Veterinary Technology Assistant
the Veterinary Technician Associate Degree Program and the Veterinary Technology Assistant Certificate Program.
The Veterinary Technology Assistant Certificate Program provides training in veterinary health and handling of various domestic and exotic species, focusing on tasks for assisting veterinary technicians and veterinarians.
As a program graduate, you will be able to perform tasks that include:
- Restrain and care for animals
- Assist with post-surgical nursing and care
- Assist in the laboratory
- Learn office procedures
- People who love animals
- Recent high school or GED graduates
- Those seeking a retraining opportunity
- Short-term training option for students without academic credentials who have an interest in veterinary medicine
- Career exploration with a limited investment of time and money
Admission Requirements
- Demonstrate you are ready for college. Visit ccd.edu/collegeready to learn more.
- It is important to attend the Veterinary Technology information session to learn more about the program.
CCD Online offers fully online certificates and degrees, and individual online courses to help match your busy schedule. This program offers 19 percent of its certificate either online or through a hybrid program.
Your first step is to see if online learning is right for you. Online and hybrid environments offer much more flexibility but require more self-direction and self-discipline. Certain work habits, learning styles and skills contribute to a successful online or hybrid learning experience.
Online Experience Questions?
303.352.6785 | TLC@ccd.edu
Some programs and/or courses may require additional fees in addition to the base tuition and fees. High-cost course fees are used to support the maintenance and development of the course labs and are embedded within your general tuition.
The following courses have additional fees:
VET 1008, VET 1016, VET 1034, VET 1083, VET 2005, VET 2025, VET 2038, VET 2080, VET 2081, VET 2082
View the 2024-2025 Course Specific Fees
This program is eligible for federal financial aid.
Your first step is to connect with the Financial Aid office to discover how you can afford college. Our dedicated staff and support services help you wade through all the legal language and get you past the first hurdle to completing your educational goals.
In addition, CCD has $1,000,000 available in scholarships. Learn More!
Veterinary assistant students have one, 90-hour internship in a veterinary hospital or facility under the supervision of the veterinarian and veterinary technologists. Gain practical experience and use what you learned in the classroom.
CCD has partnerships with 75 veterinary hospitals or facilities in and around Denver; our students are often hired by the facility after a successful internship. CCD students perform internships at area facilities. Some of them include:
- Animal Emergency and Specialty Center, Parker, Colorado
- Aurora Animal Hospital, Aurora, Colorado
- Banfield the Pet Hospital, Glendale, Colorado
- Broadview Animal Clinic, Denver, Colorado
- VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, Colorado
What Can I Do with My Major?
The veterinary technology assistant program will prepare you for immediate employment in work settings that include private veterinary clinics, zoos, research institutions, and state and federal agencies. Opportunities for employment as a veterinary assistant are excellent. Job availability now exceeds the number of graduates. Please be aware that while this program provides an introduction to the field of veterinary medicine and will prepare you to be a veterinary assistant, it is not intended to help provide you admission to a college of veterinary medicine.
How Much Can I Expect to Earn?
The annual median pay for veterinary assistants was $36,440 ($17.52 hourly) in May 2023.
The information provided here is by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
| Total of 2021 Graduates | Total Students Employed in their Field of Study | Total Students Who Have Transferred to 4-year Degree or Other Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 20 | 2 |
The veterinary technology assistant certificate seamless transfers to the veterinary technology A.A.S. degree.
The application for the Veterinary Technology Assistant program is open year-round!
The veterinary technology assistant program consists of 16 credit hours. You will complete the courses listed here during your studies.
| VETERINARY Technology ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE COURSES | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| * VET 1002 Veterinary Medical Terminology | 1 |
| VET 1003 Veterinary Assistant Restraint & Handling | 2 |
| VET1004 Assistant Large Animal | 1 |
| VET 1009 Applied Comprehension Animal Behavior | 3 |
| VET 1017 Veterinary Assistant Surgical Nursing & Care | 2 |
| VET 1014 Veterinary Assistant Laboratory & Clinical Procedures | 3 |
| * VET 1020 Office Procedures & Relations | 2 |
| * VET 1083 Internship: Private Practice | 2 |
| TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS | 16 |
*Transfers to veterinary technology program with completed veterinary technology assistant certificate.
Prerequisites
- Completion of a high school diploma or GED achievement of indicated assessment scores. See Step 3 of the steps to successful enrollment below.
If you haven’t done so yet, you must be a current CCD student to enroll in the veterinary technology assistant program. The CCD application is free.
It is important you attend the Veterinary Technology Information Session to learn more about the program.
Check out the events calendar for upcoming program advising and information sessions to learn more about CCD's Vet Tech and Vet Assistant program.
All students must determine course placement in English classes. CCD provides several options for you to identify what Math and English courses would be right for you. You will also be able to upload a copy of your unofficial transcript into the application if you have previously taken college-level classes.
Upon acceptance into the program, you must sign a letter of intent. This letter will be sent to you via your CCD student email from voletha.bradley@ccd.edu. You are not considered a part of this program until we have received a completed letter of intent.
Acceptance into the program is on a first-come, first-served basis and is based on the date the letter of intent is received.
