Associate of Applied Science: Veterinary Technology

Interest Form for Veterinary Technology and Pre-Vet

This program requires selective admission.

This program is designed to graduate up to 27 students per year; therefore, enrollment is limited. It is designed to prepare graduates as assistants to practicing veterinarians or as technical assistants in veterinary medical laboratories in a variety of settings. This course of study is the only American Veterinary Medical Association accredited program in Kansas. In addition, it was one of the first veterinary technology programs established in the United States. The program offers promising careers for people interested in paraprofessional occupations in the field of veterinary medicine.

National attention has been given to the need for veterinary technicians to help with general animal hospital activities, allowing veterinarians to spend more time with the patients. The graduates from this program receive collegiate-level training in science, language arts and business, as well as vocational training in areas of assistance to the veterinarian.

AVMA Accredited

The Veterinary Technology program at Colby Community College is based on American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines and is approved by the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association. It was examined in September 1974 and accredited in December of that year. Full accreditation has been maintained since that time.

Our curriculum and course of study will continue to be periodically examined by the Advisory Committee on Para-Professional Programs, a standing committee of the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association, as well as the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (C.V.T.E.A).

An Associate of Applied Science Degree is earned by those completing this course of study. Graduates take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and state qualifying examinations to become credentialed Veterinary Technicians.

This registry requires continuing education, adherence to strict ethical and legal codes and quality technical training at an approved school. Graduates may become members of the Kansas Veterinary Technicians Association, which sponsors annual continuing education seminars for its members.

The program is directed by a Kansas licensed veterinarian. All clinical instruction is given by professional personnel in a school clinical pathology laboratory and an animal laboratory using small and large animal x-ray, surgical nursing, and animal nursing facilities.

Veterinary Technology Program Goals

• Provide individuals with the knowledge required to adapt to any veterinary employer’s needs.
• Establish a foundation on which the veterinarian can give advanced training with a minimum of time and effort.
• Develop a paraprofessional with the skills of an x-ray, anesthetic, medical and surgical technician.
• Provide training to veterinary technician students to allow them to perform, under the supervision of a veterinarian, all skills allowed by state law.  These include all skills except diagnosing, performing surgery, and prescribing drugs.  Those tasks are limited to licensed veterinarians.

Program Entry

Veterinary Technician students must purchase a smock, coveralls, and rubber boots.  Rabies pre-exposure immunization is strongly recommended.

Admission Eligibility

Entrance Requirements:  Minimum academic qualifications are a high school diploma or GED, a composite ACT score of 18 or higher, or a 2.5 GPA or higher in the last 12 hours of required Veterinary Technology Program courses completed within the past 5 years.  (See program of study for a list of required general education courses.)

Applicants must qualify to enroll in EN176 English Composition I which requires one of the following:

1. Completion of EN176 English Composition I with a “C” or better
2. Have a COMPASS Writing score of 55 or higher and a COMPASS Reading score of 73 or higher
3. Have an ACT English score of 18 or higher and an ACT Reading score of 18 or higher

Applicants must qualify to enroll in MA108 Math for Health Professionals, which requires an ACT Math Score of 14 or higher.

Entrance Recommendations

• High school keyboarding
• High school biology
• High school chemistry
• High school algebra

Application Procedure

Due to the stringent academic curriculum, admission to the Veterinary Technology Program at Colby Community College is limited.  Applications received after the priority date of March 15 will be accepted on a space-available basis.  When the number of applications received prior to March 15 exceeds available space, consideration will be given to students on the basis of the scoring criteria as outlined in the Veterinary Technology Program application packet.

To apply for admission, complete the following procedures:

• Application for admission
• Official high school and college transcripts
• ACT scores
• Medical exam form  (This will become part of your student health record.)

• Official high school and college transcripts

• Completed Veterinary Technology Program application packet
• Official high school and college transcripts
• ACT scores

Students who have been provisionally accepted into the Veterinary Technology Program may elect to defer enrollment for 1 year prior to the original spring semester (third term) starting date for their graduating class.  Students must notify the Program Director in writing of their intent to defer enrollment at least 4 weeks prior to the start of fall (second term) classes.  The open position will then be offered to the next qualified applicant on the waiting list.

Colby Community College uses mandatory placement in English and Math. Students who are required to take developmental courses may not be able to complete this program as outlined.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of Colby Community College Veterinary Technology Program continue to find abundant job opportunities. Although most are employed by veterinarians in private practice, some find employment under a veterinarian’s supervision in zoos, colleges and universities, commercial laboratories, cattle feedlots and horse farms. Veterinarians are continuing to learn more about the role of graduate technicians and their potential to benefit almost any veterinary practice. Technicians can increase a veterinarian’s efficiency and profit by adding services to the practice, improving the quality of services rendered and increasing the practice’s professional image.  To see the listing of available employment opportunities click here.

Technical Standards

The technical standards for enrollment and participation in the Veterinary Technology Program are available upon request.  Students must be able to satisfy the required technical standards described in this document.

Course Requirements

Curriculum

Prerequisites total 25 credit hours.  Program specific courses total 59 credit hours.  Total required for graduation is 84 credit hours.