Program Overview

Veterinary Assistant

Program Overview

The Veterinary Assistant program at Madison College will prepare you to care for animals in a variety of professions. Great veterinary assistants love animals, are compassionate, detail-oriented, and good communicators. As a vet assistant, your job is to support the veterinarian and vet tech with tasks. Typical duties include cleaning enclosures, feeding, weighing, bathing, taking temperatures, restraining animals during treatment, and giving medications.

Program Details

• Program Number:
• Your Degree: Technical Diploma
• Area of Study: Science, Math and Natural Resources
• Delivery Method: Some Online/Some In Person
• Estimated Time to Complete: 28 Credits | Finish diploma in 1 year
• Financial Aid Available: Yes

Estimated Program Cost

• Estimated Program Cost: $5,148.24
• View Tuition and Fees: Tuition and Fees
• Financial Aid: Applying for financial aid and scholarships help you pay for your education.
• Learn About Paying for College: Paying for College

Curriculum and Experience

Pre-Program

• Principles of Animal Biology: 4 credits

First Semester

• Intro to Veterinary Office Preparations and Procedures: 2 credits
• Animal Disease 1: 2 credits
• Animal Anatomy & Physiology 1: 3 credits
• Veterinary Medical Terminology: 2 credits
• Animal Care and Management 1: 3 credits

Second Semester

• Animal Disease 2: 2 credits
• Pharmacology 1 - Animals: 2 credits
• Lab Animal Science 1: 2 credits
• Veterinary Assistant and Technician Preparation for Surgery: 1 credit
• Veterinary Clinic Work Experience 1: 2 credits
• Animal Care and Management 2: 3 credits

Admission

To Apply

• Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program.
• Before submitting an application, it’s essential to review the Petition Process webpage, which also includes estimated wait times for each program.
• View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements

After Acceptance

• Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Petition Requirements.
• See the Petition information in the next section.

Additional Notes

• Students are required to meet the current admission and petition requirements.
• Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.

Petition

After Admission (Petition Requirements)

• Run a Degree Progress Report to confirm which pre-program requirements are satisfied
  ot satisfied and specific ways to satisfy requirements.
• Complete the Petition Requirements for Veterinary Assistant.
• Courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. A grade of C- will not be accepted.

Mandatory Workshop in Brightspace

• Prerequisites:
  • Algebra (testing, college coursework, or bachelor’s degree in a related biological science)
  • English and Reading (testing, college coursework, or bachelor’s degree)

Course Requirement

• Principles of Animal Biology

Petitioning

• This program petitions for entry into the following term:
  • Fall - Petition window opens on April 1
• Review the Petition Process for details on how and when to petition.

After Petitioning

• If awarded a seat, you will receive instructions regarding the below required items. If you do not complete the required items, it may result in losing your seat and starting the application process from the beginning.
  • Complete the Veterinary Sciences Job Shadow Form.
  • Consult your physician:
    • It is recommended that Veterinary Assistant students get a physical exam before starting the program.
    • It is required for all students to receive the 2-dose pre-exposure rabies vaccinations prior to entering the Veterinary Assistant or Veterinary Technician programs. Additional information:
  • Attend a mandatory Advising and Registration session. Students awarded a seat in the core program will receive additional information on these sessions.
  • Enroll in core program courses. Students who are awarded a seat are expected to start the core program courses for the awarded term. Students who choose not to begin the core program courses or are not able to begin core program courses may be discontinued from pre-program status.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of the Veterinary Assistant Program gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to advance employment in the veterinary health care industry. Students in the VA Program can decide to continue their degree into the Veterinary Technician 2-year (4-semester) Program. Students that complete the 2-year associate degree are able to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) and become a Certified Veterinary Technician.

Graduate Summary

• Number of Program Graduates: 34 (2023), 31 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Sent: 34 (2023), 31 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Returned: 34 (2023), 31 (2024)
• Percent of Surveys Returned: 100% (2023), 100% (2024)
• Available for Employment: 7 (2023), 8 (2024)
• Percent Available for Employment: 20.6% (2023), 25.8% (2024)
• Not in Labor Market: 27 (2023), 23 (2024)
• Percent Not in Labor Market: 79.4% (2023), 74.2% (2024)

Graduate Employers

• Aurora Veterinary Care: Veterinary Technician
• Baraboo Valley Veterinary Clinic: Certified Veterinary Technician
• Farm & Home Veterinary Services: Veterinary Technician
• Healthy Pet Veterinary Clinic: Veterinary Technician
• Integrative Veterinary Hospital: Veterinary Technician
• Truesdell Animal Care Hospital: Certified Veterinary Technician
• UW - Madison School of Veterinary Medicine: Veterinary Technician

Related Program

• Veterinary Technician: Ready to take the next step? If you are interested in seeking an associate degree, diploma, or certificate, your first step is to apply to Madison College. It's easy and free to apply!