How to become a vet tech in Texas

Is a license required in Texas?

No, but the title is protected. The board's own words: licensure is optional, and only people with an LVT license may use the title "Licensed Veterinary Technician" in Texas. That is why you will see Texas job posts for both "LVT" and "veterinary technician" or "veterinary assistant." The licensed roles usually carry more responsibility and better pay.

If you have read older guides, you may see the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) mentioned. Before 2013, Texas techs were registered through the TVMA. Senate Bill 1312 in the 83rd Legislature directed the state board to license veterinary technicians, and the board runs the LVT program today.

Texas LVT requirements

1. Graduate from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program. The board says alternate routes are not accepted, so on-the-job experience alone will not qualify you. See our list of accredited vet tech schools in Texas and nearby states, or the AVMA's accredited program list.
2. Pass the VTNE. The national exam is run by the AAVSB: 170 questions, three hours, $375, offered in four windows a year. You must pass it before taking the Texas exam. More detail is in our how to become a vet tech guide.
3. Apply through the board's licensing portal and pay the $65 application fee.
4. Submit fingerprints. Required for all applicants since October 1, 2018. The board uses IdentoGO.
5. Pass the State Board Exam (SBE). It is taken online and must be completed in one sitting within 10 days of purchase. The board points candidates to the Texas Veterinary Licensing Act and board rules (Chapters 571, 573, 575 and 577) to prepare.

The board says licenses are issued within 7 business days of a passing SBE score.

Timeline and costs at a glance

Fees from the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners fee schedule and the AAVSB candidate handbook, as published in 2026. Check both before you pay; they change.

Keeping your Texas license

• Renewal: Your license expires on the last day of your birth month. You can renew up to 90 days early, online. The fee is $80 for a current regular license, with higher fees if you renew late.
• Continuing education: 10 hours a year. Up to 2 hours may be practice management, up to 4 may be pre-recorded or on-demand, and up to 2 may be self-study. CE taken before you were licensed does not count. Keep certificates for 4 years.
• Inactive status is available for $35 if you step away from practice.

What vet techs make in Texas

Texas employs more vet techs than any other state: 16,730 in May 2025, according to the BLS. The statewide median was $18.95 an hour ($39,410 a year), below the national median of $22.78. Veterinary assistants in Texas had a median of $16.75 an hour ($34,850 a year).

The big metros pay more than the statewide figure:

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan area estimates. Compare every state on our salary by state page.

The Texas job market right now

VetTeamJobs lists 635 open tech, assistant, CSR, kennel and manager jobs in Texas as of the last refresh: 274 vet tech, 150 veterinary assistant, 110 receptionist and client service, 31 practice manager and 70 kennel and animal care roles. Most are in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio metros, which matches the BLS employment pattern above. Every Texas job page shows the state's typical pay for the role, so you can see where a posting falls before you apply, and the filters narrow to ER, overnights, no-experience and relief.

Working in a Texas clinic before you are licensed

Because licensure is optional, many Texans start as veterinary assistants and go to school while they work. It builds real skills and a reference list, and some employers help with tuition. Just remember you cannot call yourself an LVT until the board issues your license. For more on how the two jobs differ, see vet tech vs vet assistant, and for getting that first job, how to get a vet assistant job with no experience.

Moving to Texas with a credential from another state

Texas does not have a shortcut for techs licensed elsewhere: the same State Board Exam applies, and the board only accepts graduates of AVMA-accredited programs. Start the AAVSB score transfer before you move, and expect to work as an assistant until the license is issued. The step by step is on Texas vet tech license transfer; every other state is in the license transfer hub.