Veterinary Technology, A.A.S.

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The Veterinary Technology Associate of Applied Science degree program is designed to prepare stu­dents to work as Registered Veterinary Technicians (“RVT”). Students completing the program will have techni­cal skills and competencies to assist veterinarians in industrial, commercial, and research settings as well as in pharmaceutical companies and animal handling retail businesses.

The Veterinary Technology program was accredited in 1998 by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Accreditation allows graduates to be eligible to take the Texas State Registered Veterinary Technician examination and the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE)  to become a Registered Veterinary Technician.

COMMISSION OF A FELONY MAY PREVENT YOU FROM OBTAINING REGISTRATION AS A VETERINARY TECHNICIAN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. Veterinary Technology Program students or potential students should be advised that contained in the RVT Standards of Conduct adopted by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is a provision for the denial or revocation of registration of any Veterinary Technician (or applicant) located at www.tvma.organd may prevent you from being accepted or participating in and will even constitute grounds for you being excluded from the Veterinary Technology program   Examples of some of the grounds are: 1.  Conviction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude.  2.  Use of drug or any alcoholic beverage to the extent and in a manner dangerous to himself, any other person, any animal, or the public or to any extent that such use impairs his ability to perform the work of a Registered Veterinary Technician with safety to animals involved and to the public.

A limited number of qualified students are admitted to the Veterinary Technology program every fall semester. Prospective students must have the following to apply: meet the general admission requirements to Palo Alto College and be admitted to the college, have successfully completed each required prerequisite course with a grade of “C” or better, three letters of recommendation (one from veterinarian and two from other sources), have successfully completed 80 hours of work experience in a veterinary clinic, and a complete application. Applications must be received by June 1. All applications will be reviewed, ranked, and the selected number of qualified applicants will be accepted into the program and notified by June 15. Accepted students will be required to have a physical exam, tetanus prophylaxis and pre-exposure rabies prophylaxis before entrance for the fall semester.  All VTHT courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. No VTHT course older than 5 years, prior to graduation, may be counted toward the AAS degree or certificate in Veterinary Technology.

For further information, refer to the Veterinary Technology website: alamo.edu/pac/vet-tech.

Advisory Committee
Dr. John August, Texas A&M University
Dr. Noberto Espitia, Texas A & M University
Adrian Ford, LVT, Emergency Pet Clinic
Dr. John Herbold, University of Texas School of Public Health
Dr. Anna Kaiser, Encino Park Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Dennis McIntosh, El Dorado Animal Hospital
Dr. Tom Vice, Broadway Animal Hospital
Linda Larson, RVT, VCA Mission Animal Hospital
Nicole Reininger, RVT, MWI
Candice Robinson, RVT, I10 Pet Emergency

Related Degrees and Certificates

Veterinary Assistant Level II Certificate