Veterinary Assisting - 6 Month Program

The Veterinary Assisting program prepares graduates to assist veterinary technicians and veterinarians in the performance of daily tasks and responsibilities. Students learn nursing procedures in a variety of species, record keeping, terminology, and more!

What is a Veterinary Assistant?

Veterinary Assistants are the flexible support personnel that assist veterinary technicians and veterinarians in all aspects of clinical work.

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According to the National Association for Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), assistants in a clinic are "helping to fill [prescriptions], keeping exam rooms cleaned and prepped, setting up lab work, helping with inventory, updating medical records, [and] assisting with nursing care".

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What is the difference between a Veterinary Assistant and Technician?

The primary differences between the Veterinary Assisting courses and the Veterinary Technology courses are in their number and depth. Veterinary Techncians have the same core knowledge that Assistants earn in their 6-month program, but Technicians take additional classes focusing on the details of medical and laboratory sciences including more invasive and technical medical procedures.

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For Veterinary Assisting students that want to continue their education, all Veterinary Assisting courses are directly transferable to the Veterinary Technology program.

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How long does it take to earn a Veterinary Assisting Certificate?

The Veterinary Assisting program can be completed in as little as two quarters for full-time students. The program is designed to include only the courses our students need to be marketable veterinary assistants. Class time allows students to have dedicated hands-on time to practice the skills they need to succeed in the field.

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Our Veterinary Assisting students take courses in calculations, medical terminology, patient management and nursing, medical nursing, surgical nursing, large animal nursing, and exotic animal nursing.

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For more information about the Veterinary Assisting courses, including sample registration, please download the Apex College of Veterinary Technology Catalog or contact us.

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How much does the Veterinary Assisting program cost?

Our students pay for only the classes they need to take, when they are taking them.

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Tuition for all programs is $210/credit. Transfer credits are applied at no cost to the student, with no need to pay any tuition or fees for transferred courses.

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As a short-format program, the Veterinary Assisting certificate allows students to gain marketable skills with a very limited cost. Our goal is to keep great students and help our students avoid debt through fair and mutually beneficial tuition and scholarship offerings.

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When are classes offered?

New classes start every quarter.  Classes are scheduled based on student need and faculty availability. Depending on our students' needs we offer classes weekdays across mornings, afternoons, and evenings.

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Many of our students work while in school, so our quarterly schedule customization allows us to help our students maintain a work-school-life balance.

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How many students are in each class?

We limit our hands-on Veterinary Assisting courses to a maximum of 12 students to ensure that every student has adequate time, space, and resources to participate fully, receive instruction, and practice their skills in a safe environment. Our policy is to offer more sections of a class rather than overload a class with students.

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How do I apply for the Veterinary Assisting program?

We recommend scheduling a tour to see our campus and speak with our faculty. If you like what you see and think Apex College of Veterinary Technology is the right school for you, you will also need to complete our online application.

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Our administrative staff will follow-up to help you complete the rest of the admission process and establish your start date based on your application completion date and your application data.