Certificate of Completion in Veterinary Assisting

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Program Information

Learn more about the Veterinary Technology program.

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Field of Interest

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Veterinary Assisting prepares students for introductory careers in veterinary medicine and animal health which require basic knowledge and skills involving animal care and management, veterinary medical care, and client communications and service.

Details

Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Type: Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan: Veterinary Assisting (CER)
Academic Plan Code: 5960
Total Credits Required: 18
Catalog Year: 2024-2025
Effective Term: Fall 2023
Notes: Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You’ll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

Participate in business and facility management by creating, maintaining, and filing appointment schedules, patient/client records, financial records, logs and inventory records, and by demonstrating effective client communication skills.
Utilize medical terminology in verbal and written communications and explain the principles of ethics and legal issues in veterinary technology.
Utilize computers and computer software programs to facilitate creation, storage, and retrieval of data files.
Assist in collection of clinical laboratory specimen for analysis, including hematology, urinalysis, blood chemistry, hemostasis, serology, cytology, parasitology, and necropsy.
Compare and contrast the basics of anatomy and physiology of common domestic animals, and apply that knowledge to performing common clinical procedures and treatments.
Perform proper techniques of basic husbandry, restraint and handling, and assist in small animal nursing and exam room procedures.
Assess life-stage nutritional requirements for well animals, identify common feeds and feeding practices, and effectively communicate the special nutritional requirements and feeding of diseased animals.
Demonstrate proper use and maintenance of veterinary diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic equipment.
Identify therapeutic drugs, vaccines, and supplements used in veterinary medicine, and effectively communicate their mechanisms, common uses, side effects, and regulatory considerations.
Recognize legal issues associated with pharmaceuticals, fill prescriptions, and perform inventory control.
Assist the veterinary technician and/or veterinarian in the completion of diagnostic radiographs and ultrasound including restraining and positioning of patients and observing safety standards.
Assist in the surgical preparation of the patient, set up of the surgery suite, and maintain asepsis.
Maintain surgical instruments and operating room sanitation and care.

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Nonfarm Animal Caretakers

$30,381 Show expanded career information for Nonfarm Animal Caretakers

Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise provide care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals that are not raised for consumption, such as dogs, cats, race horses, ornamental fish or birds, zoo animals, and mice. Work in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. May keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. May clean, disinfect, and repair cages, pens, or fish tanks.

Typical Education Level

a high school diploma or less

Hourly Median Wage

$14.60

Annual Median Wage

$30,381

Annual Job Openings

1,159

Number of People Employed

5,211

4-Year Employment Growth

Increase by 19.6%

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

$35,929 Show expanded career information for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine postoperative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists.

Typical Education Level

a high school diploma or less

Hourly Median Wage

$17.27

Annual Median Wage

$35,929

Annual Job Openings

446

Number of People Employed

2,100

4-Year Employment Growth

Increase by 17.6%

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
VET101	Introduction to Veterinary Technology	Corequisites: VET101LL.	Critical course Gateway course		3
VET101LL	Animal Care Skills I Laboratory	Corequisites: VET101.			2
VET103	Veterinary Assisting I		Only offered in Fall		3
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).		FYC	3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites		SB or L	3
VET104	Veterinary Assisting II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in VET101 and VET103. High school biology strongly recommended.	Only offered in Spring		3
VET109	Veterinary Assisting Internship	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in VET101 and VET103. Corequisites: VET104.	Only offered in Spring		1

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Program Information

Learn more about and find contact information for the Veterinary Technology program.

General Help

Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

FYC = First Year Composition
L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry

SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=184079).

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Veterinary Assisting

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