Veterinary Assisting

Do you want to work with animals? Then the Veterinary Assisting program will get you started in your new career! Be a valued member of the veterinary team, working hands-on with animals. The field of veterinary medicine is exciting. We see and do something different on a daily basis.

 The length of this course is about 7 months, with an estimated total cost of $3,075.00.

Veterinary Assisting Fee Sheet

The Veterinary Assistant program at Cape Coral Technical College gives you the skills needed to begin a new career as a Veterinary Assistant. You will participate in the course, which covers the history of veterinary science with companion and livestock animals. How animals became domesticated, the animal industry past and present, and how it affects society. During this time we will also discuss the human-animal bond and how it affects human health. Practical knowledge will also come as we study, safety, animal anatomy, nutrition, behavior and veterinary medical terminology, animal diseases, prevention, and treatment, along with first aid. Laying the foundation for advancement through the curriculum and gaining hands-on skills such as handling, administering medications, and basic animal care while working with companion animals in the classroom. In addition, hands-on training includes dispensing and filling of prescriptions.

Upon completion of the companion animal portion of the curriculum we will study the livestock animal species covering similar subject material as we did for the companion animal species. During this time we will travel off campus to farms and ranches to work with horses and cattle.

The Veterinary Assisting program will teach you how to:

• Provide preventative healthcare
• Collect and prepare laboratory samples
• Assist with animal nursing
• Assist with diagnostic imaging
• Client communication
• Administer medications
• Assist with surgery
• Provide pre- and post-operative care
• Maintain medical records
• Recognize and understand animal behaviors
• Care and maintenance of surgical and laboratory equipment
• Preparing and sterilizing surgical instruments
• Basic pharmacology

Our facility is fortunate to have affiliation agreements with many local veterinary facilities. Giving you the opportunity to apply knowledge received in the classroom environment and building those skills while attending the internship portion of the curriculum.

The Veterinary Assisting Program here at Cape Coral Technical College is designed to prepare students for employment as Certified Veterinary Assistants and has been approved by the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine. All students that successfully complete the program will take the Certified Veterinary Assistant Exam.

Our students find jobs with….

• Veterinary hospitals and clinics
• Animal shelters
• Zoos
• Pet resorts
• Laboratories
• Government
• Academics

Courses and Credit Hours

750 Clock hours (includes 250 internship hours)

OCP	Course Number	Course Title	Length
A	ATE0006	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers 1	450 hours
B	ATE0070	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers 2	150 hours
C	ATE0072	Veterinary Assistant	150 hours

Admission Requirements

Prospective students are required to attend an information session.

 

Certification:

Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA)

Instructor:

Sherry Braddock, CVT

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