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 Oklahoma with an out-of-state license? Contact the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do veterinary technicians earn in Oklahoma compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Oklahoma is $39,100, which is $6,880 below 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners - Licensing Information: http://www.okvetboard.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)