Veterinary Assistant Program

The veterinary assistant program at Jefferson State Community College prepares students to assist veterinarians, laboratory animal specialists, and zoological professionals in treating animals. They also have the option to become a kennel attendant, animal caretaker, groomer, zookeeper, or animal trainer. The program focuses on providing patient management, care, and clinical procedure assistance, and owner communication. Program courses include: animal health and nutrition, animal handling, clinical pathology, radiology, anesthesiology, dental prophylaxis, surgical assisting, and clinical laboratory procedures. Get more details below including other Alabama colleges that offer veterinary assistant program.

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Jefferson State Community College (Jeff State)

700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, AL

History
Jefferson State Community College was established in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. Over the years the school has expanded and has three branch campuses in Shelby, Chilton and Pell City. Locally known as Jeff State, the school's enrollment has seen a marked increase since its founding, with 2010 being the year the student body  exceeded 10,000. In addition to education, Jeff State offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletic programs, clubs, organizations, student government, as well as cultural and social activities relating to the arts in order to enrich the student body and the local community. Jeff State is committed to providing its growing student body the best services and education possible by frequently reviewing and updating programs and facilities in order to meet their modern needs.

Academics
Jeff State has near 150 programs that offer certificates, diplomas or degrees through daily, distance learning, night and weekend courses, all available to help accommodate students in finding a schedule that best suits their needs. Some programs are designed to provide academic transfer assistance by allowing the student to complete the first two years of a four year education followed by applying to a college or university to transfer the earned credits and complete the final two years of a bachelor's degree.

Career training programs provide the necessary education and skill development necessary to allow individuals to enter the workforce in a given field as a qualified professional. Students will take classroom and practical training courses, allowing for the obtaining of experience in simulated real world settings that allow for a better understanding of one's duties once employed. Programs result in a diploma, certificate or degree and take between one and two years to complete.

Some programs offered at Jeff State include popular tracks such as:

Accounting
Astronomy
Criminal Justice
Culinary Arts
Nursing

Admissions and Financial Aid
Students wishing to enroll at Jeff State may enroll if they meet the minimum requirements for entry, including a valid ID, a completed application form, and a signed signature page, all of which must be sent to the college in order to enroll. Students may be required to take a placement exam, and are encouraged to participate in new student orientation in order to familiarize themselves with campus life. Additionally, students should meet with an academic advisor to plan their curriculum and determine their program of choice.

To determine financial aid eligibility all transcripts and other necessary documents must be submitted and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be completed as quickly as possible. The information from the FAFSA will be used to determine a student's financial needs and aid program eligibility. Due to recent changes in federal regulation, students may be chosen at random to supply additional financial information to be cross checked against the FAFSA in order to verify its accuracy. Aid must be reapplied for prior to the start of each semester due to shifting financial circumstances of a student from year to year.

Students Enrolled in the Veterinary Assistant Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Jefferson State Community College offers an associate's degree program in veterinary assistant.

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Description

Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, veterinary technologists and technicians employment is expected to grow at a rate of 18.7% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL
  • Average Hourly Rate: $14.11
  • Average Annual Salary: $29350

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).