Best Veterinary Science colleges in Maryland for 2021

University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD

University of Maryland-College Park offers 4 Veterinary Science degree programs. It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 28 Veterinary Science students graduated with students earning 28 Doctoral degrees.

Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD

Community College of Baltimore County offers 1 Veterinary Science degree programs. It’s a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 15 Veterinary Science students graduated with students earning 15 Associate’s degrees.

veterinary colleges in maryland

University of Maryland-College Park offers 4 Veterinary Science degree programs. It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb.

University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD

University of Maryland-College Park offers 4 Veterinary Science degree programs. It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 28 Veterinary Science students graduated with students earning 28 Doctoral degrees Community

College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD

Community College of Baltimore County offers 1 Veterinary Science degree programs. It’s a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 15 Veterinary Science students graduated with students earning 15 Associate’s degrees.

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

University in Maryland

Located in:University of MarylandAddress: College Park, MD 20740, United States

Veterinary Medical College

Veterinarian in Washington, D.C., United States

Department of Veterinary Medicine

University department in Maryland

Located in:University of Maryland

Address: 8075 Greenmead Dr, College Park, MD 20740, United States

American College of Veterinary Surgeons

A veterinarian in Germantown, Maryland

Located in:Crystal Rock Place

Address: 19785 Crystal Rock Dr, Germantown, MD 20874, United States

Schools in Baltimore, MD with Associate’s Degrees in Veterinary Science

The Community College of Baltimore County

This veterinary technology program will train you to perform various tasks related to animal care, including imaging, laboratory and operating room procedures, administering medications and teaching owners how to handle their pets’ medical problems. You must earn 69 credits to receive your degree and be available to take classes during the day, evening and on Saturdays. You will study animal nutrition, veterinary anatomy, physiology, radiology, surgery and anesthesia and will complete the program with a veterinary internship.

• Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology
• Program Length: 2 years
• Tuition and Fees: $4,441 per year for in-county students; $7,217 per year for in-state students; $10,394 per year for out-of-state students (costs for 2019-2020)
• Prerequisites: Previous biology and veterinary technology courses with a minimum grade of a ‘C’ or better
• Requirements: Proof of health insurance, recent tetanus booster, pre-rabies immunization
• School Type: 2-year, public; 18,830 students (all undergraduate)

Schools in Baltimore, MD with Bachelor’s Degrees in Veterinary Science

University of Maryland-College Park

The agricultural/veterinary medicine specialization offered by the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences is designed as a pre-veterinary medicine program for aspiring veterinarians. To receive this degree you must earn a minimum of 47 credits in core general education courses and at least 62 credits in animal sciences. Coursework could include subjects like animal nutrition and behavior, genetics, animal diseases, anatomy, physiology and equine sciences.

• Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences
• Specialization Area: Agricultural/Veterinary Medicine
• Program Length: 4 years
• Tuition and Fees: $10,803 per year for in-state students; $36,692 per year for out-of-state students (costs for 2019-2020)
• School Type: 4-year, public; 41,200 students (30,762 undergraduate)

Schools in Baltimore, MD with Master’s Degrees in Veterinary Science

University of Maryland-College Park

This graduate program requires you to earn at least 24 credits in graduate courses and 6 credits in thesis research. You must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 in the graduate courses and earn at least 12 credits in courses pertaining to your major. A public presentation of your thesis during a seminar and an oral examination are also required to receive this degree. This program may be useful for an individual who is interested in a research-based career in the field of veterinary science.

• Program Name: Master of Science in Veterinary Medical Sciences
• Program Length: Must be completed within 5 years
• Tuition and Fees: $12,906 per year for in-state students; $27,864 per year for out-of-state students (costs for 2018-2019)
• Prerequisites: Veterinary or Bachelor of Science degree
• Requirements: Minimum GPA of 3.0, combined score of at least 1100 on graduate record exam
• School Type: 4-year, public; 41,200 students (30,762 undergraduate)

In conclusion, the Community College of Baltimore County offers an associate degree in veterinary technology, while the University of Maryland- College Park offers Baltimore area students a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the veterinary science field.

ACCREDITED VET TECH PROGRAMS IN MD

In the state of Maryland, to become a registered veterinary technician (RVT), a person must have graduated from a two or four-year program in veterinary technology or a related field, preferably one accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). The CVTEA is the main program approval body established by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

To gain entry to an associate program in veterinary technology, typical requirements include sending official high school transcripts, completing of specific secondary school coursework (e.g., biology, chemistry, Algebra), submitting proof of health insurance and immunizations, writing a personal statement, passing a test (particularly the TOEFL for non-native speakers of English), and paying an application fee. Some programs may even call for candidate interviews, experience working with animals, or letters of recommendation.

There is currently one program accredited by CVTEA in Maryland: the Essex Campus of the Community College in Baltimore. Essex offers a 65-credit associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology. Courses include veterinary medical terminology; veterinary anatomy & physiology; animal nutrition; companion animal disease & pathology; pharmacology & toxicology; veterinary imaging; and more. This rigorous program also includes general education coursework, laboratory sections, and an internship at local facilities to let the student experience some hands-on training and gain the skills needed to pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).

Students in this program must have rabies immunizations, proof of health insurance, have a current Tetanus booster, and buy uniforms. The program begins in the Fall of each academic year. Essex graduates have an above-average first-time pass rate on the VTNE of 86 percent (2016-2020).

ONLINE PROGRAMS FOR VET TECHS

Since there’s only one AVMA-accredited program in MD, some students may find it difficult to attend an in-state program. Others may have scheduling restraints due to familial or other types of commitments. Luckily there are currently several online, CVTEA-accredited vet tech programs. These programs generally offer coursework online and have students complete their clinical sessions at approved local facilities such as veterinary hospitals and private practice clinics. While there, a licensed veterinarian can progressively sign off on skills attained.

One distance-based vet tech program is offered through Dallas College (Formerly Cedar Valley College) of Lancaster, TX. Dallas College—which has had AVMA-accreditation since 1978—teaches students through multimedia coursework in a flexible schedule. Students can begin in the fall, spring, or summer and take one or more courses per semester as their schedule permits.

Courses are delivered through multimedia that combines videos, web assignments, textbooks, and in-clinic exercises supervised by a preceptor whose duty it is to verify completion of assignments, exercises, and exams. Preceptors act as mentors to help and tutor the student and must be a veterinarian, veterinary technician, or licensed as an RVT, LVT, or CVT. Some of the courses in this program include veterinary office management; anesthesia & surgical assistance; and veterinary technology. Between 2017 and 2020, 68 percent of online students passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) on their first attempt.

Additionally, Purdue University offers a competitive associate of applied technology (AAS) degree in veterinary nursing. With 35 courses and 18 clinical mentorships, Purdue’s program is arguably one of the most comprehensive. Some of the web-based classes include anatomy for veterinary technicians; small animal nursing and health management; introduction to ophthalmology, dermatology & oncology; and imaging for vet techs. Mentorships include large animal medical nursing, equine medical nursing, parasitology & microbiology, clinical pathology, and small animal diagnostic imaging.

Interestingly, the first-time pass rates on the VTNE differed between on-campus and online students in veterinary technology, but both were very high. At Purdue, 87.7 percent of the on-campus students passed the test on their first attempt between 2017 and 2020, while 95.2 percent of online students passed their first time.

OCCUPATIONAL DEMAND FOR VET TECHS IN MARYLAND

For veterinary technicians nationwide, there is expected to be an explosion of job openings. By illustration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2019) anticipates that opportunities in this field will swell 16 percent between 2019 and 2029, much faster than the average growth projected in all occupations during that time (4 percent). According to Projections Central (2021), vet techs in Maryland can anticipate occupational growth of 19.2 percent between 2018 and 2028.

These animal healthcare professionals are employed in a range of environments, including veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, clinics (general and specialty), kennels, farms, laboratories, biomedical research facilities, zoos, aquariums, universities, governmental organizations, and animal welfare agencies. While some may be called upon to work normal business hours, others may be asked to work weekends, holidays, or evenings according to the needs of their patients.

To secure employment in this field, aspiring vet techs are encouraged to use traditional job searching sites such as Monster, Simply Hired, and LinkedIn. Additionally, iHireVeterinary provides an active list of opportunities at local employers in MD such as the Veterinary Neurology and Imaging of the Chesapeake, Maryland SPCA, Kelly Services, Annapolis Animal Hospital, Doc Side VMC, and Bush Veterinary Neurology Serice, to name a few. Also, the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association provides job postings as well as continuing education (CE) opportunities and resources for those interested in veterinary occupations.

Finally, vet techs in MD who wish to specialize in a particular field would be well served to research the societies and academies—some with professional credentialing opportunities—of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA 2020). Popular subfields include nutrition, animal behavior, critical care, clinical pathology, zoological medicine, and anesthesia.