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Program Information

Learn more about the Veterinary Technology program.

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Details

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 computers and computer software programs to facilitate creation, storage, and retrieval of data files.
• Prepare and perform clinical laboratory specimen analysis, including hematology, urinalysis, blood chemistry, hemostasis, serology, cytology, parasitology, and necropsy.
• Compare and contrast the 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, physical examination and assessment, medication administration, clinical specimen collection, and medical treatment in a variety of animal species.
• Assess the life-stage nutritional requirements for well animals, identify common feeds and feeding practices, and 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.
• Perform pharmacologic calculations, interpret and follow pharmacy orders, prepare and dispense drug prescriptions, and communicate drug information to the diverse client.
• Operate and maintain diagnostic imaging equipment, and safely produce a variety of diagnostic images of animals.
• Evaluate common veterinary anesthetic, surgical, and emergency procedures; perform surgical patient preparation, anesthetic monitoring, and surgical assistance. (CT, CO)
• Differentiate common diseases of domestic animals, their agents, and principles of disease< prevention and treatment.
• Utilize medical terminology in verbal and written communication and explain the principles of ethics and legal issues in veterinary technology.

Career Opportunities

If you love animals and are good with people as well, veterinary technology is a career path that allows you to capitalize on your strengths. Opportunities abound to work in a number of environments.

This pathway map can lead to a variety of different occupations and industries. Below is a sampling of some of the possible positions and Arizona-based salaries related to this pathway map. Some of the opportunities presented below may require either a bachelor degree or a post-graduate level education.

Program Prerequisites

Admission Criteria 

• High school graduation or G.E.D equivalency
• Completion of Program Prerequisites with a "C" or better (You can apply when in your last semester of prerequisite completion)
  • VET101 Introduction to Veterinary Technology (3)
    ***Starting Fall 2017 VET101 will replace ANS110AA*** ANS110AA will be grandfathered in for application until May 2019
  • ENG101 First Year Composition (3)
  • ENG102 First Year Composition (3) OR ENG111 Technical Writing
  • CRE101 (3) ; Critical and Evaluative Reading
  • MAT120 (5) OR MAT121 (4) OR MAT122 (3) Intermediate Algebra (MAT141, MAT142 are not eligible for math pre-requisite)
  • CHM130 Fundamental Chemistry (3)
  • CHM130LL Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory (1)
  • BIO181 General Biology (Majors) (4) Must have been taken within 5 years of application
• Have proof of Tetanus toxoid within the last 7 years
• Animal-related work experience (volunteer or paid). A minimum 200 hours of documented experience required. Owning animals and pet sitting do not count toward work experience. A signed letter by supervisor/manager with hours documented is required for animal care experience to be considered.
• 3 signed letters of reference
  • 1 College instructor from whom you took a course (preferably science based subject)
  • 1 Supervisor or other responsible person representing the site animal care related experience is obtained
  • 1 Personal reference from adult that is not an immediate or extended family member who has known you at least 3 years
• Meet physical requirements of the job
  • Frequently lifting and carrying 40 pounds from the ground to waist level, and occasionally being able to lift fifty or more pounds with assistance. This is a physically demanding occupational field.
• Complete and turn in a Veterinary Technology Program Application to the Veterinary Technology Program Director--Dr. Kimberly Focht before the deadline.

Want to apply to the Veterinary Technology program?

Please visit: mesacc.edu/vet-tech-admissions

Course Sequence by Term

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

• 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 placement tests and completion of 100-200 level course pre-/corequisites and program prerequisites.
• Students should meet with an academic advisor about any concerns that may affect course enrollment.

Note

It is recommended that students take the courses in Term 5 Block 2 during the summer.

Ready to get started?

Follow one of the options below to get started on your personal career pathway.

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.

All information is administered by the Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation at Maricopa County Community College District and published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.

View MCCCD’s program website for the Associate in Applied Science in Veterinary Technology/Animal Health (http://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm3?id=108008).

* Salary information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2017.