Veterinary technician degrees lead to a career in the animal-care field.
For those who love animals, a career as a veterinary technician is the first step toward more opportunities in animal care. Whether in a private clinic or a research setting, under the supervision of a veterinarian, the veterinary technician performs tasks that include recording patient histories, drawing blood, collecting tissues, administering and analyzing lab tests and providing home-going instructions to patients. A two-year associate degree and a license are required to enter the animal-care field. Community colleges offering these programs require course work in animal anatomy and behavior, pharmacology and microbiology. Most programs also require an internship.
Kirkwood Community College
The Kirkwood Community College Associate in Applied Science degree for the veterinary technician program takes two years to complete. This program requires a biology placement exam and a reading, writing and math placement exam, known as COMPASS. The program requires 82 semester hours over six terms, including the summer terms. The program begins in June and has a November application deadline.
Kirkwood Community College
6301 Kirkwood Blvd., SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
319-398-5517
www.kirkwood.edu
Holyoke Community College
The Holyoke Community College Associate of Science degree in veterinary and animal science with veterinary technician option program has a rolling admissions process. Entry into this program requires a 10-hour observation in a veterinary facility before beginning classes in the fall semester. This program consists of 69 credit-hours.
Holyoke Community College
303 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040-1099
413-538-7000
www.hcc.edu
Macomb Community College
The Macomb Community College Associate of Applied Science degree for the veterinary technician program is a 2-year, 86-hour program. An additional selective admission process and a COMPASS reading, writing and math placement exam must be completed by the February deadline for admission. The college provides a seminar to assist students with the application process.
Macomb Community College
Center Campus
44575 Garfield Rd.
Clinton Township, MI 48038
586-445-7225
www.macomb.edu
Northeast Community College
The Northeast Community College Associate of Applied Science degree in veterinary technology requires 50 hours of observation in a veterinary facility before admission. In addition, three letters of recommendation and a counseling session are require for entry into the veterinary technician program. Finally, there are academic qualifications that must be met to gain entry to the program. These qualifications include certain ACT, SAT and COMPASS testing scores. An alternative way to achieve the academic qualifications is to earn a grade of at least B in all of the basic required biology courses taken in the first semester.
Northeast Community College
801 E. Benjamin Ave.
Norfolk, NE 68702
800-348-9033
www.northeast.edu
Tags: Community College, College Associate, Community College Associate, degree veterinary, Science degree, Science degree veterinary, Applied Science