Accreditation

The Committee on Veterinary Technical Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) granted initial accreditation to Westchester Community College’s Veterinary Technology program, effective March 14, 2014. The program was elevated to full accreditation, effective April, 2020.  Accreditation will remain in effect as long as the program continues to meet AVMA CVTEA Standards of Accreditation.

Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE)

A passing grade on the Veterinary Technician National Exam, is required for licensure in New York State. Students within 6 months of graduation and graduates of an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program (or a program registered by the New York State Education Department) can register to take this exam. The following chart displays the pass/success rate, of first time test takers for the past three academic years (from July through June of each year):

Pass Rates for 2017–2020

Additional Program Notes

Pre-requisites: The following four courses need to be completed to be considered for acceptance into the Veterinary Technology program. (Transfer credits earned prior to attendance at Westchester Community College may also be considered if they meet acceptable equivalency.)

• Written English - completion of 
  ENG 101 - Writing and Research
    
• Mathematics - completion of MATH 117 - College Quantitative Reasoning  
• Science proficiency - completion of both:
  • BIOL 103 - Human Biology (and Lab)
      
  • CHEM 113 - Principles of Inorganic Chemistry (and Lab)
      

Required Screening: Following acceptance and prior to admittance, students must complete a successful criminal background check. Drug screening is also required prior to admittance into any clinical experience. Screening is mandatory, and all expenses are the responsibility of the student. Any screening may be required to be repeated at the request of the Department Chair at any point during the program.

Clinical Experiences: Some laboratory classes, and clinical externships and experiences, are held off campus at affiliated animal-related facilities. Travel to and from these facilities is an expectation of this program and is the student’s responsibility. Faculty/staff are not permitted to transport students.

Educational Progress: Students are expected to obtain a “C” in all non-Veterinary Technology coursework, and a “C+” in all Veterinary Technology coursework. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required at the end of each semester.

A grade below a “C+” in any Veterinary Technology course is considered failing. Any student who fails or withdraws from a course can apply for re-admittance to the program for one additional attempt. Any student who fails a second course will be subject to academic dismissal from the program.

Professional Conduct: Professional and ethical conduct are an important component of this program, and are expected to be upheld to continue in and graduate from this program.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

1. Demonstrate the ability to apply theoretical concepts to veterinary care decisions consistently.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the design of modern nursing technologies and its application to veterinary care.
3. Demonstrate professionalism in dealing with patients and clients.
4. Demonstrate the ability to function as a member of a veterinary care team.
5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate well, orally and in writing, in veterinary care situations.
6. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical and analytic thinking in veterinary care situations.
7. Demonstrate the competency needed to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).

General Education Requirements - 20 Credits

Students are required to fulfill a certain number of credits within the specific categories shown below. Where specific courses are not listed within these categories, courses must be selected from the list of SUNY General Education Courses .

Degree Requirements - 49 Credits

• VET 101 - Introduction to Veterinary Technology
• VET 102 - Animal Anatomy and Physiology
• VET 106 - Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians
• VET 107 - Veterinary Disease and Pathology
• VET 108 - Small Animal Nursing
• VET 109 - Clinical Pathology 1
• VET 200 - Clinical Pathology 2
• VET 201 - Veterinary Office Practices
• VET 202 - Anesthetic and Surgical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians
• VET 203 - Dental Techniques
• VET 204 - Senior Lab 1
• VET 205 - Imaging Techniques
• VET 206 - Farm Animal Nursing
• VET 207 - Laboratory and Exotic Animal Medicine
• VET 208 - Senior Lab 2
• VET 210 - Veterinary Technology Internship 1
• VET 211 - Veterinary Technology Internship 2

Minimum Total Credits - 69