Program Overview

Veterinary Technology - A.A.S.

About This Program

Join the caring community of veterinary professionals with the Veterinary Technology Associate Degree. Learn hands-on skills and gain experience in a variety of animal care settings. Enroll now and make a difference in the lives of animals.

Contact Information

• Trumbull Campus: Melissa Best
• Tuscarawas Campus: Kimberly Huston
• Speak with an Advisor
  • Trumbull Campus
  • Tuscarawas Campus
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery: In person
• Location: Trumbull Campus, Tuscarawas Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Veterinary technologists and technicians

• 16.2% much faster than the average
• 112,900 number of jobs
• $36,260 potential earnings

Accreditation

The A.A.S. degree in Veterinary Technology is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

• VTEC 10001: INTRODUCTION TO VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY (2)
• VTEC 10002: VETERINARY NURSING I (3)
• VTEC 10003: VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY I (2)
• VTEC 10204: CLINICAL LABORATORY I (3)
• VTEC 10205: VETERINARY NURSING II (3)
• VTEC 20001: NUTRITION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS (2)
• VTEC 20002: DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS (2)
• VTEC 20003: VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY II (2)
• VTEC 20008: CLINICAL LABORATORY II (3)
• VTEC 20009: LARGE ANIMAL NURSING (3)
• VTEC 20010: IMAGING TECHNIQUES (3)
• VTEC 20212: SURGERY AND ANESTHESIA (3)
• VTEC 20215: VETERINARY OFFICE APPLICATIONS (1)
• VTEC 20216: LABORATORY AND EXOTIC ANIMAL MEDICINE (2)
• VTEC 20392: PRACTICUM IN VETERINARY HOSPITAL (ELR) (5)
• Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA; min C grade required in all courses)
  • BSCI 10005: SMALL ANIMAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS (4)
  • BSCI 20021: BASIC MICROBIOLOGY (3)
  • BSCI 20022: BASIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY (1)
  • CHEM 10050: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY (KBS) (3)
  • or CHEM 10055: MOLECULES OF LIFE (KBS) (3)
  • UC 10001: FLASHES 101 (1)
  • Kent Core Composition (3)
  • Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (3)
  • Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (3)
  • Kent Core Social Sciences (3)
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 63

Progression Requirements

All students in the Veterinary Technology program must complete all coursework in sequence before continuing to the next level.

To be able to register for Veterinary Technology (VTEC) courses, students must be accepted to technical study. Acceptance into technical study is selective and requires a separate application process. Students interested in the program must attend an information session prior to application. Criteria for acceptance is the following:

• Minimum 2.500 college or high school overall GPA

Graduation Requirements

• Graduation Requirements Summary
  • Minimum Major GPA: 2.000
  • Minimum Overall GPA: 2.000

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Semester One
  • BSCI 10005: SMALL ANIMAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS (4)
  • CHEM 10050: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY (KBS) (3)
  • or CHEM 10055: MOLECULES OF LIFE (KBS) (3)
  • UC 10001: FLASHES 101 (1)
  • !VTEC 10001: INTRODUCTION TO VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY (2)
  • !VTEC 10002: VETERINARY NURSING I (3)
  • !VTEC 10204: CLINICAL LABORATORY I (3)
• Semester Two
  • VTEC 10003: VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY I (2)
  • !VTEC 10205: VETERINARY NURSING II (3)
  • VTEC 20001: NUTRITION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS (2)
  • VTEC 20008: CLINICAL LABORATORY II (3)
  • VTEC 20215: VETERINARY OFFICE APPLICATIONS (1)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3)
• Semester Three
  • BSCI 20021: BASIC MICROBIOLOGY (3)
  • BSCI 20022: BASIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY (1)
  • VTEC 20002: DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS (2)
  • VTEC 20003: VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY II (2)
  • !VTEC 20010: IMAGING TECHNIQUES (3)
  • !VTEC 20212: SURGERY AND ANESTHESIA (3)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3)
• Semester Four
  • !VTEC 20009: LARGE ANIMAL NURSING (3)
  • VTEC 20216: LABORATORY AND EXOTIC ANIMAL MEDICINE (2)
  • !VTEC 20392: PRACTICUM IN VETERINARY HOSPITAL (ELR) (5)
  • Kent Core Requirement (6)
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 63

University Requirements

All students in an applied or technical associate degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

• Flashes 101 (UC 10001) (1)
• Course is not required for students with 30+ transfer credits (excluding College Credit Plus) or age 21+ at time of admission.
• Kent Core (see table below) (15)
• Total Credit Hour Requirement (60)
• Some associate degrees require students to complete more than 60 credit hours.

Kent Core Requirements

• Bachelor's Requirements
  • Kent Core Composition (KCMP) (3)
  • Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) (3)
  • Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (3)
  • Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (3)
  • Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (3)
  • Total Credit Hours: 15

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Qualify to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination.
2. Carry out successful completion of all essential skills as mandated by American Veterinary Medical Association's Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (Appendix I of the Accreditation Policies and Procedures).
3. Use safe techniques when performing animal handling skills.
4. Use competent decision-making abilities for patient case management, from the initial presentation to the successful outcome of the patient's treatment and resolution of the patient's presenting problem(s).

Full Description

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology prepares graduates to serve as veterinary technicians performing support functions, including routine laboratory and clinical procedures. Other growing employment opportunities are expected in biomedical research, diagnostic laboratories, wildlife facilities, humane societies and animal control facilities.

Upon completion, graduates are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination, which is a step in the process to pursue registration in the State of Ohio.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.