Animal lovers can apply their passion to a rewarding and in-demand career that starts with Tarrant County College’s new Veterinary Clinical Assistant (CVA) Program. A collaboration between Tarrant County College South and the Crowley Independent School District, this program is being offered at the Crowley South Campus Center.
As the North Texas region continues to grow, so does the number of pets, creating a need for qualified veterinary clinical assistants in private clinics, laboratories, animal hospitals, animal shelters and even zoos throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“There is a definite need for trained veterinary assistants in this region,” said Nancy Carter, shelter veterinarian for the City of Arlington. “We have a constant influx of animals into our shelter, and each one needs basic veterinary care that a trained assistant could be serving.”
In order to meet the growing demand for trained veterinary clinical assistants, TCC is launching this eight-course certification program Sept. 10. Total program cost is $2,645 (tuition and fees) and financial aid/grants may be available for eligible students. The first course, Orientation to Veterinary Medicine, will run Sept. 10-19, followed by Introduction to Veterinary Technology running Sept. 24-Nov. 14.
Students will acquire the requisite skills needed to be relevant in today’s veterinary world, including:
- Basic patient evaluations
- Techniques for managing veterinary patients during clinical visits
- Preparation and assistance with surgical procedures
- Knowledge to understand laboratory and pharmacology orders
- Workplace training with hands-on experience
Animal shelters are a great landing spot for graduates, according to Carter. “From intake of the animals, where they are weighed, briefly examined for fleas or ticks, given core vaccines and de-wormer and flea/tick treatment, to ongoing care in the kennels, trained assistants can be a huge help in the animal sheltering field,” added Carter. “In animal shelter clinics, CVAs can help prepare animals for surgery and then help animals recover after surgery.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 19 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.
“TCC is committed to preparing students for careers in the growing veterinary technology field,” said TCC Coordinator of Special Projects for the Crowley South Campus Center Demetrice Thompson. “Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to take the CVA Level 1 certification exam.”
Enrollment is limited and students must meet admission criteria. Contact 817-515-2100 or tcc.crowley@tccd.edu for more information.