Veterinary Technician, A.A.S.
Entry Time
Summer
Award
Associate of Applied Science degree
2 years (6 terms including summers)
Veterinary technicians provide professional technical support to veterinarians, biomedical researchers and other scientists. They also care for hospitalized patients; assist the doctor in surgery; perform physical exams, lab work and technical procedures (blood draws, IV placement); take health histories and X-rays; give and monitor anesthesia; provide client education; and perform reception duties.
At Kirkwood, veterinary technician students work with a variety of animals including dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, hamsters and rats. A strong background in biological sciences is needed for this program.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). For more information, go to www.avma.org.
Career Opportunities
- small, mixed or large animal practices
- humane societies
- animal shelters
- zoos
- specialty veterinary practices
- pet shops
- biological research labs
- animal control agencies
- veterinary teaching hospitals
- state and federal agencies
Entrance Requirements
Prospective students for the Veterinary Technician program are required to take an entrance exam. There are minimum cut scores that must be achieved for admission into the program. For more information about the entrance exam, visit: http://www.kirkwood.edu/veterinarytechnician. You can also contact the Kirkwood Ag Sciences Department at 319-398-5609.
Degree Requirements
| Term 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credit Hours | |
| AGV-116 | Introduction to the Veterinary Technology Program | 1 |
| AGV-126 | Animal Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| AGV-152 | Veterinary Computer Applications | 2 |
| AGV-120 | Veterinary Medical Terminology | 1 |
| ENG-105 | Composition I | 3 |
| Term Totals: | 10 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| AGV-127 | Animal Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| AGV-142 | Mathematics for Veterinary Technicians | 3 |
| AGV-105 | Animal Behavior/Kennel Management | 5 |
| AGC-313 | Leadership in Agriculture | 1 |
| CHM-110 | Introduction to Chemistry | 3 |
| CHM-111 | Introduction to Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| Term Totals: | 17 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| Spring | ||
| SPC-101 or ENG-106 |
Fundamentals of Oral Communication or Composition II |
3 |
| AGV-214 | Small Animal Medicine I | 3 |
| AGV-167 | Veterinary Clinic Pathology I | 3 |
| AGV-161 | Animal Nursing I | 3 |
| MGT-145 | Human Relations in Management | 3 |
| AGV-140 | Veterinary Pharmacology | 3 |
| Term Totals: | 18 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| Summer | ||
| WBL-301 | Internship: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources | 4 |
| Term Totals: | 4 | |
| Term 5 | ||
| Fall | ||
| AGV-162 | Animal Nursing II | 3 |
| AGV-215 | Small Animal Medicine II | 3 |
| AGV-168 | Veterinary Clinic Pathology II | 3 |
| AGV-144 | Fundamentals of Small Animal Nutrition | 3 |
| BIO-186 | Microbiology | 4 |
| AGV-117 | Professionalism for Veterinary Technicians | 1 |
| Term Totals: | 17 | |
| Term 6 | ||
| Spring | ||
| AGV-171 | Large Animal and Poultry Medicine | 4 |
| AGV-163 | Animal Nursing III | 3 |
| AGV-169 | Veterinary Clinic Pathology III | 3 |
| AGV-216 | Avian, Exotics, and Small Mammals | 2 |
| AGV-217 | Diagnostic Technologies | 2 |
| Humanities or History/Culture Course | 3 | |
| Term Totals: | 17 | |
| Program Totals: | 83 | |