Veterinary Technology

  What is Veterinary Technology?

Veterinary technology is the science and art of providing health care to animals and professional support to veterinarians. The veterinary technician must be knowledgeable in the care and handling of animals, their normal and abnormal life processes, and medical and psychological needs. Therefore, they must be skilled in nursing procedures, anesthesiology, radiography, clinical laboratory techniques, surgical preparation and assisting, anatomy and physiology, phlebotomy and husbandry.

Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians in every facet of the profession, which includes private practice, institutional and industrial research, the military, humane associations, zoos, government and teaching.

Veterinary technicians help strengthen the human-animal bond by safeguarding and lengthening the lives of millions of pets worldwide. Their dedication to the health and welfare of animals is vital to the function of both veterinary care facilities and other public and private organizations across the world. They contribute to society by assuring safe and wholesome products are sold in the markets. They are also found in laboratories that create new drugs, devices and medical procedures that contribute to the quality of life of both man and animals.

  Success Factors

Veterinary technicians are graduates of programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. A national board exam must also be successfully passed in order to become registered in the state of Ohio.

People who have an affinity for science and medicine, can communicate well with medical professionals and the general public and, of course, can handle animals will excel in this field. There are many physical, sensory and mental requirements needed to succeed also. Being able to lift heavy animals, visualize small blood vessels, hear faint heart murmurs, feel internal abnormalities, sense animal temperament and remain calm and directed during medical crises are several examples of the attributes needed in the veterinary technology profession.

  Career Possibilities

A veterinary technician can be employed in large-animal, small-animal, equine, exotic, emergency, surgery and other specialty types of private practices. They may also work in industrial (product-making) and medical research institutions. “Vet techs” are also employed in zoos, humane associations, the military, food industries and teaching institutions. There are also opportunities for continuing education and specialty in the field of veterinary technology. At this time there are four recognized board certifications that experienced veterinary technicians may acquire, which include emergency and critical-care medicine, dentistry, anesthesia and internal medicine.  There are also several baccalaureate degree programs which graduate veterinary technologists in the field of veterinary medicine.

  Majoring in Veterinary Technology

Veterinary technology is offered by Raymond Walters College through the Veterinary Technology Department. Our mission is to provide a supportive academic and professional environment, enabling each student to become a competent and caring veterinary technician. The program is accredited with the AVMA. Upon completion of 104 required credit hours, an associate in applied science degree in veterinary technology is awarded.

The program is divided into a freshman year -- consisting of general education courses without animal contact -- and a sophomore year -- composed of both lecture and “hands-on” courses. The freshman courses are prerequisites for the sophomore year, and include three quarters of English, humanities, behavioral or social sciences and biology. Also required are microbiology, chemistry, effective speaking and introductory courses. These courses may be taken full- or part-time, during the day or evening, and students may take several years to complete the freshman requirements, if desired.

The sophomore year is offered by selective admittance to 36 freshman students who have met all prerequisite requirements. The sophomore curriculum consists of animal husbandry and diseases, hematology, anatomy and physiology, veterinary medical techniques, parasitology, urinalysis and clinical chemistry and clinical experience obtained outside the university. A six-week summer preceptorship is required during the summer quarter following the sophomore year. The curriculum of the sophomore year is only offered full-time during the day. No evening classes are offered, and no part-time students will be admitted to the program as long as each class is filled. 

  Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently confirmed or enrolled, you can check your degree requirements online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the Course Applicability System (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

The curriculum of the veterinary technology program includes the following classes:

  UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

There are only five AVMA accredited veterinary technology programs in Ohio. Raymond Walters College’s VT program is currently the only one located south of Columbus. Tuition at RWC is below the average state university tuition. Our curriculum includes information and hands-on experience covering all of the animal species required by the AVMA accrediting committee. Our graduates are well-qualified to pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), and our graduates consistently score above the state and national averages.

Our program is designed to minimize the dropout rate in the sophomore year by preparing the freshman student for the intensive curriculum of the clinical year.

Our present facilities at RWC were completed in October, 2005 and are state-of-the-art. The building is utilized solely by the VT students and animals, which fosters a sense of ownership and commitment.

Collectively, the VT faculty and staff have nearly 150 years of education and veterinary experience within a wide spectrum of facilities and species, ranging from laboratory animals to farm animals. Our only mission is directed to the education of veterinary technician students. The low student-to-faculty/staff ratio allows special attention to be given to each student.

Job placement is 100 percent each year. Currently, a new graduate working in private practice can expect to receive between $22,000 and $31,000 per year. In the research arena, the starting salaries are about $33,000-$36,000 per year.

  Special Programs

The faculty and staff of the VT program are the leaders and members of local, state and national veterinary associations. With this in mind, we encourage and assist our students in becoming involved with multiple organizations while still in school. We place students into outside facility practicums and preceptorships during the winter and spring quarters. Our faculty, staff and students go on field trips over the entire scholastic year to humane centers, spay-neuter clinics and farms in order to experience and contribute to real-life situations.

The students are members of a student chapter of the North American Veterinary Technician Association, through which they coordinate multiple fundraising events for animal-related charities each year. They also volunteer their time and talents to local veterinary associations and humane societies, in events helping the service dogs of the blind, animals of the indigent and dogs used in law enforcement. All of these events contribute to societal needs and strengthen the human-animal bond.

Through these efforts, students are offered scholarship money from various industrial and professional organizations.

  Admission Requirements

This program is open to all students with a high school diploma or GED and the desire to succeed in college. Although admission to RWC is open, students accepted into the program must meet the academic standards of the program to advance to upper levels of study. Admission to the sophomore year of the veterinary technology program requires the following:

1. All required freshman year courses must be completed.
   
2. A GPA of 2.75 or better must be maintained for previous courses, with a minimum of C in science courses.  This requirement is also enforced for any credit transferred into the VT program from another college.
   
3. Twenty (20) hours of veterinary-related experience, under the direction of a veterinarian or registered veterinary technician, must be completed. This requirement is to allow the potential student to obtain real-world experience regarding the veterinary profession, which may help solidify their decision to enter the profession. A veterinary experience document which must be signed by the student’s supervisor may be obtained from the academic advisor or other member of the vet tech faculty.
   
4. Each student is required to meet with the vet tech program academic advisor at least one time during their freshman year. However, students should contact their advisor as often as needed to ensure their success in the program. Students first entering the program need to be clear about program admission standards and specific program requirements that exceed admission into the college. Students are also encouraged to contact their advisor as they feel they are nearing completion of the freshman requirements. This is to ensure that their information is correct and that the academic advisor is aware of the student’s desire to enter the sophomore year of the program. 
   
   Students entering RWC are granted admission to the pending veterinary technology program (PVETN).  “Pending” status means that the student is working toward completion of the freshman requirements of the vet tech program. Only the faculty of the veterinary technology program can make the determination as to which students have met the above freshman requirements and are then accepted into the sophomore year. All decisions regarding admission to the sophomore year of the program are controlled by the vet tech program personnel.
   
5. Performance standards are necessary in a competent veterinary health technician. These standards are necessary to protect the technician, other members of the health care team and their animal patients.

I.       Physical Requirements

a.       Ability to tolerate walking and standing for sustained periods of time
b.       Capable of lifting and/or carrying up to 50 lbs. from the floor to waist level
c.       Capable of using hands and arms to handle, install, position and move materials
d.       Capable of handling, positioning and restraining live animals

II.      Sensory Abilities

a.       Visual ability to see details at a close range (such as small blood vessels,) and to make observations and assessments necessary in animal care. Be able to use diagnostic equipment, i.e. microscope, thermometer, refractometer, etc.

b.       Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.  Hear ausculatory sounds, monitor alarms, emergency and cries for help. Hear warning sounds from animals and humans of impending danger/injury.

c.       Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and to perform nursing duties. Perform palpation during physical exams. Administer oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous medication. Insert and remove tubes and perform wound care management. Collect organic samples from live animals.

III.      Mental Abilities

a.       Amenable to learning the safe handling, restraining and working with any species of domestic or exotic animals without fear. These animals may be sick, injured, fractious or aggressive without fear.

b.       Willingness to assist with or perform a wide variety of routine medical, surgical and diagnostic procedures common to the veterinary setting; including humane euthanasia.

c.       Capacities to read, hear, understand and quickly execute complex verbal and written instructions given in English.

d.       Possess emotional stability when performing duties in live animal life-and-death situations or other stressful situations.

e.       During emergencies, be able to respond promptly and appropriately.

The Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board may refuse to issue a registration to, or revoke the registration of, a graduate technician due to a number of reasons:

I.    Found to be physically or psychologically addicted to alcohol or illegal controlled substance;

II.   Conviction of, or having pled “Guilty” to, any felony or crime involving illegal or prescription drugs;

III. Making available a dangerous drug to any person other than for the specific treatment of an animal patient.

Order of Acceptance:

1. Qualified students who have been placed on the waiting list will be admitted first to the next sophomore class. If you complete all freshman courses prior to spring quarter, you will be placed on the waiting list.
2. Students who have met all of the above requirements immediately after spring quarter of their freshman year will be taken second.
3. Students who have met all of the above requirements immediately after summer session will be taken third. If a decision must be made as to the selection of sophomore students due to a limit of available spaces, the student with the highest GPA will be selected. If GPAs are similar, the number of credit hours taken will be considered in making the determination.
4. Transfer student applications for admissions into the sophomore year will be accepted until March 31st of each year. All required courses for freshman year must be completed by March 31st of that year. If there are still open spaces after all Raymond Walters College summer quarter grades have been examined, additional transfer students may be admitted. If not, they will be placed on a waiting list for the next sophomore class.
5. The first acceptance period will be the first week of April. Students on the waiting list will be notified by April 15th, and must confirm acceptance by May 15th.
6. The second acceptance period will be the fourth week of June. Students meeting the above requirements at the end of spring quarter will be notified by June 30th and must confirm acceptance no later than two weeks after the date on the acceptance letter.
7. The third acceptance period will be the second week of September.  Students meeting the above requirements at the end of summer quarter will be notified by September 10th and must confirm acceptance no later than one week after the date on the acceptance letter.
8. No part-time sophomore students will be considered while there is a waiting list, and/or the maximum number of full-time students have been admitted.

  Transferring to UC Requirements

College credits obtained from accredited colleges and universities outside the UC system will be transferred into the University of Cincinnati. To achieve this process, a formal application must be completed by the student, and a transfer credit evaluation will be produced by the college. Using this information, the student is encouraged to meet with the vet tech program academic advisor to inquire about their status in the program and to confirm which freshman-year requirements must be completed before entrance into the sophomore year of the program. All entrance requirements listed above, including the minimum grading criteria, must be met.

RWC has articulation agreements with Sinclair Community College, Edison State Community College and Southern State Community College. These agreements allow students living in those areas to complete freshman requirements at that school and then transfer to the sophomore year at RWC. The articulation agreements are available by contacting the academic advisor of the vet tech program. If a student is considering the completion of freshman-year requirements at another college within the University or elsewhere, he must contact an advisor to ensure the academic requirements of the vet tech program are being met.

To be considered for a particular year’s sophomore class (which begins once per year in September), students who have completed all of their freshman classes at another college must have all necessary applications and transcripts to RWC before March 31st of that year. Students submitting applications after that time may not be able to begin in the sophomore year due to a lack of space.

  Changing Majors within UC Requirements

Students with previous UC college credits may transfer into the vet tech program after the completion of a Change of Major form, which can be filled out at any of the One Stop Student Service Centers within the University. Students must also inform the vet tech program academic advisor of their desire to transfer and determine which freshman-year requirements must be met before admission to the sophomore year of the program.  All entrance requirements listed above, including the minimum grading criteria, must be met.

To be considered for a particular year’s sophomore class (which begins once per year in September), students who have completed all of their freshman classes at another UC college must contact the academic advisor before March 31st of that year. Students applying for a change of major after that time may not be able to begin in the sophomore year due to a lack of space.

  Application Deadlines

Students may begin completion of the freshman-year requirements at any time within the academic year. 

Due to the large volume of qualified students, the sophomore-year class generally fills each year by the end of winter quarter. This guideline is subject to change based on the amount of students successfully completing their freshman requirements each year. Transfer students from inside or outside UC must have all applications and completed transcripts submitted before March 31st. Those submitting incomplete transcripts or submitting documents after March 31st may not be considered for that year’s class, unless there is still space after all RWC spring quarter students have been placed. 

  Accreditation

The Raymond Walters College veterinary technology program is fully accredited with the American Veterinary Medical Association. Biennial written reports and site visits, which take place every six years by the accrediting committee, are part of the process. The VT program is also in compliance with the rules, regulations and policies of the USDA, NIH, University of Cincinnati IACUC and the University of Cincinnati Laboratory Animal Medical Services.