Veterinary Technology - Certificate of Achievement

This program map only provides one possible pathway for degree and/or certificate obtainment and is for reference only. Please schedule an appointment with a counselor to develop your individualized Student Education Plan.

The Veterinary Technology Program introduces technical skills and veterinary medical concepts necessary to pursue a career as a veterinary assistant and meets the educational requirements of the California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) for veterinary assistants to become Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT)*. *In addition to completing the educational requirements, 4,416 hours of practical work experience with a California-licensed veterinarian are required in order to be eligible to take the veterinary technician licensing exams. The VMB eligibility requirements are subject to change at any time and without notice to educational providers or their students. Veterinary Assistants and Registered Veterinary Technicians are integral to the animal health care team that works under the supervision of veterinarians to perform various types of tasks including veterinary laboratory procedures, surgical and anesthesia assisting, digital imaging (including x-ray technology), dental procedures, medical nursing, emergency care, and veterinary office procedures. The Veterinary Technology Certificate of Achievement program requires the completion of 23 units. The courses are designed to meet the educational requirements of the California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) Alternate Route eligibility category for veterinary assistants to become Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT). The application requirements for the Alternate Route include specific content coverage in the following areas: 1) Dental prophylaxis and extractions; 2) Anesthetic instrumentation, induction and monitoring; 3) Surgical nursing, assisting and instrumentation, suturing techniques, and application of casts and splints; 4) Radiology and radiation safety (including diagnostic imaging); 5) Diseases and animal nursing including zoonotic diseases and emergency veterinary care; 6) IV Catheter placement. The students must have successfully completed BIOL 100 and CHEM 120 (or equivalent) to be admitted into the program.

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

Demonstrate the knowledge necessary to perform animal medical nursing care.

Demonstrate the knowledge necessary to perform animal surgical nursing and dental care.

Demonstrate the knowledge necessary to safely perform veterinary radiology.

Understand the proper techniques for performing veterinary laboratory procedures used in clinical settings.

Demonstrate effective communication skills in the performance of veterinary office procedures.

Program Map

Requirement
GE General Education
E Elective

Fall Year 1

12 units
VT 302
Veterinary Office Procedures
This course covers the various roles of the veterinary health care team including veterinary hospital record management, client and interpersonal communication, medical terminology, and legal, ethical, and safety issues.
  1. Advisories: ENGL C1000
          VT 300
          Introduction to Veterinary Technology
          This course introduces students to the field of veterinary technology. It will provide an overview of the various roles and responsibilities of the veterinary team. Basic animal nursing skills and clinical procedures are introduced. Topics will include veterinary medical terminology, diagnostic procedures, and veterinary medical and surgical nursing care.
          1. Advisories: ENGL C1000
                  Recommended but not required
                  VT 301
                  Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology
                  This course introduces the biology of animals, the chemistry of life and medical terminology used in veterinary medicine. It includes the study of basic normal anatomy and physiology (in both large and small animals) in a body systems format, along with related vocabulary and spelling. Commonly used veterinary acronyms and abbreviations are woven throughout the course where relevant.
                  1. Prerequisite: BIOL 100
                  2. Prerequisite: CHEM 120
                  3. Advisories: ENGL C1000
                          VT 303
                          Veterinary Pharmacology
                          This course covers basic concepts in veterinary pharmacology, including the chemistry of pharmaceuticals and biologics commonly used in the maintenance of animal health. It also includes generic terminology, abbreviations for prescriptions, labeling requirements, state and federal laws, classification of materials, weights and measures, drug dosage flow rates, pharmacological mathematics and the metric system, side effects and drug interactions, and the safe handling of biohazardous material.
                          1. Advisories: ENGL C1000
                                  VT 304
                                  Clinical Pathology & Microbiology
                                  This course introduces students to the expansive field of clinical pathology and microbiology. Topics include bacteriology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, cytology, hematology, internal and external parasites, immunology, and serology.
                                  1. Prerequisite: BIOL 100
                                  2. Advisories: ENGL C1000

                                          Spring Year 1

                                          10 units
                                          VT 305
                                          Medical Nursing & Animal Care
                                          This course covers diseases and animal nursing including animal examination, handling, and restraint of various species used in an animal hospital setting; including sanitation, administration of medicine, emergency treatment and critical care, diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, venipuncture, electrocardiology, application of casts, splints and other appliances. It includes zoonotic diseases, their causes and effects, and immunology of animals.
                                          1. Prerequisite: VT 301
                                          2. Advisories: ENGL C1000
                                                  VT 306
                                                  Surgical Nursing & Dentistry
                                                  This course covers surgical nursing, assisting and instrumentation, surgical preparation, suturing techniques, post-operative care, anesthesia instrumentation, induction and monitoring, dental prophylaxis and extractions, IV catheter placement, sterilization of equipment and the maintenance of an aseptic environment.
                                                  1. Prerequisite: VT 301
                                                  2. Advisories: ENGL C1000
                                                          VT 307
                                                          Veterinary Radiology and Radiation Safety
                                                          This course provides an introduction to the study of radiology, diagnostic imaging and equipment used in veterinary practices, radiation safety, and the safe operation of radiographic equipment. It includes image capture and processing, and patient positioning.
                                                          1. Advisories: ENGL C1000
                                                                  Core Elective- Vet Tech (Cert.)

                                                                  Supervised employment extending classroom-based learning to an on-the-job learning environment relating to the student's career and educational goals. In addition, these work experiences improve the student's basic work skills and professional competencies by creating career awareness, improving work habits, and fostering positive workplace attitudes.

                                                                  Studies of the laboratory techniques and procedures employed in evaluating clinical diagnostic samples. Emphasis will be placed on procedures common to veterinary medicine including hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, cytology, immunology, parasitology and microbiology.

                                                                  The science of animal nutrition; the fundamentals of digestion and absorption in both ruminants and non-ruminants are discussed. The nutritive value of feedstuffs as they relate to the formulation of animal rations will be emphasized. Laboratory required. Field trips may be required.