Best Veterinary Schools in Missouri in 2024

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With all the programs available today, it can be challenging to choose the best veterinary schools in Missouri for you.  Along with traditional schools that require in-person visits, you can attend one of the many reputable online schools. 

Some vet schools in Missouri even offer a hybrid experience.  In addition, you can choose a vocational school that prepares you for work with knowledge in a particular field.

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Along with detailed profiles of schools and the programs they offer, we’ve compiled the best veterinary medicine schools in Missouri to help you find the best school. 

How Long are Veterinary Schools in Missouri?

It takes 2 years to become a veterinary technician in Missouri veterinary schools.  This earns you an associate degree in veterinary technology. 

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However, to become a veterinarian or surgeon, you must obtain a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate in animal science, veterinary medicine, or public health.  It takes 4 years.

ALSO CHECK: Best Veterinary Schools In Indiana

What are the Requirements for Veterinary Schools in Missouri?

Accredited veterinary medicine schools in Missouri are highly competitive programs.  The combination of an exceptional academic reputation meets the challenge of creating a cycle of high-quality applicants competing for a limited number of places. 

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Top-ranked vet schools in MO will require a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study (such as biology or anatomy) and high grades to be considered for the program. 

Looking ahead, expect the program to be four years of intensive academic sessions, research projects, laboratory work, and lectures. 

Upon completing the veterinary medicine program, you will earn a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) degree.

You need to pass a standardized exam known as the NAVLE before applying for a license from the Missouri VMB. 

Today, gather the information you need from the best Missouri veterinary colleges and degree information on our veterinary medicine portal.

ALSO CHECK: Best Veterinary Schools In Massachusetts

What is Missouri Vet Schools Tuition?

Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine resident tuition is $505.10 per credit hour for 16 credit hours.  These estimates do not include application fees, textbooks, or study materials. 

Additional fees may apply.  The cost of the course varies from department to department.  Your actual program costs will vary from these estimates.

Estimates are for Missouri residents and do not include a non-resident fee of $94.10 per credit hour (if applicable).

Veterinary Schools in Missouri reserve the right to change, increase or decrease fees for attendance and other services at the University, including but not limited to tuition, at any time at the discretion of the governing board.

ALSO CHECK: Best Veterinary Schools In Georgia

What is the Salary of a Vet In Missouri?

Vets in Missouri take home an average of 24.00 per hour.  The average annual salary for a veterinarian working in Missouri is $50,835, 39% above the state average and 24% above the national average for all occupations. 

Veterinarian employment is limited to the working population in Missouri due to the specific qualifications required along with the schooling associated with this career. 

The growing demand for qualified veterinarians, coupled with the educational barrier to entry into the field, is being met by a steady stream of eager college graduates looking to make a lasting impact on the lives of others in and around Missouri.

ALSO CHECK: 10 Best Veterinary Schools In Colorado

How to Become a Vet in Missouri

  In Missouri, veterinarians must be registered before practicing.  The primary issuing body is the Missouri Board of Veterinary Medicine, which requires candidates for veterinary registration to:

  • Completed application with payment
  • Official transcripts from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activity (CVTEA) accredited school or Board-approved program.
  • Two passport photos
  • Official VTNE scores (minimum 425 points)
  • A signed certificate of employment
  • Passing scores on the Missouri State Board Exam (70 percent minimum)

  Finally, to maintain active Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) status, candidates must renew their registration annually by November 30 after completing at least five hours of continuing education (CE).

What are the Best Veterinary Schools in Missouri?

#1 Crowder College

Crowder College of Neosho is one of the best vet schools in MO that offers an accredited AAS program in Veterinary Technology. 

This 78-hour program takes place on a campus well designed for aspiring veterinarians, including over 300 acres of farmland, multiple barns with paddocks, an indoor small animal kennel, and an outdoor dog kennel. 

The Agricultural Science Center also offers surgery, an X-ray anatomy lab, and field technology. Applicants must complete prerequisites and observe or work with a licensed veterinarian for at least 20 hours. 

Courses include farm animal health; radiology and electronic procedures; chemistry for health sciences; technologies of laboratory animals/birds; large animal medicine/surgery; and more.  Students also participate in labs, two clinical sessions, and a board review. 

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#2 Jefferson College 

Jefferson College is another of the Missouri vet schools that offers another CVTEA-accredited AAS degree in Veterinary Technology. 

Courses in this program include applied pharmacology; microbiology for health sciences; principles of clinical medicine; veterinary hospital technology; applied radiology; machinery of large animals; and more. 

Students also complete a final course and a clinical internship. From 2017 to 2020, first-time graduates accounted for 76.36% of VTNE.

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#3 Metropolitan Community College

Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods Kansas City also offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Veterinary Technology. 

MCCKC has been AVMA accredited since 1975 and conducts clinical research with 12 different animal species in its competitive program.

Courses include laboratory animal technology; veterinary hospital technology; radiology and electronic procedures; methods of clinical pathology; management of veterinary practice; and more. 

Students are also mentored during the program.  An impressive 93 percent of MCCKC graduates between 2016 and 2019 passed the VTNE on their first attempt.

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#4 Midwest Institute

Midwest Institute in Fenton is one of the best Veterinary Schools in Missouri, offering a highly hands-on Veterinary associate of occupational science (AOS) program. 

After graduation, students can anesthetize animals, prepare them for surgery, administer drugs and vaccines, provide care and emergency care to patients, take X-rays, and more.

Courses include public health and parasitology; medical cases; calculation of the veterinary office; preparation for employment; applied veterinary pharmacology; and more. 

In addition to laboratory work, students undergo veterinary practice.  The program is designed to be completed in 64 weeks. 

Between 2017 and 2020, 51.2 percent of AOS Midwest Institute graduates passed the VTNE on their first attempt.

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Conclusion

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) provides information on accredited veterinary technology programs in each state. 

The four programs in Missouri, based on information provided by the AVMA, are Crowder College (Neosho, MO), Jefferson College (Hillsboro, MO), Maple Woods Community College (Kansas City, MO), and Midwest Institute (Fenton, MO).   

Maple Woods Community College is the oldest program, originally accredited in April 1975.

Veterinary Schools in Missouri FAQs

What Is The Work Of A Vet In Missouri?

According to the National Veterinary Technicians Association of America (NAVTA), these animal health workers have several responsibilities, such as assisting licensed veterinarians with procedures (eg, dental, radiology, anesthesia, surgery);  taking and researching laboratory samples;  keeping records of veterinary patients and pharmaceutical stocks;  provision of elementary first aid to animals;  maintenance of premises and equipment in a sterile condition;  as well as educating pet owners in all aspects of proper pet care.  In addition, the scope of practice in this profession varies by state.

Are Vets in Demand in Missouri?

For Missourians interested in a career in animal health, there’s excellent news: It’s a rapidly growing professional field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2020), there is a 16 percent increase in vacancies nationwide between 2019 and 2029 for veterinary technicians. 
This figure is four times the average growth expected for all occupations during this period (4 percent).
With a projected growth rate of 30 percent between 2016 and 2026, veterinarians are the fastest-growing careers in the Department among people with advanced degrees.

References

vettechcolleges.com – VETERINARY TECHNICIAN SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI

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