Veterinary Technology AAS Program Fact Sheet

What is Veterinary Technology?	Veterinary technicians perform many skills in a veterinary practice, including nursing care, anesthesia, assisting in surgery, and diagnostic testing. Veterinary technicians must have not only a passion and love for animals, but also a strong interest in medicine and a genuine desire to help people. Graduates may work in veterinary offices, emergency and critical care, zoological medicine, laboratory animal medicine, and pharmaceutical sales. Learn more about the career at navta.net
Semester Program Begins	Fall semester; Full time; Day classes only
Minimum Age Requirement	Age 18 at the time program starts.
General Admission Application Process	Apply to Gwinnett Technical College at GwinnettTech.edu, submit all transcripts from high school and previous college work, and take the ACCUPLACER test, if required. Students must be accepted into Gwinnett Technical College prior to applying to a program study. Applicants are initially accepted into the Interdisciplinary Studies Degree program with a concentration in Clinical Research Professional while completing the required prerequisite courses.
Program Application Process	All applicants are required to submit a program application. Forms are available online at http://www.GwinnettTech.edu/enrollment/forms-documents/ ATI TEAS Exam must be completed *prior* to June 1 with a minimum score of 50.
Prerequisite Courses (Minimum 2.65 GPA)	All of the following: ENGL 1101 MATH 1111 FYES 1000 - First Year Experience One elective from Area II On elective from Area IV	BIOL 1111 * and BIOL 1111L * OR BIOL 2107 * and BIOL 2107L * with CHEM 1151 and CHEM 1151L OR CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L OR BIOL 1111 * and BIOL 1111L * AND BIOL 1112 * and BIOL 1112L . If student takes BIOL 2107 and BIOL 2107L , student must take CHEM 1151 * and CHEM 1151L OR CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L not** BIOL 1112 * and BIOL 1112L *.
	Course must be completed within five years of the program Application deadline. Course must be completed within 10 years of the program Application deadline. Note:* By Fall 2025, BIOL 2107 and 2107L, CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L, and CHEM 1151 and CHEM 1151L will be removed as prerequistes/prerequiste options. By Fall 2025, the only science prerequistes required will be BIOL 1111 and BIOL 1111L AND BIOL 1112 and BIOL 1112L with no other options.
Program Deadlines	Fall application deadline: June 1
Competitive Admissions	A mandatory meeting will be held after the deadline for all applicants who have completed the prerequistes. Competitive admissions will be based on attendance at the mandatory meeting, GPA for required prerequisites, ATI TEAS Exam with a minimum score of 50.
Additional Information	All students in the Veterinary Technology program are required to be vaccinated against Rabies. Proof of vaccination must be shown by the beginning of VETT 1030: Veterinary Clinical Procedures I (2^nd semester after admission into the Veterinary Technology program). The vaccine can be acquired at your primary care physician, county health department, most travel clinics, or other vaccine providers.
For more information, contact:	Joshua Vejar, Program Support Specialist jvejar@gwinnetttech.edu, 678-226-6404.
For admission and enrollment, contact:	Enrollment Support Center in Building 100 or at HealthTeam@GwinnettTech.edu, or Building A at the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus, or email.

Quick Facts

2021 Median pay	$36,850 per year / $17.72 per hour
Entry level education	Associate degree
Number of jobs, 2020	114,400
Job growth, 2020 - 2030	15% (much faster than average)

Nature of the Work

Owners of pets and other animals today expect superior veterinary care. To provide this service, veterinarians use the skills of veterinary technicians, who perform many of the same duties for a veterinarian that a nurse would for a physician. Veterinary technicians typically conduct clinical work in a private practice under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Veterinary technicians often perform various medical tests and treat medical conditions and diseases in animals. For example, they may perform laboratory tests such as urinalysis and blood counts, assist with dental care, prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and assist veterinarians in a variety of other diagnostic tests. Some veterinary technicians record patients’ case histories, expose and develop x-rays and radiographs, and provide specialized nursing care. In addition, experienced veterinary technicians may discuss a pet’s condition with its owners and train new clinic personnel. Veterinary technicians assisting small-animal practitioners usually care for small pets, such as cats and dogs, but can perform a variety of duties with mice, rats, sheep, pigs, cattle, monkeys, birds, fish, and frogs. Some veterinary technicians work in mixed animal practices where they care for both small pets and large, domestic animals. Besides working in private clinics and animal hospitals, some veterinary technicians work in research facilities under the guidance of veterinarians or physicians. In this role, they may administer medications, prepare samples for laboratory examinations, or record information on an animal’s genealogy, diet, weight, medications, food intake, and clinical signs of pain and distress. Some may sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment and provide routine postoperative care. Occasionally, veterinary technicians may have to euthanize seriously ill, severely injured, or unwanted animals.

Work Environment

While people who love animals get satisfaction from helping them, some of the work may be unpleasant, physically and emotionally demanding, and sometimes dangerous. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that full-time veterinary technicians experienced a work-related injury and illness rate that was much higher than the national average. At times, veterinary technicians must clean cages and lift, hold, or restrain animals, risking exposure to bites or scratches. These workers must take precautions when treating animals with germicides or insecticides. The work setting can be noisy. In some animal hospitals, research facilities, and animal shelters, a veterinary technician is on duty 24 hours a day, which means that some work night shifts. Most full-time veterinary technicians work about 40 hours a week, although some work 50+ hours a week.

Employment

Employment of veterinary technicians is expected to grow 15 percent nationally over the 2020-2030 projection period. A growing pet population will require more veterinary technicians. As veterinarians perform more specialized tasks, clinics and animal hospitals are increasingly using veterinary technicians to provide more general care and do laboratory work. In May 2020, there were approximately 114,400 veterinary technicians employed nationwide.

Earnings

Median annual wages nationally of veterinary technologists and technicians were $36,850 in May 2021. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $28,370 and the top 10 percent earned more than $48,100.

Research the Career

avma.org navta.net

Information Sessions
Lawrenceville Campus: 4^th Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Building 200, Room 111

**November Session will be on the 3rd Wednesday** **No information session July and December**

Please contact Josh Vejar (jvejar@gwinnetttech.edu) for any further questions

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians.htm (visited January 20, 2021).

Gwinnett Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Lisa Richardson, Title IX, and Section 504 Coordinator, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building 100, Room 407, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, 678-226-6691, LRichardson@GwinnettTech.edu.