Veterinary technicians are professionals with a large scope of practice dedicated to animal health care who serve as vital members of the veterinary medical team and are trusted with diverse medical responsibilities, including animal care and nursing, basic and advanced life support, laboratory procedures (sampling, handling, and analysis), pharmacy and pharmacology, physical therapy, surgical nursing, anesthesia (induction, maintenance, and monitoring), pain management and analgesia, dentistry, diagnostic imaging (radiographs, ultrasound, CT, and MR), emergency and critical care, nutritional management, patient advocacy, pet owner education, and promotion of public health.
This program combines general education with veterinary technology courses to prepare students for entry-level veterinary technology practice.
Program Goals
Students who have completed the program will be able to:
- Achieve an appropriate depth of knowledge and execute clinical skills in all areas of veterinary medicine as it pertains to veterinary technology.
- Apply the knowledge and technical skills necessary to successfully function within the scope of practice of a veterinary technician.
- Effectively and professionally communicate both written and verbal information to veterinary personnel and clients in a clinical setting.
- Demonstrate using critical thinking skills to identify and solve problems in discipline-specific situations.
- Contribute to the veterinary healthcare team while maintaining professional, legal, and ethical standards, including a strong work ethic, personal responsibility, and compassion for animals and pet owners.
Admissions
Veterinary Technology is a selective admissions program. Students must be accepted to the program before registering for any veterinary technology (VETT) courses.
Rowan College requires all students accepted into the veterinary technology program to complete a criminal history background check (CHBC) and urine drug screen prior to participating at clinical sites.
Students unable to participate at clinical sites as a result of the CHBC or urine drug screen will be dismissed from the veterinary technology program.
Students can download the Program Guide listed above to view a semester-by-semester breakdown of the required classes and electives for this program.
The RCSJ Catalog provides class descriptions.
The Course Registration Info site shows important information for each semester such as deadlines, dates, and guides.
For a complete list of when important College dates occur, students can view and download the Academic Calendar.
Accreditation
RCSJ will be applying to seek initial accreditation from The American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technology Education and Activities (AVMA CVTEA). The submission and acceptance of our application does not guarantee accreditation, and applying for accreditation does not grant any temporary accreditation status.
Students will be kept informed as to the status of accreditation. In the event accreditation is not achieved, students will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree in Technical Studies as a contingency. Upon successful appeal by the college to AVMA CVTEA for accreditation, students' degrees will then be conferred as A.A.S. in Veterinary Technology.
