Veterinary Technology - Associate in Science

School of Veterinary Technology

VETTC-AS

Effective Catalog Term: Fall 2024 (640) through Present (CIP#1301830100)

The requirements shown below are valid beginning Fall 2024 (640). Course content may have changed to reflect new developments or improvements, even if the overall program structure has not. Current students should visit My SPC and view My Learning Plan to see specific degree requirements for their effective term.

Program Leadership Information

Dr. Natavia Middleton
Dean
middleton.natavia@spcollege.edu
727-398-8288

Tricia Gorham
Program Director
gorham.tricia@spcollege.edu
727-302-6733

Program Summary

FACE-TO-FACE PROGRAM BEGINS IN AUGUST AND JANUARY. This program is also offered as a Fully Online program, beginning in August, January, and May. All students entering the Veterinary Technology program will be set on a path to first complete the Veterinary Assisting Certificate (available Spring 2026). Admissions to the Veterinary Technology program is required to be eligible for the Veterinary Assisting Certificate. Before entering the first term of the Veterinary Technology “program courses”, all students must have completed at least 15 of the 21 credits of the required Veterinary Technology general education and support courses including composition, mathematics, and natural science. Students may take the general education and support courses at any regionally accredited college or university, or they may complete them through St. Petersburg College campus or distance education courses. The general education and/or support courses do not have to be taken in the order listed. Applicants must have worked or volunteered in a veterinary hospital at least 40 hours prior to applying for admission to fulfill the clinical observation requirement. Candidates will also complete the Health Programs Application before they will be considered for acceptance into the Veterinary Technology Program. Please see a counselor and/or advisor.

Campus Students must also be in a veterinary hospital on an average of 4-5 hours per week for a total of 100 hours and online students on average 20-25 hours per week for a total of 280 hours over 12 weeks of the semester for they are enrolled in the veterinary technology program.

The Academic Pathway is a tool for students that lists the following items:

the recommended order in which to take the program courses
suggested course when more than one option exists
which semester each course is typically offered
if the course has a prerequisite
courses that may lead to a certificate (if offered in the program)

If you are starting the program this term, click here to access the recommended Academic Pathway.

If you have already started the program, click one of the following for the archived Academic Pathways.

Archive

Please verify the Academic Pathway lists your correct starting semester.

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will recognize the principles of pharmacology, classes of drugs, and be familiar with the pharmacology of commonly used medications.
The student will understand sterile technique, surgical assisting, and be familiar with the characteristics of common surgical instruments.
The student will know the procedures for and be able to perform common clinical laboratory tests such as blood counts, serum chemistry, and urinalysis.
The student will understand nursing practices and be able to use intravenous catheters, urinary catheters, and bandaging materials properly.
The student will understand and practice radiation safety while taking radiographs, and will be able to recognize and correct errors in technique to produce diagnostic radiographs.
The student will understand anesthetic agents and their administration, the monitoring of anesthetized patients, and safe recovery.
The student will recognize the principles of dentistry and become familiar with the procedures associated with dentistry in veterinary medicine.
The student will utilize the knowledge as it applies to pain management procedures and analgesia.
The student will utilize the knowledge to perform emergency and critical care nursing procedures.
The student performance on the Veterinary Technician National Exam will demonstrate that they have an overall understanding of pharmacology; surgical assisting and preparation; clinical laboratory techniques; animal care and nursing; diagnostic imaging; analgesia and anesthesia and dentistry.

Admission Requirements

Health Degree Admission Guides outline criteria specific to each program, including course requirements, GPA and the application process.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the schedule listed above, the student, with permission of the program director, may elect to take reduced credit hours each semester and extend the program over eight semesters. Courses must be taken in proper sequence and all other program requirements apply. Minimum grade of "C" required in all courses.

Program Requirements

AS GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

AS Gen Ed

Credits 18

Communications - Composition- Core

Complete 3 credits from the approved General Education Composition I coursework. Minimum grade of "C" required. This requirement must be completed within the first 24 credits of coursework toward the AS degree.

Communications - Speech

Complete 3 credits from the approved General Education Speech coursework . Minimum grade of "C" required.

Social and Behavioral Sciences- Core

Complete 3 credits from the approved General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences coursework. Minimum grade of "C" required. Completing POS 2041 or POS 2041H or or AMH 2010 or AMH 2010H or AMH 2020 or AMH 2020H will satisfy the course component of the Civic Literacy Requirement.

Humanities and Fine Arts-Core

Complete 3 credits from the approved General Education Humanities and Fine Arts coursework. Minimum grade of "C" required.

Mathematics-Core

Complete 3 credits from the approved General Education Mathematics coursework. Minimum grade of "C" required.

Ethics

Complete 3 credits from the approved General Education Ethics coursework. Minimum grade of "C" required.

Computer/Information Literacy Competency

Competency may be demonstrated by completing the Computer Information and Literacy Exam (CGS 1070T) OR by successful completion of one of the approved Computer/Information Literacy Competency courses. No minimum credits required.

Enhanced World View

Complete at least one 3-credit course intended to enhance the student's world view in light of an increasingly globalized economy. Minimum grade of "C" required. In some cases, this course may also be used to satisfy another General Education Requirement.

Civic Literacy

Competency may be demonstrated by completing at least one course from the approved General Education Civic Literacy coursework below (minimum grade of "C" required) AND satisfactory completion of an assessment (exam). Students completing AMH 2010 or AMH 2010H in Fall 2024 or thereafter will satisfy the Civic Literacy course requirement. This requirement is in compliance with Rule 6A-10.02413 of the Florida Administrative Code.

AMH 2010

History of the United States I (Active)

AMH 2010H

Honors History of the United States I (Active)

AMH 2020

History of the United States II (Active)

AMH 2020H

Honors History of the US II (Active)

POS 2041

American National Government (Active)

POS 2041H

Honors American National Government (Active)

SUPPORT COURSES

Natural Science Core with Lab Select 3 credits

Credits 3

AST 1002

Introduction to Astronomy (Active)

BSC 1005C

Biological Sciences with Lab (Active)

BSC 2010

Biology I Cellular Processes (Active)

BSC 2010CH

Honors Biology I Cellular Processes with Laboratory (Active)

BSC 2085

Human Anatomy & Physiology I (Active)

CHM 2045

General Chemistry I (Active)

ESC 1000C

Earth Science (Active)

EVR 1001C

Introduction to Environmental Science (Active)

GLY 2010 ^*

Physical Geology (Active)

OCE 2001 ^*

Introduction to Oceanography (Active)

PHY 1053

General Physics I (Active)

PHY 2048

Physics I (Active)

^*Effective Fall 2024 and thereafter, students who successfully complete GLY 2010 or OCE 2001 will satisfy the Natural Sciences Core requirement. If completed before Fall 2024, the course will satisfy the Natural Sciences Elective requirement.

MAJOR CORE COURSES

First Term in Program

Credits 13

ATE 1110

Animal Anatomy (Active)

ATE 1110L

Animal Anatomy Lab (Active)

ATE 1311L

Veterinary Office Procedures (Active)

ATE 1650L

Veterinary Clinical Practice I (Active)

ATE 1943

Veterinary Work Practicum I (Active)

ATE 1741

Veterinary Med Terminology (Active)

ATE 2050C

Small Animal Behavior (Active)

ATE 2631

Animal Nursing (Active)

MAJOR CORE COURSES

Second Term in Program

Credits 14

ATE 1636

Large Animal Clinical & Nursing Skills (Active)

ATE 1654L

Veterinary Clinic Practice II (Active)

ATE 1944

Veterinary Work Practicum II (Active)

ATE 1211

Animal Physiology (Active)

ATE 2656L

Large Animal Clinical and Nursing Skills Lab (Active)

ATE 2722L

Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine (Active)

ATE 2611

Animal Anesthesia (Active)

ATE 1412C

Introduction to Dental Techniques (Active)

MAJOR CORE COURSES

Third Term in Program

Credits 12

ATE 2634

Animal Pharmacology (Active)

ATE 2638

Animal Lab Procedures I (Active)

ATE 2638L

Animal Lab Procedure Lab (Active)

ATE 2651L

Animal Nursing & Medicine Lab I (Active)

ATE 2945

Veterinary Work Practicum III (Active)

ATE 2661

Large Animal Diseases (Active)

MAJOR CORE COURSES

Fourth Term in Program

Credits 13

ATE 1671L

Laboratory Animal Medicine (Active)

ATE 2612

Animal Medicine (Active)

ATE 2639

Animal Lab Procedures II (Active)

ATE 2639L

Animal Lab Procedures Lab II (Active)

ATE 2653L

Animal Nursing & Medicine Laboratory II (Active)

ATE 2710

Animal Emergency Medicine (Active)

ATE 2946

Veterinary Work Practicum IV (Active)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM BEGINS IN AUGUST, JANUARY AND MAY

Credits 0

The Distance Education Program is designed for students who cannot commute to campus. The credit earned by distance education is the same as credit earned on campus. Students may combine distance education courses with on-site courses in order to better accommodate work and family obligations. The difference between local and distance learning is in the method of delivery, not in the content or the desired outcomes.

Before entering the first semester of the Distance Veterinary Technology “program courses,” all students must have completed at least 15 of the 21 credits of general education and support courses and be computer literate. Students may take the general education and support courses at any regionally accredited college or university, or they may complete them through St. Petersburg College campus or distance education courses.

Applicants must have worked or volunteered in a veterinary hospital at least 40 hours prior to applying for admission to fulfill requirements. Students must also be in a veterinary hospital on an average of 20 hours per week for a total of 280 hours over 12 weeks of the semester for they are enrolled in the distance program. Students must master over 200 tasks and skills, resulting in the need to be in a hospital where there is the opportunity, equipment, supplies, and expertise to be instructed and learn these tasks and skills.

Candidates will also complete the Health Programs Application form and the Veterinary Hospital Observation and Discussion form before they will be considered for acceptance into the Veterinary Technology Program. Please contact a counselor and/or advisor.

The Veterinary Technology Distance Education Program is based on the following assumptions. Students have:

completed at least 15 of the 21 credits of the general education and support courses prior to admission.
the initiative, resourcefulness and perseverance to work independently.
a solid relationship with an employer veterinarian.
experience using a computer and have access to a computer and the Internet.
subscribed to an Internet service.

The complete distance program application includes the following:

The college application and the $40 fee for new students at SPC.
Health Programs Application form.
Hospital Observation and Discussion form.
Transcripts from your high school (if no college degree) and any colleges you have attended sent directly to SPC from each school.

Applicants are considered as soon as their file is complete.

Distance Program – Veterinary Technology Courses are designed to be completed in the specific sequence below. Please contact the program director for advice if you wish to make adjustments.

MAJOR CORE COURSES

Term by Term Schedule

Credits 19

Term 1: Complete 7 credits

ATE 1110

Animal Anatomy (Active)

ATE 1110L

Animal Anatomy Lab (Active)

ATE 1741

Veterinary Med Terminology (Active)

ATE 2050C

Small Animal Behavior (Active)