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Veterinary Technician

Become a Veterinary Technician

PPSC's Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology can be completed in as little as four semesters.

Veterinary Technicians play a crucial and diverse role in every animal healthcare setting including general practice, emergency and critical care, specialty practice, or research as well as in conservation, wildlife rehab, and livestock health.

They become a proficient phlebotomist, pharmacy technician, dental hygienist, surgery assistant, anesthetist, animal restrainer, receptionist, lab technician and radiology technician. 

Steps to Become a Veterinary Technician
  1. Apply to Pikes Peak State College and select "Veterinary Technician" as your intended degree.
  2. Complete the pre-veterinary track program courses with a C or better (see below for list of classes.)
  3. Shadow a veterinary technician at a veterinary facility for at least 4 hours prior to starting the veterinary technician classes. Download and submit the veterinary clinic experience form.
  4. Enroll in the veterinary technician classes (see semester I - semester IV below.)
  5. After graduating with an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology, you will need to take and pass the VTNE (Veterinary Technology National Exam) and apply for registration as a registered veterinary technician (RVT), which is required for employment as a veterinary technician.
Download Veterinary Clinical Experience Form
Vet at the office

 

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Veterinary Technician Program - AAS

  • MAT 1120 Math for Clinical Calculations (3 Credits) Prerequisite: MAT 0250, MAT 0300, or appropriate placement scores
  • BIO 1111 General College Biology I w/lab (5 Credits) Prerequisite: MAT 0250, MAT 0300, or appropriate placement scores
  • ENG 1031 Technical Writing I (3 Credits) or ENG 1021 English Composition I (3 credits) Prerequisite: College Readiness in English & Quantitative Literacy Math or COM 1250 Interpersonal Communication (3 credits) 
  • VET 1002 Veterinary Medical Terminology (1 Credit)
  • VET 1009 Applied Companion Animal Behavior (3 Credits)

Once you have completed these courses with a C grade of better, you can enroll in the Veterinary Technician AAS Degree program classes (see Semester I below.)*

Total Credit Hours: 15 Credit Hours

  • BIO 2104 Microbiology w/lab (4 Credits)
  • VET 1020 Office Procedures and Relations (2 Credits)
  • VET 1008 Introduction to Laboratory Procedures (3 Credits) Prerequisite: BIO 1111, VET 1002, VET 1016, VET 1020, VET 2005 or concurrent enrollement
  • VET 1016 Humane Treatment Handling of Animals (3 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 1002, VET 1008, VET 1020, VET 2005 or concurrent enrollment
  • VET 2005 Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology (4 Credits) Prerequisite: BIO 1111, VET 1002, VET 1008, VET 1016, VET 1020 or concurrent enrollment

Total Credit Hours for First Semester: 16 Credit Hours

  • VET 1206 Exotic Animal Handling (2 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 1008, VET 1016, VET 2005, VET 1015 or concurrent enrollment. See catalog for other concurrent options
  • VET 1015 Surgical Nursing (2 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 1008, VET 1016, VET 2005, VET 1083 or concurrent enrollment. See catalog for other concurrent options
  • VET 2006 Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology II (4 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 1008
  • VET 2024 Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians (3 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 1008
  • VET 1241 Clinical Laboratory Procedures (4 Credits) 
  • VET 2023 Introduction to Anesthesia (1 Credit) Prerequisite: VET 1015, VET 1206, VET 2006, VET 2024

Total Credit Hours for Second Semester: 16 Credit Hours

  • VET 2025 Anesthesiology (3 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 1008, Vet 1015
  • VET 1027 Animal Nutrition (2 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 2005
  • VET 1034 Diagnostics Imaging (2 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 1008, VET 1016, VET 2006, VET 2080
  • VET 2038 Small Animal Nursing (2 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 2005, VET 2006
  • VET 2039 Large Animal Nursing (2 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 1241, VET 2025, VET 2027
  • VET 2042 Veterinary Critical Care (2 Credits) Prerequisite VET 1241
  • VET 2032 Dentistry (1 Credit)

Total Credit Hours for Third Semester: 14 Credit Hours

  • VET 2050 Clinical Competency Evaluation (1 Credit) Prerequisite: VET 1008, VET 1015, VET 1034, VET 1241, VET 2024, VET 2025, VET 2027
  • VET 2080 Diagnostic Imaging Internship (1 Credit) Prerequisite: VET 1016, VET 2005, VET 2006, VET 1034
  • VET 2081 Internship (3 Credits) 
  • VET 2082 Internship (4 Credits) 
  • VET 2025 Anesthesiology (3 Credits) Prerequisite: VET 2081

Total Credit Hours for Fourth Semester: 12 Credit Hours

Veterinary Technician Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program you will be able to:
  1. Provide professional and compassionate health care to a variety of species while upholding applicable laws and the profession’s ethical codes
  2. Understand, demonstrate and perform patient assessment techniques, proper care and handling of animals, as well as their normal and abnormal life processes
  3. Safely and effectively manage patients in all phases of anesthetic procedures, as well as safely and effectively select, utilize and maintain anesthetic delivery devices and monitoring equipment
  4. Properly package, handle and store laboratory specimens and carry out diagnostic analysis of laboratory specimens including blood, urine, feces, tissue and bodily fluids
  5. Understand and evaluate laboratory results in conjunction with a veterinarian
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of clinical pharmacology to safely and effectively administer and dispense prescribed drugs to patients
  7. Communicate in a professional manner to the veterinary team and provide appropriate client education
  8. Safely and effectively perform medical, imaging and dentistry procedures on both large and small animal in compliance with federal, state, and local laws
  9. Understand and provide proper instruments, supplies and environment to maintain asepsis during surgical procedures
  10. Establish and maintain a work environment that ensures the safety of clients, animals and staff
vet with dog
Student's Studying

Apply for Scholarships & Grants

Every year the PPSC Foundation offers hundreds of thousands of dollar's worth of scholarship money for eligible and in need students. To learn more about scholarship availability, please visit:
Scholarship Information

Need more Information?

Contact Veterinary Technology

Veterinary Technician Faculty Contact

Kristin Ballotti, DVM
719-502-3541
Kristin.Ballotti@pikespeak.edu

Regina Reyes, RVT
719-502-3492
Regina.Reyes@pikespeak.edu

Connect with Admissions

We are here to help you get started and can answer your questions about going to college and becoming a student at Pikes Peak State College.

Admissions@pikespeak.edu 
719-502-2000

 

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