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Veterinary Assistant Training 2019

February 25, 2019 - October 7, 2019

The Veterinary Assistant Training Program consists of three courses. A certificate of completion of the training will be given upon; successful completion of all three courses and a final project and portfolio, each to be presented on the last night of class.

What is the job outlook for veterinary assistants?

Employment opportunities for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is expected to grow by 14 percent from 2010 to 2020. Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is concentrated in veterinary services, an industry that is projected to grow rapidly during the next decade. The rate of industry growth is being spurred by a growing pet population and advancements in veterinary medicine (source: www.bls.gov/ooh).

Course 1 - Medical Terminology and Intro to Anatomy for Veterinary Assistants

This course provides an introduction to the field of veterinary medicine and lays a foundation for the Veterinary Assistant course series. Topics include an orientation to the veterinary profession, office and client relations, client history taking and exam room procedures, animal handling techniques, basic anatomy and physiology, vaccines and immunizations, and physical examination procedures.

Students must score at least 70% or better on the Course 1 final examination in order to enroll into Course 2, Veterinary Assistant Training Principles.

Fee: $335

Course 2 - Veterinary Assistant Training Principles

This continuing education course is one in a series designed to train students to enter the field of veterinary medicine as an assistant. It provides instruction on laboratory procedures, drug therapy, and radiology procedures. Topics include types of laboratory tests, microscopes, drugs used in the field, and radiology.

Fee: $895

Course 3 - Veterinary Assistant Training Practices

This course consists of 25 hours of combined training including; hours at a Humane Society, 10 hours at a Veterinary Hospital/Clinic (mandatory), guest lectures, and up to three hours of individual research for a final presentation to be given at graduation. Course 3 will run concurrently with Course 2. Students will schedule their individual practice hours with the approval of the instructor.

Fee: $211

Registration requirements

• Students must be 18 prior to the beginning of the Veterinary Assistant Training Practices course.
• Students must be a high school graduate or GED certified prior to July of the program year.
• Veterinary assistant students are required to attend all classes. To register for the certificate program, students need to take the Accuplacer Math and English placement tests.
• To be accepted into the program, students must place into MAT 100 and ENG 099 or higher. (Note: Students do not have to take the MAT 100 or ENG 099 courses, but must receive a score indicating that they qualify for both courses.) If students received a “C” or higher in a college level Math and English class, then they are exempt from taking the Accuplacer placement tests

To register, visit www.hagerstowncc.edu/coned/register or call 240-500-2236 for details.

Veterinary Assistant Training uses live animals for teaching purposes. Hagerstown Community College takes all necessary safety precautions when students interact with live animals, however, students must be aware that live animals by nature may not be absolutely controlled. Therefore, a potential exists for students to be bitten, scratched, or injured by an animal while participating in this training. Hagerstown Community College makes no representation concerning any animal’s exposure to rabies or other diseases. If a student is bitten during the course of the program, the student agrees to pay the cost of the rabies treatment and any other medical treatment required. Hagerstown Community College does not provide medical insurance or workman’s compensation for any injury suffered while participating in this training.