Veterinary Assistant

Certificate of Applied Science

Program Director:  Annie Bryan 

Program Faculty: Cynthia Faux

Program Website 

This is a hybrid program with specific clinical requirements. Please contact Program Director for more information.

This program will prepare students to successfully assist the veterinarian with the care of small animals. Veterinary assistants will have the basic skills to help the veterinarian provide patient management, care, and clinical procedures assistance as well as owner communication. Includes instruction in animal nursing care, animal health and nutrition, animal handling for canines and felines. Graduates will have an introduction in clinical pathology, radiology, and clinical laboratory procedures. Graduates will be proficient in office administration skills. 

This stackable credential may lead students directly into the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technician.

For more information about other veterinary degrees offered, visit the catalog pages for the Veterinary Office and Veterinary Technician.

Graduates are prepared to:

• Manage business functions of a veterinary office including communicating professionally and upholding the veterinary technology professional ethical codes.
• Dispense prescribed drugs to patients and explain drug information to client. 
• Perform basic patient assessment techniques on canine/feline.
• Demonstrate basic husbandry, nutrition and therapeutics for canine/feline.
• Assist with patients and equipment under anesthesia.
• Explain the role of surgical assistant for surgery on an animal.
• Perform basic laboratory procedures.
  
• Assist veterinarian by positioning the patient for radiographic images.

Estimated Resident Program Cost*

*

Fall 2024 MUS Student Health Insurance Premiums may be changing. Please check the Health Insurance website and/or Student Central for confirmed premium rates.

Program Prerequisite Courses- Required before formal acceptance

The following courses must be completed prior to admission into the Veterinary Technician Program. All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a minimum grade of C (not a C-) in each course and a minimum cumulative GPA in prerequisite coursework of 2.5. Grades in prerequisite courses are a major factor in ranking applications for program acceptance.

Science courses with labs must be completed within five (5) years of application to the program, and other courses must be completed within 15 years of applying to the program.

Program Course Requirements After Formal Acceptance

Once enrolled in Veterinary Technician courses, a minimum of a grade of C (not a C-) in all courses is required to continue in the program. The courses listed below are required in the program of study for the Certificate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Assistant. The courses are offered at GFC MSU in the following sequence:

 TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS: 34-35

+

A grade of C (not a C-) or above is required for graduation.

*

Indicates prerequisites needed.

**

Indicates prerequisites needed.