Veterinary Assisting Diploma
Veterinary assistants are becoming more important as valued members of the veterinary healthcare team in today's modern practices.
This is a one-year program that prepares students to support veterinary technicians and veterinarians in a veterinary practice. Duties performed by veterinary assistants include animal restraint, preparing animals for surgery, care of surgical instruments and other equipment, care and feeding of in-patients, processing radiographs, and front office procedures. Veterinary assistants are not trained to give injections, take blood samples, perform laboratory procedures, administer anesthetics, monitor patients during anesthesia, or assist in surgery.
Students choosing to advance their career may become veterinary technicians by completing the veterinary technology program in an additional two years.
Program Goals
The program will:
- Educate, graduate, and place students in the field of veterinary technology.
- Provide an adequate academic knowledge base so that students will be able to successfully pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam.
- Provide opportunities for students to develop hands-on skills required of veterinary technicians in a clinical setting.
- Instill in students the importance of educating clients regarding animal care and public health.
- Encourage membership in local, state, and national veterinary technician associations as students and then as graduates.
- Foster an environment for students that encourages lifelong learning after graduation.
- Encourage in students a sense of professionalism including ethical values and behavior.
- Provide continuing education opportunities for students and graduate veterinary technicians.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic animal anatomy.
- Demonstrate fundamental knowledge specific to the veterinary assisting field.
- Perform the basic skills required to assist veterinarians and veterinary technicians in a clinical setting.