This diploma program is 18 weeks long, 360 clock hours and 24 quarter credits. The six courses are 100% online and the last four courses include 100 hours (25 hours per course) of in-person externship hours, at a vet clinic setting. The Veterinary Assistant program is designed to provide students with the knowledge to become an entry-level veterinary assistant in an animal care setting.
The program is structured on essential skills for veterinary assistants: office and hospital procedures, communication and client relations, pharmacy and pharmacology, examination room procedures, small animal nursing, surgical preparation and assisting, laboratory procedures, and radiography and ultrasound imaging. Students will learn to recognize behavioral signs and to assist with caring for a patient’s basic needs under the direction of a veterinarian or designated staff. Students will also learn soft skills for interacting with clients and the care team, effective communication, teamwork and cooperation, problem-solving skills, and organizational skills in a fast-paced setting.
Upon graduation students should be able to properly and safely handle and restrain animals, provide support to the veterinarian and veterinary technician in clinical procedures and laboratory testing, recognize disease and nutritional needs, explain preventative health practices, communicate with clients and veterinary team members, and apply critical thinking and problem-solving in a veterinary facility.
Potential barriers to employment include criminal background checks, drug testing, physical exams, required vaccinations, and site-specific requirements — and students are responsible for any requirements for job placement. IMBC maintains documentation of all required ABHES, state, and federal approvals for the online delivery of the program.
Students may need to relocate to obtain gainful employment.
This program is not under the scope of the school’s AVMA-CVTEA accreditation, as that accreditation does not accredit Veterinary Assistant programs. This program does not lead to licensure, education and employment requirements may vary by state, and the institution cannot guarantee certification or employment.