What is Veterinary Technology?
Turn your love of animals into a lucrative career, without breaking your budget at OCTC's Veterinary Technology program. The Vet Tech program will provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to work as a professional veterinary technician in as little as two years. Areas of study include office and hospital procedures, client relations and communications, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, clinical techniques, pharmacology, anesthesiology, surgical and medical nursing, radiology and clinical pathology training. The Vet Tech program,will provide you with valuable real world clinical and lab experiences to develop the skills needed to become a valued professional in the field.
What are my career choices?
The Veterinary Technology field is experiencing tremendous growth. Pets are considered part of the family, and the demand for veterinary care has increased. There are career opportunities in teaching, pharmaceuticals, biomedical research, private practice, humane societies, diagnostic labs, zoo/wildlife medicine, and veterinary supply sales.
Please, also feel free to explore information on Veterinary Technology Specialties provided by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).
What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?
Associate in Applied Science Degree and Transfer
- Veterinary Technology - AAS (67-69 credit hours)
Advisors: Please, visit SharePoint for the current MS Excel Academic Plan.
Veterinary Technology Program Admission Guide
Program enrollment is limited due to facility constraints and admission is not guaranteed. Interested applicants should contact the program faculty early to allow time for completion of all required forms. Students who complete the program will be awarded the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology and are eligible to sit for the national/state exams to obtain licensure.
The Veterinary Technology program is accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)
Admission Requirements: All Veterinary Technology program applicants are required to...
- ...be 18 years or older by time of admission
- ...have an ACT Composite score of 18+
- ...have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7*
*Applicants who have earned a ‘C’ or better in the following courses will receive additional consideration:
- MAT 150- College Algebra
- BIO 112/113- Intro to Biology/Lab
- AHS 120- Medical Terminology
All Veterinary Technology program applicants are required to complete the following steps prior to applying for program admission:
- Apply for admission to OCTC if you're not already a current OCTC student.
- Please, note that you may recieve an acceptance letter/email from OCTC. This is NOT acceptance into the Veterinary Technology Program.
- Attend one online or in-person Pre-Admission Information Session
- Please email Program Director, Dr. Laura Boarman to be notified about the pre-admission information sessions.
- Complete the ACT assessment. Visit ACT.org to learn when and where the next test is available. Scores must be obtained by the
student and submitted with the Veterinary Technology program application (linked in
Phase II).
- An ACT composite score of 18+ is required for admission to OCTC's Veterinary Technology program.
- Complete the TEAS Assessment
- Applicants must complete both the TEAS and ACT assessments. Scores must be obtained by the student and submitted with the application (linked in Phase II).
- The TEAS assessment can be scheduled at the OCTC Downtown Campus. Students must make an appointment. Please, schedule your appointment online in a timely manner prior to applying to the program.
- Please, note that you may recieve an acceptance letter/email from TEAS. This is NOT acceptance into the Veterinary Technology Program.
- Obtain Letter/s of Recommendation
- Veterinary Technology Program applicants must submit a letter of recommendation along with their application (linked in Phase II). Letters should be written by someone who knows the student on a professional level. Family and close friends should be excluded.
- Complete a minimum of 16 Clinical Experience Hours under the supervision of a Licensed
Veterinary Technician
- For more info and access to the necessary forms, please visit our Veterinary Technology Clinical Experience webpage.
Once you've completed steps 1-6, you are ready for Phase II of the OCTC Veterinary Technology program admission process.
Remember to have the following items or information handy when completing the online OCTC Veterinary Technology program application:
- ACT scores
- TEAS scores
- GPA
- Transcripts (high school and college)
- Letter/s of Recommendation
Submit Clinical Experience Hours
Complete a minimum of 16 Clinical Experience Hours under the supervision of a Licensed Veterinary Technician.
Complete Program Application
Carefully complete the Veterinary Technology Program Application. If you have any questions, please contact Program Director, Dr. Laura Boarman.
Review Student Policies
Review the OCTC Veterinary Technology program Student Policy Manual. Complete the signature page and return to Program Director, Dr. Laura Boarman.
Technical Standards Agreement
Request a copy of the OCTC Veterinary Technology Program Technical Standards Agreement, complete and sign it, then return it to Program Director, Dr. Laura Boarman.
If you have any questions or concerns about your OCTC Veterinary Technology program application, please contact Program Director, Dr. Laura Boarman.
Applicants will be ranked for admission based on an objective point system. Points will be awarded using the following method:
- Admission Requirement
- Total Points Possible
- Applicants Points
Cumulative GPA (x 10) 40
Composite ACT Score 36
Note: ‘0’ points will be awarded for GPA and ACT that do not meet program requirements.
Total grade points for recommended preprogram courses 60
Note: Total grade points for recommended preprogram courses: MAT 150, BIO 112, BIO 113, AHS 120, based on final grade.
Maximum points possible = 60
A= 15 pts, B= 10 pts, C= 5 pts, D= 0pts
40+ Clinical Experience Hours 20
A minimum of 16 clinical experience hours is required for admissions. Additional points will be awarded for more than 40 hours.
Points will be awarded as follows: 40 hrs = 10pts, 80 hrs = 15pts, 100+ hrs = 20pts.
Personal Statement 20
Each question in the Personal Statement section of the application will be scored 1-5 based on criteria including: professionalism, articulation, knowledge of the profession, grammar.
Total Points: 176
The Owensboro Community and Technical College Associate Degree Veterinary Technology Program is a selective admissions program. Space is limited.
- The Veterinary Technology Admissions Committee reviews the list of applicants, who are objectively ranked by points.
- The Admissions Committee determines the number of applicants who will be admitted. This number is predetermined based on guidelines set forth by the Program’s Accrediting Body (CVTEA) and may be subject to change.
- Applicants who have not been previously admitted to the Program, with the highest
total points are offered seats.
- Students seeking readmission, please contact Program Director, Dr. Laura Boarman.
- Other Qualified applicants who are not accepted for admission are placed on a waiting list (may not apply to students seeking readmission). Applicants on the waiting list may be admitted if space becomes available.
- Submit completed, official high school transcripts (if graduating high school student).
- Complete all required background checks, drug screens, health physical, and immunization
through third party vendor: CastleBranch.
- This will be discussed at orienation with students required to complete before start of classes.
Admission into the Veterinary Technology program is contingent upon students receiving the mandatory pre-exposure rabies vaccine. Of all the communicable diseases to which a veterinary medical professional may be exposed, the contraction of rabies, while unlikely, can be lethal. Therefore, the Owensboro Community & Technical College Veterinary Technology Program requires that all students be vaccinated against this disease. This requirement is consistent with the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines for persons in this field. Additional information will be provided to incoming students at summer orientation.
More about OCTC's Veterinary Technology Program
Length of Program
You can earn an associate in applied science degree in two years if you maintain full-time status.
This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.
Please, note that this degree does not contain the prerequisite coursework necessary to apply to veterinary school.
Course Sequence: Total Credit Hours = 67-69
| Fall Semester | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credit Hours |
| VET 100/101 - Intro to Vet Tech Lecture/Lab |
3 |
| VET 116 - Animal Anatomy & Physiology | 4 |
| BIO 112/113 - Intro to Biology Lecture/Lab** | 4 |
| MAT 150* - College Algebra** | 3 |
| AHS 120 - Medical Terminology** (or AHS 115) | 1 (3) |
|
Sub Total: |
15 (17) |
* MAT 110 or higher accepted
** While not required for admission, additional consideration is given to those students receive a ‘C’ or better in the denoted courses.
|
Spring Semester |
|
|---|---|
| Course | Credit Hours |
| VET 122/123 - Veterinary Nursing I Lecture/Lab | 3 |
| VET 160 - Veterinary Pharmacology | 3 |
| VET 165 - Clinical Laboratory Techniques I | 3 |
| ENG 101 - Writing I | 3 |
| COM 252 - Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
|
Sub Total: |
15 |
| Summer Semester | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credit Hours |
| VET 120 - Clinical Practicum I | 2 |
| VET 190 - Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging | 2 |
| VET 195 - Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care | 2 |
| Sub Total: | 6 |
| Fall Semester | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credit Hours |
| VET 222 - Veterinary Nursing II | 3 |
| VET 260 - Veterinary Surgery & Anesthesia | 4 |
| VET 265 - Clinical Laboratory Techniques II | 3 |
| CIT 105 - Intro to Computers | 3 |
| Social/Behavioral Science Elective | 3 |
| Sub Total: | 16 |
| Spring Semester | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credit Hours |
| VET 250 - Clinical Practicum II | 5 |
| VET 270 - Veterinary Dentistry | 3 |
| VET 275 - Exotic & Lab Animal Medicine | 3 |
| VET 290 - Veterinary Technology Seminar | 1 |
| Heritage/Humanities Elective | 3 |
| Sub Total: | 15 |
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a self-regulating entity that, according to U.S. federal law, must be established by institutions that use laboratory animals for research or instructional purposes to oversee and evaluate all aspects of the institution's animal care and use program.
Online Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals
Policy for Reporting and Responding to Animal Welfare Concerns
Accreditation USDA number: 61-R-0111
Veterinary Technical National Examination (VTNE) Results
-
Testing Window: July 1, 2019-June 30, 2022
-
Number of first-time candidates that have taken the VTNE: 48
-
Three-year VTNE pass percentage: 56.30%
