Fall Quarter

• VT 100 Introduction to Veterinary Technology (2 credits)
• VT 101 Animal Nursing I Lecture (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers many required AVMA Essential Skills and introduces the first year students to the basics of physical exams, medication routes and daily care of hospitalized patients. The skills learned in this course will be utilized throughout the program and used daily out in practice.

• VT 102 Animal Nursing I Laboratory (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers many required AVMA Essential Skills and introduces the first year students to the basics of physical exams, medication administration and venipuncture. The skills learned in this course will be utilized throughout the program and used daily out in practice.

• VT 107 Medical Dosage for Veterinary Technicians (2 credits)

• Course purpose: Medical dosage calculation is an essential skill for veterinary technicians. They must be able calculate medical doses accurately as this can have a detrimental effect on an animal’s health if miscalculated.

• VT 110 Ward Care Laboratory I (1 credit)

• Course purpose: This is the first course of a three-course series in which you are required to perform cleaning of animal housing areas, feeding of various animal species, and administration of medications to animals when necessary. Knowing how to perform these tasks is necessary for a veterinary technician in a clinical practice.

• VT 125 Animal Anatomy and Physiology I (6 credits)

• Course purpose: This is a foundation course in the program which provides you with the knowledge of anatomy and physiology you need in order to understand the subject matter presented in other program courses including animal diseases, surgical nursing, and pharmacology.

• VT 160 Applied Behavior Techniques I (2 credits)

• Course purpose: The lecture portion of this course will show you  the basics of dog and cat behavior, body language and common behavior problems seen in practice. The lab portion of the course has you working one on one with program dogs to teach them basic commands and socialize them to help them be adopted at the end of the year. You will work with the cats to socialize them and enrich their time in the program. Knowledge of dog and cat behavior and basic obedience training techniques is important for veterinary technicians in a clinical practice.

Action Item: Meet with Advisor

Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

Winter Quarter

• VT 104 Animal Nursing II (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers many required AVMA Essential Skills and teaches students how to perform surgical nursing and dentistry on live animals. The skills taught in this course are necessary for a veterinary technician in clinical practice.

• VT 111 Ward Care Laboratory II (1 credit)

• Course purpose: This is the second course of a three-course series in which you are required to perform cleaning of animal housing areas, feeding of various animal species, and administration of medications to animals when necessary. Knowing how to perform these tasks is necessary for a veterinary technician in a clinical practice.

• VT 123 Large Animal Nursing (4 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers many required AVMA Essential skills and teaches you large animal husbandry techniques and clinical procedures. The knowledge and skills learned in this course are necessary for a veterinary technician working in clinical practice providing services to livestock species.

• VT 126 Animal Anatomy and Physiology II (3 credits)

• Course purpose: This is a foundation course in the program which provides you with the knowledge of anatomy and physiology you need in order to understand the subject matter presented in other program courses including animal diseases, surgical nursing, and pharmacology.

• VT 155 Nutrition and Complementary Therapies (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This course focuses on dog and cat nutrition. LVT play a major role as nutritional counselor in practice. This course introduces you to commercial and therapeutic diets, calculating daily calorie requirements, and discerning food labels. This course also introduces commonly practiced veterinary complementary therapies. Clients often request complementary therapies and you should be aware of what modalities are well accepted and legitimate.

• VT 161 Applied Behavior Techniques II (1 credit)

• Course purpose: The lecture portion of this course will show you  the basics of dog and cat behavior, body language and common behavior problems seen in practice. The lab portion of the course has you working one on one with program dogs to teach them basic commands and socialize them to help them be adopted at the end of the year. You will work with the cats to socialize them and enrich their time in the program. Knowledge of dog and cat behavior and basic obedience training techniques is important for veterinary technicians in a clinical practice.

Spring Quarter

• VT 105 Animal Nursing III (3 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers many required AVMA Essential skills and teaches you husbandry and clinical techniques for commonly encountered exotic animal species. The knowledge and skills learned in this course are necessary for a veterinary technician working in clinical practice providing services to exotic animal species.

• VT 112 Ward Care Laboratory III (1 credit)

• Course purpose: This is the third course of a three-course series in which you are required to perform cleaning of animal housing areas, feeding of various animal species, and administration of medications to animals when necessary. Knowing how to perform these tasks is necessary for a veterinary technician in a clinical practice.

• VT 150 Clinical Microbiology and Public Health (6 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers microorganisms and pathogens relevant to veterinary medicine. Because LVT have a role in client education, public health concerns and zoonoses are emphasized.

• VT 162 Applied Behavior Techniques III (1 credit)

• Course purpose: The lecture portion of this course will show you  the basics of dog and cat behavior, body language and common behavior problems seen in practice. The lab portion of the course has you working one on one with program dogs to teach them basic commands and socialize them to help them be adopted at the end of the year. You will work with the cats to socialize them and enrich their time in the program. Knowledge of dog and cat behavior and basic obedience training techniques is important for veterinary technicians in a clinical practice.

• VT 166 Hematology for Veterinary Technicians (4 credits)

• Course purpose: The complete blood count (CBC) is an AVMA Essential Skill. The laboratory portion of this course concentrates on the hands on skills required to perform an accurate CBC. The lecture portion of this course discusses normal/abnormal blood findings and species comparison.

Fall Quarter

• VT 230 Anesthesiology (4 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers many required AVMA Essential Skills related to the practice of anesthesia on domestic animal species. Veterinary technicians perform anesthesia in clinical practice and the knowledge and skills learned in this course are an essential part of their training.

• VT 250 Radiology for Veterinary Technicians (3 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers many required AVMA Essential Skills related to the practice of radiology on domestic animal species. Veterinary technicians have to take radiographs of animals in clinical practice and the knowledge and skills learned in this course are an essential part of their training.

• VT 251 Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians (3 credits)

• Course purpose: This course provides an overview of commonly used veterinary drugs. Veterinary technicians have to properly package and label prescription drugs, administer drugs to animals, and monitor animals receiving drug treatment for adverse effects. Knowledge of pharmacology ensures that students are able to perform these tasks properly in clinical practice.

• VT 266 Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Parasitology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers many required AVMA Essential Skills relating to laboratory skills that veterinary technicians will use on a daily basis in practice.

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation, VTNE examination, and veterinary technician license. For graduation details, visit the Pierce College Graduation website. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

Winter Quarter

• VT 215 Animal Hospital Office Procedures (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This course covers many required AVMA Essential Skills relating to the business side of veterinary medicine. Topics covered include customer service, interviewing, employer expectations, paperwork, record keeping, inventory, and safety issues.

• VT 224 Veterinary Clinical Laboratory Principles (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This lecture course is a review of the laboratory skills covered in the veterinary technology program. It is a synopsis of multiple courses and skills you will learn throughout your time in the program.

• VT 240 Animal Diseases (3 credits)

• Course purpose: This course provides an overview of common small animal diseases. Knowledge of small animal diseases helps the veterinary technician assist practicing veterinarians in the medical management of animals in the veterinary hospital.

• VT 260 Emergency and Critical Care (3 credits)

• Course purpose: This course provides an overview of common small animal emergency conditions. Veterinary technicians are part of the health care team that manages animals experiencing medical emergencies and the knowledge gained in this course will help students provide proper treatment to critical care patients.

• VT 265 Clinical Techniques Laboratory (6 credits)

• Course purpose: This is a program capstone course in which you practice performing common clinical procedures practiced on domestic animals. The skills taught in this course are necessary for a veterinary technician in clinical practice.

Spring Quarter

• VT 233 Veterinary Clinical Practice (14 credits)

• Course purpose: This is a clinical extern ship course in which you will gain practical field experience by working in private veterinary hospitals. The clinical field experience is necessary to ensure program graduates are job-ready.