veterinary technicians; certification; education alternative

SB 1144 creates a new pathway for veterinary technicians in Arizona to become certified without completing a two-year veterinary technology degree. Instead, it allows applicants to qualify through 4,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training under a licensed Arizona veterinarian within six years, provided the training covers nationally recommended skills and includes documentation of each skill learned with the supervising veterinarian's signature. This alternative route makes applicants eligible to take the national veterinary technician exam and any required state exam, matching the eligibility of those with formal degrees. The bill does not change the existing requirement for applicants with a two-year degree but expands certification options for those with extensive work experience.