Veterinary Technician, AAS

The field of veterinary technician is growing and currently experiencing a shortage making these in-demand positions. Veterinary technicians work in a variety of settings: small animal practice, large animal practice, exotic animal practice, emergency animal medicine, laboratory settings, shelters, and in animal equipment sales.

Knowledge to work in these areas is achieved by the building of critical thinking skills to understand, analyze, and synthesize concepts ranging from specific animal anatomy to practice management to the ability to function in emergency, educational, and research settings. It is also essential for the veterinary technician to develop strong communication skills to interact with peers, veterinarians, and clients.

In order to achieve these desired attributes, the Veterinary Technician Program has been developed into an interdisciplinary course of study merging the setting specific concepts, science, chemistry, and mathematics foundation with technical and communication studies into a well-balanced curriculum. The core courses provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of the veterinary technician in animal medicine and science. The technical related electives allow veterinary technician students to receive a well-rounded education that will contribute to their preparation as an entry-level veterinary technician.

Pre-Admission Requirements:

***Admission to the Veterinary Technician Program is a selective process; meeting all admission requirements does not ensure placement into the program. ***

Admission Requirements:

Student who have successfully completed a program of secondary education or GED are eligible for admission into the AAS for Veterinary Technology program. Applicants must provide proof of high school graduation or successful completion of the GED or successful acceptance into the CCP program and meet one of the following conditions:

• Passing score on the EGCC Math and Reading Entrance exam
• Minimum score on the English language proficiency test

All applicants for admission to the AAS in Veterinary Technology degree program must complete the following:

• A completed EGCC application packet: completion of all forms AND completion of a minimum of 40 hours of field experience. *** Applicants who desire to perform this field experience at Angels for Animals must first complete a telephone interview with the Dean of Health, Science & Public Service. Those who successfully complete the telephone interview must then attend an orientation at Angels for Animals. Please note that Angels for Animals reserves the right to terminate any pre-applicant field experience at any point in the 40-hour process. ***
• Verification of successful completion of high school graduation, GED or successful acceptance into the CCP program
• Official transcripts from any prior college attended
• Completion of Health Forms for the program including proof of Tetanus toxoid within the last 7 years
• Completion of program pre-requisite courses (see grid below)

Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in animal facility practice management including applicable computer skills
• Prepare and perform clinical laboratory specimen analysis
• Perform proper techniques of animal restraint, examination, and medication administration in a variety of species
• Assess life-stage nutritional requirements and preventative medicine
• Properly use and maintain diagnostic surgical and therapeutic veterinary equipment
• Accurately perform pharmacologic calculations, interpret/follow pharmacy orders, identify, prepare/dispense therapeutic drugs, and provide drug education to clients
• Evaluate common veterinary anesthetic, surgical, and emergency procedures; perform surgical patient preparation, anesthetic monitoring and surgical assistance under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian
• Demonstrate proficiency/application of medical terminology and pathophysiology in veterinary technology
• Employ principles of ethics in all interactions with animals, peers, veterinarians, and clients.

Veterinary Technician
Recommended System Requirements
OS: Windows 10 or higher Processor: 2 GHz or higher RAM: 4 GB or more Hard Drive: 100 GB or more 1Graphics: DirectX9 or higher Display: 720p	OS: Mac 10.14 or higher Processor: Intel Core i5 or higher RAM: 8 GB or more Hard Drive: 256 GB or more Display: 1280x800 resolution or higher Chromebooks are not recommended