Veterinary Assistant Program

The veterinary assistant program at Northern Virginia 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 Virginia colleges that offer veterinary assistant program.

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Northern Virginia Community College

Also known as Norfolk State

700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA

Commonly referred to as NOVA, the Northern Virginia Community College is the second-largest community college in the country. The main campus alone, located in Annandale, is built over almost 80 acres in addition to 8 other campus sites and educational centers in different localities. NOVA was founded in 1964 as the Northern Virginia Technical College, serving almost 800 students in a single location. At present, there are about 90,000 students enrolled in both credit and non-credit courses across all campuses.

The Annandale campus is home to over 20,000 students enrolled in various courses among the following academic divisions: Math, Science and Engineering; Business and Public Services; Languages and Literature; and Liberal Arts. The campus is also known for offering certificate courses in Human Resource Management and Advanced Forensic Investigation. Programs for skills improvement and organizational learning are handled by the Office of Workforce Development and Continuing Education.

NOVA aims to have its students earn the necessary credits for acceptance into four-year colleges. In line with this goal, the Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program was designed to provide assistance to outstanding high school students in Northern Virginia in transitioning from secondary to higher education. Priority in enrolling at NOVA with financial assistance is granted as well as guidance on seeking placement with other universities. Completion of an associate degree program with a 2.5 GPA guarantees admission to the George Mason University (GMU).

Annandale's Student Services Center also provides special assistance to international students, military service members, and veterans. All students have access to various facilities including the Ernst Community Cultural Center, a facility featuring a theater, art gallery, gymnasium, and several function halls.

Participation in intercollegiate athletic events and other non-academic pursuits is highly encouraged, particularly in basketball, soccer, ice hockey, and volleyball. Tournaments and intramural events are organized by the Student Activities Office, aiming to highlight the importance of recreation and extra-curricular activities in further development of a student's competencies.

Students Enrolled in the Veterinary Assistant Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Northern Virginia 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

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