Are you considering a career as a veterinary assistant? This course will answer all of your questions and more as you learn about pet nutrition, preventing parasites, health and safety issues, reasons for and against spaying and neutering, and how to best assist owners in times of need.

Details

If you have ever considered a career as a veterinary assistant, you might have quite a few questions about what it is they do: What vaccinations do cats and dogs? What is the best way to control fleas? What do you do if your dog has a cut? What is the best way to deal with an emergency situation involving a pet? This course answers these questions and more.

You will learn about pet nutrition and a variety of health and safety issues. You will understand how to treat and prevent parasites, including roundworms and heartworms. You will even learn the facts of life, as it pertains to dogs and cats. You will explore current thoughts on spaying and neutering, how to deal with the very emotional issues of euthanasia, pet loss, and how best to assist clients in a time of need.

Enrollment Options:

Instructor-Led6 Weeks AccessCourse Code: pcvStart Dates*Jul 14 | Aug 18 | Sep 15 | Oct 13*Choose start date in cart$115.00USD.

Syllabus

Lesson 1 – History of Veterinary Practice and Dog and Cat Reproduction

Lesson 2 – Vaccinology for Dogs and Cats

Lesson 3 – Parasites Infesting Pets and People

Lesson 4 – How to Pick the Best Food for Your Pet; Prescription Diets

Lesson 5 – Euthanasia: The Procedure, How to Help Clients, and Assisting Children With Pet Loss

Lesson 6 – Workplace Safety and Veterinary Hospital Economics

Lesson 7 – Pet First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Lesson 8 – External Parasites of Pets, Including the Flea

Lesson 9 – Confidentiality and Grievances, Client Communications, and Client Education

Lesson 10 – Medical Records and Prescriptions

Lesson 11 – Alternative Therapies in Veterinary Medicine

Lesson 12 – Behavior Counseling for Puppies and Kittens and Putting It All Together in a Health Plan

Requirements

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or newer.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

WHAT IS VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY?

Turn your love of animals into a lucrative career, without breaking your budget at OCTC’s Veterinary Technology program. The Vet Tech program will provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to work as a professional veterinary technician in as little as two years. Areas of study include office and hospital procedures, client relations and communications, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, clinical techniques, pharmacology, anesthesiology, surgical and medical nursing, radiology and clinical pathology training. The Vet Tech program,will provide you with valuable real world clinical and lab experiences to develop the skills needed to become a valued professional in the field.

What are my career choices?

The Veterinary Technology field is experiencing tremendous growth. Pets are considered part of the family, and the demand for veterinary care has increased. There are career opportunities in teaching, pharmaceuticals, biomedical research, private practice, humane societies, diagnostic labs, zoo/wildlife medicine, and veterinary supply sales.

What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?

Associate in Applied Science Degree and Transfer

• AAS Veterinary Technology

For graduation requirements, see the academic plan.

Additional Information

Program Enrollment

Program enrollment is limited due to facility constraints and admission is not guaranteed. Interested applicants should contact the program faculty early to allow time for completion of all required forms. Students who complete the program will be awarded the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology and are eligible to sit for the national/state exams to obtain licensure.

The Veterinary Technology program is accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)

Length of Program

You can earn an associate in applied science degree in two years if you maintain full-time status.

This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a self-regulating entity that, according to U.S. federal law, must be established by institutions that use laboratory animals for research or instructional purposes to oversee and evaluate all aspects of the institution’s animal care and use program.

Vet Tech Schools In Kentucky

Students with keen interest in veterinary and love animals may pursue a career in vet tech. It is a rewarding and exciting job with a positive market outlook. Such students must attend vet tech schools where they are trained how to work with animals and take care of them. The career is fun and everyday offers something new.

How to become a vet tech in Kentucky

Becoming a vet tech in Kentucky requires one to attend a vet tech program approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Prospects students should take courses in mathematics, biology and chemistry in high school. These courses act as useful prerequisites as they form the basis for what will be covered during the training.

Training – There are several accredited schools and institutes that offer vet tech training programs in Kentucky. A two year vet tech training program earns a student an associate’s degree, which is the minimum certification and licensing requirement in Kentucky. Students are trained in veterinary anatomy, physiology, animal nursing, handling diseases and nutrition. They also do courses related to office practices, surgical techniques, radiography and lab techniques.

Career Description

The role of a vet tech depends on the employer, level of education and the industry.

Veterinary technicians perform a wide range of tasks which are usually delegated by a veterinarian. They can draw blood, take specimens from the animal, prepare them for examination, dispense medication and advice animal owners among other skilled assignments. Some veterinary technicians may utilize electronic health software packages to record patient history and feed it into a computer.

Career opportunities in Kentucky

The Bureau Labor Statistic estimates that the statewide annual salary is $26,770. Some regions such as Lexington, South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area had salaries higher than the average, while other such as West Central and West Kentucky nonmetropolitan had the least salaries.

Inexperienced technicians tend to work at low-paying jobs before getting the basic experience which is required by most employers. Vet techs with associate’s degree usually work in animal hospitals and clinics while those with a bachelor’s degree may be employed in animal drug and feed makers, sample-analysis labs, diagnostic labs and biomedical research facilities.

Salary and Career Info

The interactive chart above is a visual representation of the annual salary of Kentucky veterinary technicians compared to the national annual salaries, all based on the latest May 2013 Occupational Employment Statistics figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Certification

Veterinary technicians get certified in Kentucky after attending an approved vet tech program and passing the American Veterinary Medical Association. The vet tech program must be approved by the AVMA. Students who pass the VTNE test are then required to begin employment with the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners. The job is usually done under direct supervision of a registered veterinarian in Kentucky. Kentucky laws need vet techs to have good moral character. Consumption of illegal substances, crime guilty and working under the influence of alcohol may put your certification at risk.

Vet tech schools in Kentucky

There are many veterinary schools in Kentucky that offer both bachelors and associates degree in veterinary technology. Most of them are located in large cities such as Louisville, Lexington and Frankfort. The AVMA has approved three schools in Kentucky, although prospect vet techs from Kentucky can enroll in distance learning programs in approved schools outside Kentucky. The schools include;

• Murray State University– It is located in Kentucky State. It offers a 4-year bachelors degree program in veterinary technology. It is situated at the Animal Health Technology Center where students are trained in health care for swine, exotics, sheep, beef, horses, lab animals, cats and dogs. It mainly focuses on research and diagnostic techniques for both small and large animals.
• Morehead State University– It is located in Morehead, Kentucky. The Department of Agricultural Sciences offers both bachelors and associates degree. Students undertaking veterinary technology programs develop skills and take courses that improve their understanding of various animal nursing and care techniques. Clinical animal training is carried on actual patients and completed at the Derrickson Agricultural Complex, Equine Education and Health Center and MSU Vet Tech Small Animal Teaching Hospital.
• Brown Mackie College– It offers a veterinary associates degree in Louisville. Students cover various competencies that include training in basic office procedures and nursing skills. There is a wide range of topics that include medical imaging, administration of anesthesia, lab procedures, pre-operative and post-operative care, drug administration, grooming, examination of animals, animal behavior and safety.