Veterinary Technology is an Associate Degree program offered by Vet Tech Institute of Houston in Houston, TX. The program takes 18 months full time — 65 semester credits, 1,736 clock hours to complete, with a total tuition of $28,620. Total is the catalog's own estimate for 2027 entrants ($36,778); the textbooks, supplies and other charges line ($2,138) is that estimate less the printed tuition, lab and rabies fees.
Program Overview
The objective of the Veterinary Technology A.A.S. Degree program is to provide the high school graduate with the necessary clinical, laboratory, surgical assisting, and administrative training to become a skilled entry-level member of the veterinary care industry. Application of classroom instruction is achieved through a veterinary externship in which each student participates. This program will normally be completed in 18 months of full-time enrollment. Upon successful completion of this program, students will receive an associate of applied science degree.
Vet Tech training is all we do. Vet Tech Institute of Houston offers one associate degree program designed to train students for a professional career in the animal health care field: hands-on, skills-based career preparation near the Galleria area, with 45-55 on-site dogs, cats and other visitors (typically) and over 1,700 in-person hours, including over 250 on externship.
No prerequisites. Vet Tech Institute is for students seeking the core skills for entry into the veterinary care field. No prerequisites are required to start the program, and graduates are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).
What a vet tech does. Veterinary technicians can be at different times like a nurse, laboratory technician, surgical assistant, radiology technician, dental hygienist, pharmacy technician, patient educator, and even a nutritionist. As an AVMA-accredited program, the school teaches all of these things. Programs accredited by the AVMA's Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) are required to instruct and evaluate each student's knowledge or skill in a comprehensive range of areas; proficiency in approximately 320 specific skills helps you to be ready to perform your role on the animal health care team.
History. Vet Tech Institute of Houston was founded as Zorn Business College in 1958, became part of Bradford Schools in 1979, and started its Vet Tech Institute in September 2007, modeled on successful Vet Tech Institutes in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Chicago. The school name was changed in 2009.
What sets this Program apart
Program highlights.
- Over 8,000 graduates since 2003
- Degree program in only 18 months
- Accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) CVTEA
- Experienced faculty from the industry
- Over 1,700 hours of in-person learning, including 250+ on externship
- Hands-on and skills-based: you will learn at least 320 specific skills
- On-site kennels for hands-on learning by doing
- Hands-on work with animals within the first 2-4 weeks
- Dogs and cats, but also exotics, lab animals and farm animals
- Surgery rotation, including anesthesia
- Radiography classes to take X-rays
- Microscope lab classes to learn diagnostic testing
- Dental classes to learn cleaning
- 8-week externship at the end to practice your skills
- Proactive career services assistance
Never be "locked out" or "shut out". If you keep passing all courses in sequence, you are guaranteed a seat in all classes and the externship you need so you can graduate on time.
Facilities. The school leases more than two floors of an office building in the Southwest Plaza. The facility includes traditional lecture rooms, laboratory classrooms, veterinary technician-specific classrooms, on-site animal kennels, a surgical suite with a surgical preparation area, a radiography area, a student break area, and a learning resource system with three computer labs. Major equipment includes a stationary radiograph machine, a dental radiograph machine, an automatic processor, ultrasound, a Surgivet monitoring system, a Bionet Cardio Care 2000 ECG, a Vet Test blood chemistry analyzer, and an Idexx Lasercyte CBC analyzer. The on-site animals are usually vaccinated, evaluated for health issues, microchipped and spayed/neutered as they are prepared to be adopted out to their forever homes, and the school partners with large animal facilities so students gain experience with horses and cows.
Admission Requirements and Process
To be accepted for admission to Vet Tech Institute of Houston, an applicant must have: graduated from a valid high school, private school, or equivalent (GED); achieved strong grades/scores in math and science; reached a minimum age of 17; and achieved a score equivalent to at least 19 on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam administered in a supervised environment. Applicants must also demonstrate an aptitude for, an interest in, and an understanding of a career in veterinary technology.
Applicants who do not have strong math and science grades/scores may demonstrate the ability to succeed in the program by meeting with a member of the school's administration and/or submitting additional information. Such additional information may include previous college transcripts, military experience, recommendation letters, job shadow verification, and/or animal-related work or volunteer experience.
Admissions procedure. To apply for enrollment, the student completes the application form and submits it with the application fee; potential students may also apply online. Upon receipt of the application, the school will request a transcript of the applicant's high school record. An applicant who is the recipient of a GED is required to submit a copy of his or her certificate. Any record of post-high school education should be obtained by the applicant and provided to the school. Generally, the applicant is notified of the school's decision within two to four weeks after submission of the application.
Visit first. Visiting schools like the Vet Tech Institute is an important part of choosing what's right for you. Individual tours are scheduled year-round. In general, acceptance is based on scholastic records and ability, and applications generally are helped by further education, recommendation letters, and experience in, or exposure to, the animal care industry.
Transfer credit. Transcripts from institutions accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, recommended by ACE, or recognized by their government may be submitted for review during the first term; comparable course work with a grade of C or better may be credited, and at least 51 percent of the credits required for graduation must be completed at the school or an affiliated school. Credit is not granted for advanced placement or experiential learning, except ACE-evaluated military training. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a member of AICE, AACRAO, or NACES.
Essential functions. The program asks students to perform the essential functions described in the AVTE Disabilities Task Force Report. Vet Tech Institute of Houston is committed to providing equal access to qualified individuals with disabilities through reasonable accommodation, on a current comprehensive evaluation from a qualified diagnostician.
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GEDHave graduated from a valid high school, private school, or equivalent (GED); a GED recipient submits a copy of the certificate.
- Minimum age of 17Have reached a minimum age of 17.
- Wonderlic Scholastic Level ExamAchieve a score equivalent to at least 19 on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam, administered in a supervised environment.
- Math and scienceHave achieved strong grades or scores in math and science, or demonstrate the ability to succeed by meeting with the school's administration and/or submitting additional…
- Aptitude for veterinary technologyDemonstrate an aptitude for, an interest in, and an understanding of a career in veterinary technology.
- High school transcriptOn receipt of the application the school requests a transcript of the applicant's high school record; any record of post-high school education is obtained by the applicant and…
- Pre-exposure rabies vaccinationReceive the pre-exposure rabies vaccination before starting the program or at a school-sponsored vaccination event early in the program, as the AVMA's CVTEA requires before…
Application Process
- 1Schedule a visit and tour the schoolIndividual tours are scheduled year-round. When you visit and tour the facilities you meet with an admissions representative, who explains how the program leads to a career and guides you through the admissions and enrollment process.
- 2Submit your applicationComplete the application form and submit it with the application fee. Potential students may apply online.
- 3Send your education recordsOn receipt of the application the school requests your high school transcript; a GED recipient submits a copy of the certificate, and records of any post-high school education are provided by the applicant.
- 4Receive the admissions decisionGenerally, the applicant is notified of the school's decision within two to four weeks after submission of the application. A $50 tuition deposit is due no later than 30 days after acceptance and is applied to tuition when classes begin.
- 5Plan your financingIndividual financial planning sessions for each student and family begin with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); Vet Tech Institute of Houston's Federal School Code is 014986.FAFSA Code for Houston: 014986FAFSA at studentaid.gov
Program Schedule
18 months, five semesters. The program will normally be completed in 18 months of full-time enrollment: four semesters of classes followed by the clinical externship half semester. A semester is equal to 16 weeks of instruction, and a term is equal to 8 weeks of instruction.
Daily schedule. Classes generally are scheduled in 75-minute periods Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.; the sample class schedule runs from 7:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Individual class schedules will vary according to the student's cohort. In the event of unscheduled school closings due to weather or other events, make-up classes may be scheduled on Saturdays, holidays, or during evening hours and may result in an extended semester. All courses are taught in English.
Kennel duty. All veterinary technology students are assigned mandatory out-of-class kennel duty, performed before and after classes and on weekends.
Start dates. The program starts three times per year. The 2026-27 academic calendar lists starts on July 6, 2026, October 26, 2026 and March 1, 2027; a March 1, 2027 start runs through Semester 5 Term 1, July 5 to August 24, 2028. Individual program starts will be based on an adequate number of students enrolling. Orientation is typically held one week before the start of classes.
Breaks. The calendar includes Thanksgiving Break (November 26-27, 2026), a Christmas/New Year Break (December 21, 2026 - January 3, 2027), Spring Break (April 26-30, 2027) and a Summer Break (June 28 - July 4, 2027), with end-of-term breaks and make-up days between terms.
Externship. The program ends with an 8-week externship (VTHT 2560, 264 hours) served in a veterinary clinic, hospital, or other animal facility; all hours of the externship are completed in person.
- March 01st, 2027
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Vet Tech Institute of Houston is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Its Veterinary Technology program is accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The school is approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools and Colleges (school number S0052), and the degree program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition and fees for students entering between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2027. Total tuition, fees, books and other charges by the school for the program are estimated to be approximately $36,778.
- Tuition, per semester: $6,980 (four semesters)
- Clinical Externship Half Semester: $700
- Veterinary Technology Lab Fee, per semester: $1,280, charged for each of the first four semesters
- On-site Rabies Vaccination Fee: $900, charged in $225 increments at the beginning of each of the first four semesters; waived for a student who provides proof of vaccination, and may be covered by a student's health insurance
- Textbooks and supplies: $100 to $900 per semester; actual charges are used in the student's financial plan, and students may opt out of having books and/or supplies charged to their account
Four semesters of tuition plus the externship half semester come to $28,620 in tuition; with the lab fees ($5,120) and the rabies vaccination fee ($900), the remaining $2,138 of the school's $36,778 estimate is textbooks, supplies and other school charges. Students who entered in 2026 paid a $1,180 lab fee and an $848 rabies fee, for an estimated $36,326. The quoted tuition rate is based on enrollment for the equivalent of 12 credit hours or more in a semester. As long as you stay enrolled full-time at Vet Tech Institute, tuition rates will be frozen and will never go up from year to year.
Deposits. Application Fee: $50, payable with all applications for admission and refundable if an applicant is rejected by the school for admission or within three business days of signing the enrollment agreement (the online application shows $49.99). A $50 tuition deposit is due no later than 30 days after a student is accepted for admission and a $50 confirmation deposit no later than 30 days after a student's financial plan is held; both are applied to tuition when the student begins classes.
Terms of payment. Tuition, lab fees, textbook/supply charges, and rabies vaccination fee charges are due on the first day a student begins class each semester unless other prior arrangements have been made. The school does not add any interest charges, late fees, or other fees. Payments may be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card; a convenience fee of 2.5% is added to all credit card transactions.
Financial aid. Financial aid programs available for those who qualify include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Parent Loans), private education loans, payment plans and scholarships; the campus is approved for the training of veterans. Vet Tech Institute of Houston offers individual financial planning sessions for each student and family beginning with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Federal School Code 014986).
Institutional grants and scholarships. The school awards an institutional grant of $100-$5,500 to each eligible student scheduled to graduate with a separate institutional retail installment contract; such contracts are available on a very limited basis for students who have exhausted other means of financing. Beginning in 2027, it awards a $500 institutional scholarship to each eligible high school graduate who is or has been a member of the National FFA Organization and starts classes in the same calendar year as high school graduation.
Refunds. A full refund will be made to any student who cancels the enrollment contract within 72 hours after it is signed, or who cancels within the first three scheduled class days (the school may retain not more than $100 in administrative fees). After that, the refund is the pro rata portion of tuition, fees, and other charges for the hours the student has paid for but not yet used, up to the 75% completion mark.
Curriculum
65 semester credit hours, 1,736 clock hours. The Veterinary Technology A.A.S. Degree requires 65 semester credit hours (69.0 credit hours as calculated by the Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools and Colleges): 564 lecture hours, 908 lab hours and 264 externship hours. Each semester of classes carries 368 clock hours; Semester 5 is the 264-hour Clinical-Veterinary Technician externship. VTHT courses satisfy the concentration courses in the degree; BIOL 1308, ENGL 1301, MATH 1332, PSYC 2301 and SPCH 1311 satisfy the general education requirements.
Graduation. To be eligible for graduation, students must pass all courses in the program, attain an overall 2.00 grade point average when averaging all courses taken, and satisfy all financial obligations.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Lecture | Lab | External | Total | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Licensure in Texas. To become a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) in Texas, individuals must graduate from a program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), must first take and pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) with a locally derived scaled minimum score of 75 percent (425 minimum raw score), and then take and pass both the Licensed Veterinary Technician Examination (LVTE) and a mandatory background check authorized by the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the VTNE. The school cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to work as veterinary technicians in Texas or any other state at all or at any specific time. A student convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, or any charge that involves drugs, alcohol, or other serious crimes will likely experience limitations on clinical placement, employment opportunities, and/or eligibility for licensing or credentialing.
Outcomes the school reports. Of the 177 students entering the program between January 2023 and December 2023 and available for graduation, 125 (71%) graduated within 27 months, and 111 of the 123 graduates available for employment (90%) were employed in field, as verified by a third party (as reported to ACCSC in the Fall of 2026). For all candidates who took the VTNE during calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025 within one year of their graduation date, 96 of 207 exam attempts (46%) resulted in a passing score; candidates may take the exam more than once, and all attempts within one year of graduation, including pre-graduation exams and retakes, are included.
Career services. Graduates are entitled to use the career services provided at no additional charge. Students begin active job search preparation during their final months of training and are taught to complete an employment application; prepare a resume, cover letter, and thank you letter; generate job leads effectively; participate in the interviewing process; communicate valuable skills to the employer during an interview; and function successfully as a professional. The school cannot guarantee employment, and any employment obtained with its help will most likely be at an entry-level position.
Where the skills lead. While many graduates love clinical practice, the school notes that primary care is only part of the market and the skills transfer to specialty medicine (emergency, oncology or cardiology), research and science laboratories or pharmaceutical teams, technical sales or consulting for medical and nutrition brands, public health and wildlife roles in government inspection, zoo medicine or wildlife rehabilitation, and practice management.
What to expect as a Vet Tech Institute of Houston student
Attendance. Regular and prompt attendance in class and kennel duty is considered essential. A student whose absences exceed 20 percent of the class hours scheduled in a semester is placed on Attendance Probation for the next semester, and a student who misses ten consecutive days of class, or whose absences exceed 20 percent of the program's class hours, will be dismissed. Students present for less than fifteen minutes of a class period are considered absent for that period.
Kennel duty and animals. The school maintains an on-site kennel housing dogs, cats, and rodents. Learning the duties and responsibilities of animal care and sanitation is an important part of the education, so all students are assigned mandatory out-of-class kennel duty before and after classes and on weekends. Significant cruelty to animals or posting pictures of the school's animals to the internet, including social media, is a conduct offense.
Dress code. Students are required to wear uniforms provided by the school and are expected to maintain the same high standards of appearance, grooming, and personal hygiene that are expected by employers.
Class size. Lecture classes usually do not exceed 60 students. Laboratory classes usually do not exceed 26 students, with a maximum of 30 students in laboratory classes.
Health. It is the student's responsibility to maintain health insurance coverage. All veterinary technology students are required to receive the pre-exposure rabies vaccination, and clinical sites and employers may require certain vaccinations. The program presents some possible health risks, including exposure to gas anesthetics, x-ray radiation, toxic chemicals or drugs, injuries from animal bites, scratches, or kicks, lifting heavy animals, equipment, or supplies, and exposure to zoonotic diseases.
Academic progress. Formal satisfactory progress evaluations are conducted at the end of each semester: students must stay within the maximum time frame (150 percent of the program's credit hours), complete a rising share of attempted credits, and hold a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.80 in the first two semesters and 2.00 thereafter. Students receive a copy of their transcript every eight weeks.
Honors. Graduates may earn the Alpha Beta Kappa National Honor Graduate award (3.75 or greater GPA with no more than 5 hours absent), the Perfect Attendance Award, and the Veterinary Technician Award (GPA of no less than 3.5 and missing no more than 5 percent of the total program hours).
Student housing. The school works closely with distance students to help them find affordable housing options, typically apartment style living, some with swimming pools and fitness rooms, on-site laundry, and relatively close to school; public transportation and free parking are nearby.