Veterinary Assisting
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Veterinary Assisting prepares students for introductory careers in veterinary medicine and animal health which require basic knowledge and skills involving animal care and management, veterinary medical care, and client communications and service.
Details
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Participate in business and facility management by creating, maintaining, and filing appointment schedules, patient/client records, financial records, logs and inventory records, and by demonstrating effective client communication skills.
- Utilize medical terminology in verbal and written communications and explain the principles of ethics and legal issues in veterinary technology.
- Utilize computers and computer software programs to facilitate creation, storage, and retrieval of data files.
- Assist in collection of clinical laboratory specimen for analysis, including hematology, urinalysis, blood chemistry, hemostasis, serology, cytology, parasitology, and necropsy.
- Compare and contrast the basics of anatomy and physiology of common domestic animals, and apply that knowledge to performing common clinical procedures and treatments.
- Perform proper techniques of basic husbandry, restraint and handling, and assist in small animal nursing and exam room procedures.
- Assess life-stage nutritional requirements for well animals, identify common feeds and feeding practices, and effectively communicate the special nutritional requirements and feeding of diseased animals.
- Demonstrate proper use and maintenance of veterinary diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic equipment.
- Identify therapeutic drugs, vaccines, and supplements used in veterinary medicine, and effectively communicate their mechanisms, common uses, side effects, and regulatory considerations.
- Recognize legal issues associated with pharmaceuticals, fill prescriptions, and perform inventory control.
- Assist the veterinary technician and/or veterinarian in the completion of diagnostic radiographs and ultrasound including restraining and positioning of patients and observing safety standards.
- Assist in the surgical preparation of the patient, set up of the surgery suite, and maintain asepsis.
- Maintain surgical instruments and operating room sanitation and care.
Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Animal Caretakers
$31,710 Show expanded career information for Animal Caretakers
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
$32,180 Show expanded career information for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VET101 | Introduction to Veterinary Technology | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
VET101LL | Animal Care Skills I Laboratory | 2 | |||
VET103 | Veterinary Assisting I | Only offered in Fall | 3 | ||
ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | ||
VET104 | Veterinary Assisting II | Only offered in Spring | 3 | ||
VET109 | Veterinary Assisting Internship | Only offered in Spring | 1 |
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First Year Composition
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=184079).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.