Veterinary Technician
Program Number:
100911
Associate Degree of Applied Science
Program Courses offered at the following Campuses:
About
Students are taught the skills and procedures to effectively contribute to the health and well being of veterinary patients. Veterinary technicians, while always working under the supervision of a veterinarian, provide many services. Routine duties include restraint of animals, sample collection, nursing care (IV catheter placement, bandage application, medication administration, etc.), feeding of animals, record keeping, office procedures, and client education and communication. Other skills include administration of anesthesia, surgical nursing, radiographic procedures, dental prophylaxis, clinical pathology procedures and medication preparation. This job requires the physical strength to lift and carry 50 pounds, the ability to distinguish colors, and to have good vision and good hearing.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) administered by the Veterinary Examining Board of the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. Receiving a passing score on the VTNE permits the use of the title of Certified Veterinary Technician.
This program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities.
A completed packet consists of the completed application form,
$30 application fee (if not previously paid), high school transcripts, GED/HSED test scores, college transcript(s) and COMPASS test scores. An incomplete packet will be returned without being considered for admissions. If the transcripts were previously submitted, a new copy(s) needs to be included with the admissions packet.
Admissions
Requirements for Program Application
The following is required to process your application:
- High School transcript - or
- HSED/GED Test Scores - and
- All College transcripts - and
- COMPASS, ASSET, ACT or SAT test scores. Bachelors Degree waives testing.
Admission Processing Deadlines:
Fall 2011
Madison College begins collecting applications for the following year's fall semester on September 1, 2010. For this program applications and credentials must be received by July 1, 2011, to be considered for the fall semester.
Admission information and Next Steps:
Program Outcomes
Program Outcomes:
- Participate in facility management utilizing traditional and electronic media and appropriate Veterinary Medical Terminology and abbreviations.
- Communicate in a professional manner in all formats, written, oral, nonverbal and electronic.
- Read and follow protocols and procedures accurately and within time constraints.
- Work as a team member demonstrating initiative, and applying time and stress management techniques.
- Identify and manage stressful and emotional work situations.
- Follow and uphold applicable laws and the veterinary technology’s profession’s ethical code to provide high quality care to patients.
- Safely and effectively administer prescribed drugs to patients, and accurately dispense and explain drugs to clients.
- Demonstrate and perform patient assessment techniques, husbandry, nutrition, therapeutic and dentistry techniques in a variety of animal species (including laboratory animal species, companion animals, and food animals).
- Safely and effectively manage patients in all phases of anesthetic procedures, as well as safely and effectively select, utilize and maintain anesthetic delivery and monitoring instruments and equipment.
- Demonstrate and integrate all aspects of patient management for common surgical procedures in a variety of animal species.
- Properly package, handle and store specimens for laboratory analysis, properly carry out analysis of laboratory specimens. (Blood, urine, feces, tissues, skin scrapes, discharge, body fluids)
- Safely and effectively produce diagnostic images.
Employment
Graduation Requirements:
Career Potential:
- Veterinary Technician
- Laboratory Animal Technician
Technicians are usually employed by: small/companion, large animal/equine, mixed animal or exotic animal practices or humane societies. Also can help with care and use of animals in research environments.
With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find employment as:
- Hospital Managers
- Facility Managers
- Pet Food Company Representative
- Drug Company Representative
Additional Info
Veterinary Technician Program Information can be found in our Question and Answer booklet at: Answers To Your Questions - Veterinary Technician Program (PDF) 163.97 KB
We offer a 5 week program for a Laboratory Animal Caretaker Training Certificate. Information for the Laboratory Animal Caretaker Training Certificate can be found in the following brochure: Laboratory Animal Caretaker Training (PDF)
Last Modified: July 2, 2010