Do you love working with animals? Do you want to learn how to assist in their medical care, improve their quality of life, and promote animal health? If so, the veterinary technology program is right for you!
Veterinary assistants and registered veterinary technicians are an essential part of the animal health care team. While working under the supervision of veterinarians, they perform several types of tasks including laboratory procedures, surgical and anesthesia assisting, digital imaging (including x-ray technology), dental procedures, medical nursing, emergency care, and veterinary office procedures. In addition to learning these essential techniques in the veterinary technology program, students will also learn to assess animal disease, its causes, preventions, and treatments.
Allan Hancock College's veterinary technology program effectively prepares students for the modern workforce. The program introduces technical skills and veterinary medical concepts necessary to pursue a career as a veterinary assistant and meets the educational requirements of the California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) for veterinary assistants to become registered veterinary technicians (RVT).
Hancock’s strong partnerships with local veterinarians provide students valuable connections to fulfill the practical work experience requirement through internship opportunities.
This program will help you to:
- understand scientific principles associated with animal medical, surgical, and dental care
- safely perform veterinary radiology
- understand and employ the proper techniques for performing veterinary laboratory procedures used in clinical settings
- effectively communicate during the performance of veterinary office procedures
- practice techniques for safe handling of animals under veterinary care
- learn practical solutions for the prevention and control of animal disease
Suggested Course Sequence
The “Suggested Course Sequence” is an example of how to complete the requirements plus any additional general education that may be needed. If you would like to create a personalized Student Education Plan (SEP), schedule a meeting with a counselor.
To be admitted into the program, students must have completed BIOL 100 and CHEM 120 (or the equivalent).
Students should also plan to take VT 300 prior to starting the program.
Fall Semester (Year 1)
Course #
Course Title
Units
This course introduces the biology of animals, the chemistry of life and medical terminology used in veterinary medicine. It includes the study of basic normal anatomy and physiology (in both large and small animals) in a body systems format, along with related vocabulary and spelling. Commonly used veterinary acronyms and abbreviations are woven throughout the course where relevant.
Limitations on Enrollment: Acceptance into the Veterinary Technology Program. ENGL 101
This course covers the various roles of the veterinary health care team including veterinary hospital record management, client and interpersonal communication, medical terminology, and legal, ethical, and safety issues.
Limitations on Enrollment: Acceptance into the Veterinary Technology Program. ENGL 101
This course covers basic concepts in veterinary pharmacology, including the chemistry of pharmaceuticals and biologics commonly used in the maintenance of animal health. It also includes generic terminology, abbreviations for prescriptions, labeling requirements, state and federal laws, classification of materials, weights and measures, drug dosage flow rates, pharmacological mathematics and the metric system, side effects and drug interactions, and the safe handling of biohazardous material.
This course introduces students to the expansive field of clinical pathology and microbiology. Topics include bacteriology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, cytology, hematology, internal and external parasites, immunology, and serology.
Total Units:
10
Spring Semester (Year 1)
Course #
Course Title
Units
This course covers diseases and animal nursing including animal examination, handling, and restraint of various species used in an animal hospital setting; including sanitation, administration of medicine, emergency treatment and critical care, diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, venipuncture, electrocardiology, application of casts, splints and other appliances. It includes zoonotic diseases, their causes and effects, and immunology of animals.
This course covers surgical nursing, assisting and instrumentation, surgical preparation, suturing techniques, post-operative care, anesthesia instrumentation, induction and monitoring, dental prophylaxis and extractions, IV catheter placement, sterilization of equipment and the maintenance of an aseptic environment.
Limitations on Enrollment: Acceptance into the Veterinary Technology Program. ENGL 101
This course provides an introduction to the study of radiology, diagnostic imaging and equipment used in veterinary practices, radiation safety, and the safe operation of radiographic equipment. It includes image capture and processing, and patient positioning.
Total Units:
10
Program Requirements:
"Program Requirements" specify the courses required for this program. See suggested course sequence for additional information.
A major of 23 units is required for the certificate of achievement.
Required core courses (20 units):
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| VT 301 | Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| VT 302 | Veterinary Office Procedures | 2.000 - 0.000 |
| VT 303 | Veterinary Pharmacology | 2.000 - 0.000 |
| VT 304 | Clinical Pathology & Microbiology | 3.000 - 0.000 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| VT 305 | Medical Nursing & Animal Care | 4.000 - 0.000 |
| VT 306 | Surgical Nursing & Dentistry | 4.000 - 0.000 |
| VT 307 | Veterinary Radiology and Radiation Safety | 2.000 - 0.000 |
Plus a minimum of 3 units selected from the following:
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| VT 102 | Introduction to Animal Feeding and Nutrition | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| VT 308 | Introductory Clinical Laboratory Techniques | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| WEE 149 | Work Experience Education: Occupational | 1.000 - 8.000 |
What's New!
Internship Program
Gain valuable work experience with one of our veterinary partners. Internships are only available to students currently enrolled in the Veterinary Technology certificate program.
VT 300 Introduction to Veterinary Technology
Get an overview of the field of animal health care and the Veterinary Technology program at AHC. This 2-unit class is open to all students and is an introduction to the certificate of achievement program.
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Contact Information
Coordinator and Professor
Amy Rice, RVT
805-922-6966 ext. 3480
amy.rice@hancockcollege.edu
