Veterinary Assistant Program
This program is held at Brookdale Community College and is accredited through the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) and is given in collaboration with Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Tinton Falls. Students who graduate are eligible to sit for the national exam to earn the credential of Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA). Veterinary Assistants are an integral part of the veterinary healthcare team, working under the direct supervision of a veterinarian or credentialed veterinary technician.
Through classroom and clinical instruction, students are trained to provide assistance in the following area of study: office procedures and client relations, pharmacy, preventative healthcare, behavior and restraint, veterinary medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, safety in the veterinary workplace, animal nursing, laboratory procedures, surgical and recovery room assistance, radiology and emergency response (254 hours).
Program Prerequisites
- Grades of C on college transcript in 100-level math and English courses
- Accuplacer scores of 250 in arithmetic and reading comprehension
- SAT scores of 540 in critical reading and 530 in quantitative
- ACT scores of 23 in reading and 22 in math
- Grade of 4 in advanced placement high school English and math
Additional Information
- must be 18 years of age or older
- Admitted students must submit to criminal background check and drug screen (additional fee).
- Physical required including tetanus shot and immunization titers
- Admitted students must have health insurance
- 75 percent average is required for participation in clinical
- NAVTA program attendance requirements for classroom and clinical instruction must be met to graduate.
- Students must purchase textbooks, khaki scrubs, and sneakers for class and clinical instruction.
- Admitted students without documentation submitted prior to the start of the program will be administratively withdrawn from the program and a $150 processing fee will be charged.
Credit
Students who achieve the AVA credential are eligible to articulate their education and receive two college credits towards the Veterinary Technician Program (AVMA Accredited) at Bergen County College in Paramus, NJ, OR, four college credits toward the Veterinary Technician Program (AVMA Accredited) at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA.
For more information on the Veterinary Assistant Program, click here.
