Veterinary Assistant Certificate
Program Description
This program is designed for students wanting to complete a Certificate in Veterinary Assistant and enter the workforce. The Veterinary Assistant certificate program provides training in veterinary health and handling of a variety of domestic animals with the focus on tasks for assisting the Veterinary Technician and Veterinarians to become a part of the veterinary medical team. Completion of all course work is required before the student is eligible for a private-practice internship. After completion of the program graduates are eligible to sit for the National Assistant exam to become an Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA). Please see the NAVTA web page at: https://www.navta.net/veterinary-assistants-program/ for more information.
Learn more about this program.
What You Will Learn
The NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program provides education in veterinary health and handling of a variety of domestic, exotic, and large animal species with emphasis on assisting the entire veterinary team. Upon completion of the Veterinary Assistant certificate you will be able to:
1. Maintain a clean and safe work environment
2. Assist with client relations and front desk responsibilities
3. Perform proper drug and medical device handling and inventory procedures
4. Properly restrain small animals, pocket pets and exotics while maintaining a fear free approach
5. Recognizing normal versus abnormal vital physiologic values
6. Recognize normal versus abnormal animal behavior
7. Assist with small animal nursing and surgical preparatory procedures
8. Provide routine record keeping and observation of hospitalized patients
9. Assist and setup a variety of clinical pathology diagnostics laboratory procedures
10. Perform radiology safety measures and assist with diagnostic radiography
My Academic Plan: Full-Time
Courses are displayed in a full-time sequence showing the fastest path to your degree. Follow the pathway below to complete your certificate. For more information, please see your Academic Advisor.
Semester 1
| VET 1002 | Veterinary Medical Terminology | 1 |
| VET 1003 | Veterinary Assistant Restraint & Handling | 2 |
| VET 1020 | Office Procedures & Relations | 2 |
| VET 1009 | Applied Companion Animal Behavior | 3 |
| VET 1004 | Assistant Large Animal Nursing | 1 |
| VET 1017 | Veterinary Assistant Surgery & Nursing Care | 2 |
| VET 1014 | Vet Asst Lab & Clin Procedures | 3 |
| VET 1083 | Internship | 2.25 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16.25 |
My Academic Plan: Part-Time
Courses are displayed in a recommended part-time sequence but there is flexibility to accommodate working professionals. Follow the pathway below to complete your certificate. This pathway may be accelerated by applying transfer credit, credit for prior learning, and/or completing one or more additional courses each semester. For more information please see your Academic Advisor.
Semester 1
| VET 1002 | Veterinary Medical Terminology | 1 |
| VET 1003 | Veterinary Assistant Restraint & Handling | 2 |
| VET 1020 | Office Procedures & Relations | 2 |
| VET 1009 | Applied Companion Animal Behavior | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Semester 2
| VET 1004 | Assistant Large Animal Nursing | 1 |
| VET 1017 | Veterinary Assistant Surgery & Nursing Care | 2 |
| VET 1014 | Vet Asst Lab & Clin Procedures | 3 |
| VET 1083 | Internship | 2.25 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8.25 |
Total Credit Hours: 16.25
Prior Learning eligible course
• Learn more about Credit for Prior Learning
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