Mar 28, 2024  
2019-20 BTC Catalog 
    
2019-20 BTC Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Veterinary Technician


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Overview

Turn your love of animals into a satisfying career! BTC’s Veterinary Technician program is ideal if you have an aptitude for math and science, and are interested in being a valuable part of the veterinary care team. You’ll work with animals and people, in a job that is different every day.

With BTC’s high quality education and hands-on training, you’ll gain the valuable skills needed now by veterinary hospitals, surgery centers, specialty care providers, zoos, and wildlife facilities.

Students must be 18 years of age prior to the first day of class.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

  • Care for animals in a manner that is safe for both animals and humans;
  • Promote public health;
  • Accept the responsibilities of his/her profession, to provide compassionate, competent, ethical care in a professional, conscientious manner;
  • Pursue lifelong learning to advance his/her knowledge of veterinary care;
  • Take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE);
  • Take the state exam and fulfill requirements for licensure as a veterinary technician;
  • Understand normal anatomy, physiology and behavior of health for the species studied;
  • Understand and participate in the process of diagnosis, therapy and prevention of animal disease;
  • Understand the profession of veterinary technician including: occupational safety, public health, client and colleague communication, ethics of animal welfare, and the human-animal bond;
  • Provide critical thinking skills to reason through clinical situations and take appropriate action;
  • Provide social interactive skills to facilitate excellent communication with clients and colleagues;
  • Provide psychomotor skills to facilitate quality, efficient diagnostic and therapeutic interventions;
  • Provide learning skills and tools to promote learning throughout career and lifetime.

Placement Requirements

ACCUPLACER Classic (valid for 5 years from testing date):

  • Reading comprehension score of 85 & Sentence Skill score of 86
    Or RDG 085 & ENGL 092 with a grade of B or higher
    Or AENGL 100 with a grade of C or higher
  • College Level Math score of 75 or MATH 099 with a C or higher

ACCUPLACER Next-Generation (starting January 23, 2019):

  • Reading score of 256 & Writing Score of 255
    Or RDG 085 & ENGL 092 with a grade of B or higher
    Or AENGL 100 with a grade of C or higher
  • Advanced Algebra & Functions score of 240 or MATH 099 with a C or higher

Prerequisite Courses

Students must complete each prerequisite course requirement with a C grade (2.0 GPA) or higher.

  • English Composition (ENGL& 101 )
  • Math in Society (MATH& 107 ) preferred, will accept 107 or higher
  • General Psychology (PSYC& 100 ) or Interpersonal Communications (CMST& 210 )
  • General Biology with Lab (BIOL& 160 )
  • Introduction to Chemistry (CHEM& 121 ) preferred, will accept other courses in the following fields: BIOL, CHEM, OCEA, ZOOL
  • Entering students are expected to have basic computer skills necessary to use word processing, email, and the internet. Students who need to acquire these basic skills should enroll in CAP 101  prior to starting the program.

Additional Requirements

  • Veterinary Technician Observation Form
  • Official transcripts documenting prerequisite completion (BTC transcripts can be unofficial)
  • Evidence of high school graduation or equivalent (copy of high school diploma, high school transcript, GED certificate, or GED transcript)

After acceptance into the Vet Tech Program but prior to beginning clinical rotations, students must be eighteen (18) years of age and submit proof of the following requirements:

  1. Veterinary Technician Informed Acknowledgment and Consent to Hazards and Risks Form
  2. Physical exam
  3. 11-panel drug screen
  4. Criminal background check
  5. Medical insurance coverage

NOTE: Students will be charged a fee of approximately $119.00 for the background check, drug screen, and tracking of required health documents.

Degree and Certificate Requirements

Veterinary Technician AAS-T Degree completion requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater and minimum grade of C-/1.7 for Veterinary courses and minimum grade of C/2.0 for all General Education courses.

Programs

    Associate of Applied Science - Transfer
    Certificate

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