Veterinary Technology

✓ Must be 18 years or older by time of admission
✓ Current student at OCTC or current application for admission on file
✓ Official transcripts on file at OCTC Office of the Registrar
✓ Attend one online or in-person Pre-Admission Information
Session
✓ Complete all Veterinary Technology program application
forms
✓ ACT Composite score 18+
✓ Complete TEAS Assessment and submit official score
along with application.
✓ Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7
✓ Complete a minimum of 16 Clinical Experience Hours
under the supervision of a Licensed Veterinary
Technician.
✓ Applicants receiving a ‘C’ or better in the following courses
will receive additional consideration:
o MAT 150- College Algebra
o BIO 112/113- Intro to Biology/Lab
o AHS 120- Medical Terminology
✓ Complete all required medical forms and screenings prior to summer orientation including rabies prophylaxis.

Click "Apply" on our home page!

Please, request the necessary forms for clinical experience from Dr. Laura Boarman, OCTC Vet Tech program coordinator.

 

Please, request upcoming TEAS examination dates from Dr. Laura Boarman, OCTC Vet Tech program coordinator. 

Review the OCTC Vet Tech Student Policy Manual here!

• Apply to Owensboro Community & Technical College
  • To be considered for admission to the Veterinary Technology program, you must first be accepted by OCTC. To apply to OCTC, please visit:
• TEAS Testing and ACT
  • Prior to submitting an application, applicants must complete both the ACT and TEAS test. Scores must be obtained by the student and submitted with the application.
    • The TEAS test can be scheduled at the Downtown Campus. Students must make an appointment. Call 270-686-4444 to schedule in a timely manner prior to applying to the program.
    • The ACT is only given on preset specific dates throughout the year. This exam should be scheduled well in advance of the application deadline as scores are not immediately available.
• Apply to the Veterinary Technology Program
  • After applying to OCTC, please complete the Veterinary Technology Program application. You can find the application and all other required materials on the program website.
• Complete a minimum of 16 Clinical Experience Hours
  • Each applicant must complete a minimum of 16 clinical observation hours at a veterinary clinic and complete the Clinical Experience form to be considered for admission to the Veterinary Technology Program. Details regarding observation hours and the Clinical Experience Form may be found on the program website.
• Letter of Recommendation
  • Veterinary Technology Program applicants must submit a letter of recommendation along with their application. Letters should be written by someone who knows the student on a professional level. Family and close friends should be excluded.
• Technical Standards Agreement & Student Policy Manual
  • Each applicant must read, sign, and return a copy of the Technical Standards Agreement along with the application. A copy of this agreement may be found on the program website.
• Complete Required Medical and Background Screenings.
  • At this time, all students are required to complete a Background check, drug screening, and TB test prior to admission. Students are also required to have an up-to-date TDaP and pre-exposure Rabies immunization on file. Information regarding these required items may be found on the program website.

***Please note: Students who receive a ‘C’ or better on the following courses will be given additional consideration. These are not required courses: MAT 150, BIO 112/113, AHS 120.

Review the OCTC Vet Tech Technical Standards Agreement here (pdf)!

Please, review the "Length of Program" section below!

Owensboro Community & Technical College

Veterinary Technology Comprehensive Rabies Mitigation Policy

Updated: July 14, 2022

I. Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to decrease the chance of exposure of students and faculty to rabies.

II. Policy Statement:

It is the policy of Owensboro Community & Technical College’s (OCTC) Veterinary Technology Program (VTP) to require pre-exposure human rabies vaccines for all students, faculty, and staff handling live mammals. Students that have a disability or sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances may be eligible for reasonable accommodations. Students should contact the appropriate college representative to request an accommodation and begin the interactive process. Students who do not receive the rabies vaccine due to medical or religious reasons must understand their increased risk of contracting rabies. The rabies mitigation policy lays out the steps that OCTC VTP has put in place to help decrease the risk.

III. Definitions:

Fully vaccinated animal- Animals that have been held for twenty-eight (28) days after their first rabies vaccine to allow for seroconversion according to the CDC. Animals previously vaccinated against rabies are considered fully vaccinated immediately after their booster vaccine is given if their booster vaccine is given on schedule.

Fully vaccinated students/staff/faculty- People are considered fully vaccinated after they have completed their initial Rabies vaccine series (either 2-dose or 3-dose series) within the past two years or have an adequate rabies titer drawn within the past two years.

IV. Audience:

This policy is written for the Veterinary Technology program including faculty, staff, students, and shareholders.

V. Compliance:

Compliance will be ensured by oversight from the Veterinary Technology Program Coordinator.

VI. Standards:

CVTEA Accreditation Policies and Procedures (Updated January 2022):
Rabies in humans can be prevented either by eliminating exposures to rabid animals or by providing exposed persons with prompt local treatment of wounds combined with appropriate postexposure prophylaxis (including both passive antibody administration and active immunization with cell culture vaccines). In addition, pre-exposure vaccination should be offered to persons in high-risk groups, such as veterinarians, animal handlers, and certain laboratory workers. Student safety must be considered above vaccination including methods to integrate the cost of the vaccine into tuition fees that may be supported by financial aid.

Comprehensive Rabies Mitigation Plan Components

1. Vaccination of animals (cats, dogs, horses, food, and fiber species).
2. Hold/seroconversion period post rabies vaccination (per CDC-28 days).
3. Hold period for animals not vaccinated (per CDC-45 days).
4. Communication to external parties- animal sources, off-campus sites, externship sites.
5. Communication to internal parties.
6. Communication to students.
7. Comprehensive risk assessment considering local rabies prevalence.

VII. Procedure:

Components of mitigation plan:

1. Vaccination of animals (cats, dogs, horses, food, and fiber species):
   1. All cats and dogs taken from the Daviess County Animal Shelter will be examined and vaccinated for rabies by a veterinarian before being brought to OCTC. After vaccination, animals will be held at the Daviess County Animal Shelter until they are transferred to OCTC.
   2. Any client owned dogs, cats, or ferrets that are used in laboratory classes will be required to bring in proof of a current rabies vaccine.
   3. All program horses used in labs will be vaccinated against rabies.
      d. Records of rabies vaccinations, including date acquired, date vaccinated and holding dates will be maintained for each patient under the medical record in Cornerstone.
   4. Records of a medical or religious exemption to the rabies vaccination will be kept on file with the Program Coordinator.
   5. Unvaccinated students will not be permitted to handle unvaccinated animals. This may delay or inhibit the student from graduation.
2. Hold/seroconversion period post rabies vaccination (per CDC-28 days).
   1. Records indicating the dates and location of holding period will be maintained under the medical record in Cornerstone.
   2. Students who have not received full vaccination status will not be permitted to handle animals of unknown vaccination status or
      animals currently in their seroconversion period. This may delay or inhibit the student from graduation.
3. Communication to external parties:
   1. Any Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Clinical Practicum Sites will include language requiring students to have all health screenings, vaccinations and evaluations required by the affiliating agency prior to beginning experience in the facility.
   2. Each clinical student’s rabies vaccination status will be provided to the clinical practicum site as an addendum to the MOA. If any student is not fully vaccinated against rabies, the addendum will also include the timelines for holding unknown animals. At this time, Practicum sites may refuse to accept any OCTC practicum student.
   3. Clinical Practicum sites will be provided a copy of the OCTC VTP Rabies Mitigation Policy for review.
   4. During their Practicum, unvaccinated students are required to only touch fully vaccinated animals. This is outlined in the Student Policy Manual and Course Syllabi.
4. Communication to internal parties:
   1. This policy and Rabies Mitigation Plan has been reviewed and approved by the President of OCTC and the Office of General Counsel for KCTCS after receiving comprehensive information about rabies as a disease.
5. Communication to internal parties.
6. Communication to students:
   1. During the application process, students are required to review the Student Policy Manual. The student then must sign and submit the pages at the end of the handbook stating they understand and agree to abide by the terms. The OCTC Student Policy Manual states: “Students are required by the Veterinary Technology Program to obtain pre- exposure rabies vaccinations. Students that have a disability or sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances may be eligible for reasonable accommodations. Students should contact the appropriate college representative to request an accommodation and begin the interactive process. Students will not be permitted to take any courses that require hands-on training with animals until an accommodation has been granted and proper documentation of a medical or religious exemption is on file with the Program Coordinator. This document will be kept on file in the Program Director’s office for the duration of the student’s enrollment in the program.
   2. Upon acceptance, students are provided with a Notice of Requirement for Rabies Vaccination, which includes where to receive the rabies vaccine and any cost assistance available (if applicable).
   3. Prior to working with live animals, all students will be educated on rabies risk. This education will include the importance of the pre-exposure rabies vaccine as well as the steps that should be taken after possible exposure to an infected animal. The importance of appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be emphasized.
   4. All students will have appropriate PPE available. Only students who are fully vaccinated for rabies will be permitted to handle unvaccinated animals. When handling an unvaccinated animal, students will be encouraged to use gloves, masks, and eye protection. In addition, students will be required to wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toed shoes.
   5. Students enrolled in VET ____, must pay….course fee to cover cost of purchase and administration of a 2-dose rabies vaccination series. The vaccine will be administered by a representative from the local Green River District Health Department.
   6. Some students have insurance that will cover the rabies vaccinations and will opt to get vaccines done prior to starting the program. Students that provide written documentation of rabies vaccination will have the course fee waived.
   7. All client owned animals used by the program will be monitored either by staff or by owners for ten (10) days after student contact. At the end of the ten (10) days, program personnel will call and confirm that the animals used in laboratory are not having any symptoms of rabies. Any animal exhibiting signs of rabies will be examined by a veterinarian and testing of the animal will be required if the veterinarian examining the patient and the public health veterinarian deem it necessary.
7. Comprehensive risk assessment considering local rabies prevalence.
   1. Before each school year begins, an audit of the confirmed rabies cases for the area will be completed. This information is available through https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/surveillance/index.html. In addition, an audit of confirmed rabies cases will be completed for any area where a student completes a clinical practicum. This information will be relayed to the students before they begin live animal labs and before clinical practicum begins.
   2. All students are required to wear full PPE to participate in a necropsy. This PPE includes gloves, mask, eye protection, long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes.
   3. Any student exposed to potential rabies will have immediate wound care if needed and then will be referred to their doctor to begin post-exposure prophylaxis which may include passive antibody administration and/or active immunization.

VIII. Contact Information:

For more information regarding this policy, please contact Laura Boarman, DVM, Veterinary Technology Program Coordinator at Laura.Boarman@kctcs.edu.

IX. Document History:

Effective: August 1, 2022

X. Related Documents:

• OCTC Veterinary Technology Student Policy Manual
• MOA addendum for non-vaccinated students
• Rabies Waiver

XI. Resources:

• https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/256/2/javma.256.2.195.xml
• https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/surveillance/index.html
• https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/Manual_PP_CVTEA_January_2022.pdf
• https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html
• https://www.who.int/health-topics/rabies#tab=tab_1

Reviewed and Approved by Dr. Scott Williams, OCTC president

Aug. 3, 2022

Dr. Laura Boarman, OCTC Vet Tech program coordinator

Aug. 3, 2022

Office of General Counsel, KCTCS

Aug. 2, 2022