Program of Study: Veterinary Assistant

CIP Code: 01.8301 - Information Page

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Veterinary Assistant Program is designed to prepare students for an entry level position in a veterinary hospital or clinic. Individuals will learn veterinary career skills, veterinary medical terminology, veterinary anatomy and physiology, preventative medicine and common diseases, veterinary ethics and laws, medical records and scheduling, safe handling and restraint techniques, animal behavior, examination procedures, pharmacy procedures, laboratory procedures, radiology procedures, animal nursing skills, surgical assisting procedures, therapeutic techniques and grooming, sanitation and cleaning, breeds and breeding, external parasitology, and zoonotic diseases. This program prepares students to succeed in a post-secondary Veterinary Technician program. 

CERTIFICATIONS

• National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Exam

A  STUDENT IN VETERINARY ASSISTANT WILL LEARN:

• Experience the reward of caring for animals in a clinical setting.

• Practice customer service and professional ethics when interacting with patients, clients and coworkers including:  answering phone/scheduling appointments, cleaning/disinfection, and informing of disease prevention.

• Explore the science of veterinary medicine including animal care/control, grooming, clinical procedures/terminology, and disease prevention including:  weighing, taking temperatures and fecal samples, assessing heart rate, taking and testing blood, pulling charts, and chart completion

• Grooming:  Bathing, Fading, Sanitary Clips, Facial Clips, Toenail Trim (TNT) 

• Restraints:  Lateral Recumbency, Cephalic, Saphenous, Dorsal, and Ventral.

• Dental Care:  Disease Identification, Tartar, Tooth/Gum Infections

• Breed Identification, Coat Colors, Canine/Feline Behavior

CAREER PATHWAYS

• Careers opportunities as a Veterinary Assistant, Veterinary Technician/Veterinary Technologist, Veterinarian, Groomer, Animal Control Worker, Nonfarm Animal Caretakers, and Animal Trainer.

• Animal Care & Service Workers

• Phlebotomist *

• Surgical Technologist *

• Veterinarian ****

• Veterinary Technician ** ***

(* Postsecondary training, ** Associate Degree, *** Bachelor’s Degree, **** Doctoral Degree)

SKILLS TO DEVELOP

• Communication skills. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers communicate with pet owners, veterinarians, veterinary technologists and technicians, and other assistants. They need to be able to explain instructions, procedures, and other information clearly and effectively.

• Compassion. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must treat animals with kindness and show compassion to both the animals and their owners.

• Detail oriented. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must follow instructions exactly as directed. For example, they must be precise when sterilizing surgical equipment, monitoring animals, and giving medication.

• Manual dexterity. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must be adept in both handling animals and using medical instruments and laboratory equipment.

• Physical strength. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must be strong enough to handle, move, and restrain animals.

COMMON CORE STANDARD INTEGRATION:

• Technical Reading: Main Idea & Text Evidence, Vocabulary & Symbols, Author’s Purpose, Text Structure (Compare/Contrast, Multi-Step Procedure, Description, & Qualitative/Technical Information into Visual Forms via Chart or Table) Multiple Sources

• Mathematics: Numbers & Operations, Algebra

STATE BOARD/ POST SECONDARY/UNION RESOURCES

• Coming soon

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR FUTURE CAREER:

• BLS: CLICK HERE 

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