This course teaches the basics of becoming a Veterinary Assistant. It does not count towards Veterinary Assistant licensing or any degree credit hours.
This course will prepare you for the exciting work of Veterinary Assistants! You gain an understanding of the significance of presenting a professional appearance and adapting seamlessly to various situations, all while upholding the ethical standards that guide your patient care. You’ll hone your communication skills with clients, gain appointment management strategies will elevate the quality of service you offer. You learn the art of animal handling, master clinical procedures, and gain proficiency in laboratory techniques. You learn about the intricacies of genetics and breeding, allowing you to gain a deep understanding of diverse breeds and their unique traits. The skill set you develop will extend to mastering diagnostic image interpretation and collaborative practices, setting you up to excel in real-world veterinary scenarios. This course prepares you to be a competent veterinary professional, equipped to deliver quality care, adhere to ethical standards, and make a meaningful contribution to the well-being of animals and their human companions.
Students will:
- Develop professional and effective communication skills for veterinary settings.
- Understand the Veterinary Practice Act, OSHA standards, and roles of federal agencies.
- Master efficient appointment scheduling and telephone communication techniques.
- Learn maintaining cleanliness to prevent disease spread in veterinary facilities.
- Develop knowledge of animal anatomy, body systems, and histology.
- Grasp the principles of genetics, inheritance, and animal classification.
- Recognize dietary requirements and significance of nutrients in animal feed.
- Learn to handle different species of animals using fear-free techniques.
- Demonstrate proficiency in clinical procedures and laboratory testing.
- Gain knowledge to perform in specialized veterinary areas like surgery, dentistry, and diagnostic imaging.
Course Outline:
Lesson 1: Professional Conduct and Foundation Skills
In this lesson, you will explore the foundational principles of veterinary practice, including professional appearance, human-animal bond, flexibility, problem-solving, and loyalty. You’ll gain insights into ethical conduct and the essential skills required to succeed in the veterinary field.
Lesson 2: Laws, Policies, and OSHA Standards Affecting Veterinary Practice
This lesson covers the legal aspects of veterinary practice, understanding the Veterinary Practice Act, federal agencies like the FDA and USDA, and the role of the Veterinary State Board. You’ll learn about the consequences of violating practice laws and the importance of adhering to OSHA standards for workplace safety.
Lesson 3: Veterinary Business Protocols
In this lesson, you will learn essential front office procedures and skills in veterinary practice. You’ll discover the importance of caring receptionist traits, effective telephone skills, appointment management, and professional appearance. By understanding these concepts, you’ll be equipped to provide excellent client service and maintain a smooth workflow.
Lesson 4: Facility and Equipment Maintenance – Cleaning for Disease Control
In this lesson you learn the importance of maintaining a clean and orderly veterinary facility. You will learn how to handle hazardous waste, prevent the spread of diseases, use disinfectants effectively, regular equipment maintenance and adherence to regulations. By mastering these skills, you’ll contribute to a safe and healthy environment for both staff and patients.
Lesson 5: Anatomy and Physiology
This lesson will teach you the essential skills related to veterinary anatomy and physiology. You will understand how to identify major bones and muscles, recognize diseases affecting the skeletal system, and apply knowledge of cells and tissues. These skills are vital for accurate diagnosis and treatment in veterinary practice.
Lesson 6: Introduction to Animals
In this lesson, you go into the intricacies of animal genetics and breeding. The Linnaean system of classification, understanding the difference between phenotypes and genotypes, and learning about the significance of homozygous and heterozygous gene pairs will help you to classify breeds and comprehend their genetic makeup.
Lesson 7: Feeds and Feeding
This lesson covers the link between an animal’s ecological niche and its diet. You’ll learn how to calculate energy needs, decipher food labels, and recognize essential nutrients. The focus includes understanding specialized feeding, assessing livestock feed quality, and grasping the importance of amino acids. You’ll be able to apply knowledge to ensure optimal animal nutrition in collaboration with veterinary experts.
Lesson 8: Restraint of Animals
In this lesson, you’ll delve into the nuances of animal handling in a veterinary setting. Learn the importance of understanding an animal’s field of vision, body language, and the distinction between prey and predator behaviors. Embrace fear-free techniques to ensure both your safety and the well-being of the animals you handle.
Lesson 9: Knots and Ropes
This lesson introduces ropes and knots, from understanding different rope types to tying various knots and hitches. You will learn the essential techniques like preventing rope fraying, hanking ropes, and creating leashes, ensuring effective and safe animal handling.
Lesson 10: Management of Hospitalized and Boarding Pets
This lesson will give an overview of the intricacies of managing both hospitalized and boarding pets. You learn the essentials for creating the right environment, understanding the importance of exercise, and socialization for your patients. You will gain knowledge of the unique needs of recumbent patients and ensure the well-being of all animals in a veterinary facility.
Lesson 11: Clinical Techniques
In this lesson gives you an overview of the various clinical techniques essential in veterinary medicine. From expressing anal glands and trimming toenails to administering medications and wound care, you’ll gain a greater understanding skills to ensure the well-being of animals and maintain a prepared clinical environment.
Lesson 12: Laboratory Skills
This lesson gives you the essential laboratory skills for veterinary technicians, from maintaining equipment to recognizing parasites. Master blood and urine sample handling, operate hematology analyzers, and understand the significance of accurate testing in diagnosis and treatment. After this lesson you will have a comprehensive understanding of laboratory work to ensure the best care for animals.
Lesson 13: Pharmacy Skills
This lesson covers essential pharmacy skills, from reading drug labels to understanding DEA regulations. You will gain greater understanding of the different medication categories, accurate dispensing strategies, and prioritize patient safety. With a focus on accuracy and compliance, you’ll be equipped to provide optimal pharmaceutical care in the practice where you work.
Lesson 14: Surgical Room Skills
This lesson covers the intricacies of the surgical room, from preparing the suite to post-surgical patient care. Emphasizing aseptic conditions, the chapter guides you through anesthesia induction, surgical equipment handling, and the importance of meticulous record-keeping, ensuring optimal patient outcomes.
Lesson 15: Dental Skills for the Veterinary Assistant
This lesson gives you a look into the realm of veterinary dental skills. From understanding tooth anatomy to mastering dental instruments, you’ll learn the spectrum of dental care for animals. By the end, you’ll be equipped to assist in dental procedures and educate clients on oral health.
Lesson 16: Diagnostic Imaging and Endoscopy
In this lesson covers interpreting diagnostic images, ensuring image quality, and applying safety protocols in radiology. You’ll also learn to collaborate effectively in medical settings, evaluate radiographs for abnormalities, and utilize tools for precise measurements in imaging studies.
Delivery: Online Self-paced. 12 months.
240 Hours
TUITION COST: $1599.00
All necessary course materials are included.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Internet Connectivity Requirements:
- Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.
Hardware Requirements:
- CPU: 1 GHz or higher
- RAM: 2 GB or higher
- Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
- Speakers / Headphones
- Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)
Operating System Requirements:
- Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
- Mac OSX 10 or higher.
- Latest Chrome OS
- Latest Linux Distributions
NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.
Web Browser Requirements:
- Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
- Latest Mozilla FireFox
- Latest Microsoft Edge
- Latest Apple Safari
Basic Software Requirements (These are recommendations of software to use):
- Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
- PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
- Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.
For more information and to enroll please call, email or visit us:
Beaufort Mather Campus
Coleman Hall (Building 2)
Beaufort South Carolina
Monday–Thursday, 8:30AM to 5:30PM
Phone 843-525-8205 or email cewd@tcl.edu
Colleton Adult Learning Center
500 Forest Circle
Walterboro, South Carolina
Mr. Phillip Taylor, Colleton Workforce Solutions Manager, TCL
Monday, 4PM to 9PM
Office 843-782-0014 or cell 843-599-1711
Email: ptaylor@tcl.edu
