Veterinary Assistant Program
Community | Health & Medical | 144 Hours
The Veterinary Assistant program is offered every fall and spring semester during the school year. Students who enroll in this course will be trained in basic first aid, medical terminology, professional and ethical standards of veterinary medicine, handling and restraint, animal anatomy, and diseases and treatments. Tuition for this course includes all required materials, textbooks, and testing fees.
Students will be eligible to sit for the iCEV Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications Certification exam upon successful completion of the course. More information about iCEV and the Elanco credential can be found at icevonline.com.
Career Day to Day
With an Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications Certification, careers will be available at animal hospitals, animal shelters, veterinary clinics, zoos, or veterinary pharmaceutical companies. Some job listings will require 1 (one) year of work experience which can be overlooked if the candidate has training or certifications such as what this class provides. Employment experience can also be obtained through volunteer work at animal shelters. Vet Assistant’s day-to-day activities will depend on the employer, but most will consist of holding and restraining animals, monitoring post-operational and/or surgical recovering animals, filling medications, cleaning kennels, and examining animal patients with veterinarians.
Opportunities for advancement can include Veterinary Technician, Animal Clinic Manager, Animal Handler/Trainer, Veterinarian, and Zoologist.
Requirements
Read and write the English language. A high school diploma is required for this program. While CFAAT does not conduct a background check, background checks may be required for employment.
Click here to view the course outline.
Next Steps
The schedule, tuition rates, location information, and payment plan options can all be viewed on the registration site. Use the button below to get started. For questions call 757-766-1101 or email cfaat@nhrec.org.
The Youth Workforce is a federally funded grant program that may be able to assist you in paying for this course. They work with students ages 18-24 that meet certain grant requirements. To apply, click the button below. Reach out to YWC before registering for the program as they can assist in that process. Visit their website by clicking here.
Employment Data
Job Outlook, 2021-31
The projected percent change in employment from 2021 to 2031. The average growth rate for all occupations is 5 percent. Data retrieved from O-NET and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Virginia specific.
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Job Growth Rate for Vet Assistants
2021 Median Pay per hour
Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. Data retrieved from O-NET and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Virginia specific.