Veterinary Assistant

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Prepares students for entry-level veterinary assisting roles through instruction in veterinary terminology, animal handling and restraint, practice management, safety, sanitation, client communication, basic clinical skills, patient care, pharmacy support, laboratory procedures, surgical preparation, and supervised veterinary field externship.

Program Purpose

Prepares students with the foundational knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors needed for entry-level employment in veterinary assisting and animal care settings, including supervised partner-site externship experience aligned with veterinary assistant workforce preparation and NAVTA approval requirements

Learning Outcomes

Apply professional communication, client education, medical terminology, ethical conduct, and documentation practices used in veterinary assisting.

Demonstrate safe animal handling, restraint, husbandry, and behavior assessment techniques used in veterinary settings.

Perform foundational veterinary office, recordkeeping, practice management, sanitation, safety, and legal compliance procedures.

Demonstrate basic clinical support skills in patient assessment, nursing support, pharmacy support, surgical preparation, laboratory specimen handling, and patient care under appropriate supervision.

Demonstrate professionalism, safety awareness, confidentiality, and reflective learning through supervised veterinary partner-site externship experience, including documentation of externship hours, required veterinary assistant skills, and site supervisor/employer feedback