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Vet tech programs in Iowa

6 vet tech and veterinary assistant programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these vet tech programs, and Iowa has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Vet techs do medical tests that help diagnose animals' injuries and illnesses and help veterinarians with exams, care and lab work. Most have a two-year associate degree in veterinary technology, and most states require them to pass an exam. Veterinary assistants handle routine animal care; most learn on the job, and certification is optional.1

In Iowa, 3 of the 6 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent, 2 ask for earlier courses first and 1 asks for an associate degree.

By kind, the 6 programs here are vet tech (associate degree, 5 programs) and veterinary assistant course (1 program).

See the 6 programs

How much do vet tech programs cost in Iowa?

Two-year degrees (5 programs)
$14,820 to $17,430most of them, usually 72 to 80 weeks long
Other vet tech programs (1 program)
$899the one with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program
36%
Working 6 months later
88%
Earned a year, estimated
about $29,800
Length
72 to 80 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Iowa may also offer vet tech programs. How these figures are made

Are there free vet tech programs in Iowa?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 6 vet tech and veterinary assistant programs in Iowa approved for WIOA funding

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Kind of program
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6 programs

  • Veterinary assistant courseOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Veterinary Assistant

    Penn Foster

    Based in Scranton, PA

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Penn Foster, based in Scranton, PAVeterinary assistant courseOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$63,300
    Price if you pay yourself$899
    Program website, Veterinary Assistant at Penn Foster
    More details about Veterinary Assistant at Penn Foster
    Finished
    1%
    Working at 6 months
    14%
    Earned in a quarter
    $15,820
    Length
    52 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    663
    Earned a year, estimated
    $63,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $899
    Program website, Veterinary Assistant at Penn Foster

  • Vet tech (associate degree)In personPrerequisite courses

    Veterinary Technician

    Kirkwood Community College

    Cedar Rapids

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Kirkwood Community College, Cedar RapidsVet tech (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimated$34,200
    Price if you pay yourself$17,430
    Program website, Veterinary Technician at Kirkwood Community College
    More details about Veterinary Technician at Kirkwood Community College
    Finished
    36%
    Working at 6 months
    88%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,554
    Length
    80 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $4,070
    Students counted
    192
    Earned a year, estimated
    $34,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $17,430
    Program website, Veterinary Technician at Kirkwood Community College

  • Vet tech (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Veterinary Technology - Associate of Applied Science

    Iowa Western Community College

    Council Bluffs

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Western Community College, Council BluffsVet tech (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$29,300
    Price if you pay yourself$17,854
    Program website, Veterinary Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Iowa Western Community College
    More details about Veterinary Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Iowa Western Community College
    Finished
    11%
    Working at 6 months
    54%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,318
    Length
    72 weeks, 27 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $740
    Students counted
    114
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $17,854
    Program website, Veterinary Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Iowa Western Community College

  • Vet tech (associate degree)In personAssociate's degree

    Veterinary Technology AAS

    Des Moines Area Community College

    Ankeny

    Accredited school

    Associate's degree

    Des Moines Area Community College, AnkenyVet tech (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Associate's degree

    Earned a year, estimated$29,100
    Price if you pay yourself$12,706
    Program website, Veterinary Technology AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
    More details about Veterinary Technology AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
    Finished
    46%
    Working at 6 months
    91%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,276
    Length
    80 weeks, 23 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,840
    Students counted
    112
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $12,706
    Program website, Veterinary Technology AAS at Des Moines Area Community College

  • Vet tech (associate degree)In personPrerequisite courses

    Veterinary Technician

    Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

    Davenport

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, DavenportVet tech (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimated$29,800
    Price if you pay yourself$14,820
    Program website, Veterinary Technician at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
    More details about Veterinary Technician at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
    Finished
    76%
    Working at 6 months
    93%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,456
    Length
    80 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,150
    Students counted
    94
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $14,820
    Program website, Veterinary Technician at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

  • Vet tech (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Veterinary Technology

    Iowa Lakes Community College

    Estherville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Lakes Community College, EsthervilleVet tech (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$16,966
    Program website, Veterinary Technology at Iowa Lakes Community College
    More details about Veterinary Technology at Iowa Lakes Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,950
    Students counted
    23
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,966
    Program website, Veterinary Technology at Iowa Lakes Community College

How to pay for vet tech programs in Iowa

WIOA funding can pay for vet tech programs in Iowa

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for vet tech programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for vet tech programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Vet tech programs in Iowa

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
13th of 13
vet tech and veterinary assistant programs here, against the typical state's 4
6 vs 4

State comparisons use the same figures as the vet tech programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Vet tech programs in Cedar Rapids, Omaha, Des Moines and other Iowa cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 in smaller cities and towns and 1 online.

Other training in Iowa

How vet tech programs compare with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in Iowa

Where the Iowa vet tech program numbers come from

Which Iowa vet tech programs are on this list?

These are the vet tech programs Iowa approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Iowa offers.

How the prices and results of Iowa vet tech programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about vet tech programs in Iowa

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List