Arizona Bill Proposes Alternative Pathway for Veterinary Technicians

Arizona lawmakers are considering a bill that could change the pathway to becoming a certified veterinary technician, a profession that has faced shortages across the state and the country.

Currently, state law requires prospective veterinary technicians to complete two years of curriculum before taking the certification exam. Senate Bill 1658 proposes modifying this requirement by allowing candidates to qualify through either two years of formal education or two years of on-the-job training.

Veterinary professionals have mixed reactions to the proposal. Jackie Wolfe, a former veterinary technician who now teaches veterinary assistance at Andrada Polytechnic High School told KGN9, initially questioned the bill but later acknowledged that many skilled technicians she worked with had not followed the traditional school-based route.

On the other hand, Jennifer Sterling, president of the Arizona Veterinary Technician Association, argues that the change would not resolve the technician shortage. She believes that retention, rather than certification pathways, is the main issue.

“There’s the argument that by allowing on-the-job trained people to become credentialed, it’s going to fix the shortage of veterinary technicians. But that’s not actually the case,” Sterling said. “The problem is, we’re not keeping them in the profession.”

The bill remains in its early stages and is currently under review in committee at the Arizona State Capitol.