Veterinary Technician

This outline covers all four semesters of your distance learning degree program. You will receive credit for previous college coursework if you meet Penn Foster standards. If you wish to receive credit for previous coursework, contact the college you attended and ask that your transcripts be forwarded to Penn Foster for evaluation. There is a non-refundable transcript processing fee of $30. All previous college work must have been completed with a grade of "C" or better, and as much as 50% of the required credits may be transferred. We will also credit your tuition for all the courses that are acceptable.

System Requirements
You will need access to a computer to complete this program. Penn Foster recommends the following computer specifications: Pentium® II or better processor, using Microsoft® Windows® XP or later. You will also need access to the Internet and Microsoft® Office® 2007 and have an email account to complete portions of this program.

Here is an overview of what you'll receive and the order in which you will receive your lessons:

Online Library and Librarian
Students at Penn Foster College have access to an online library during their college studies. Students can use the library to do the required course research or for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and will assist students in research activities.

SEMESTER ONE

Basic Skills Assessment All degree applicants are required to complete two Basic Skills Assessments, one in reading and one in math, to determine the level of readiness for beginning their selected program. Additional studies may be required. VET101: Orientation to Veterinary Technology (1 credit) Overview of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology; roles of the various members of the veterinary health-care team; professional ethics and legal aspects of veterinary practice; aspects of distance education in veterinary technology and strategies for success. VET102: Introduction to Veterinary Technology (2 credits) Introduction to animal sciences and an orientation to career opportunities in the field of animal care; typical behavior characteristics of animal species with regard to humane restraint and handling the veterinary technician’s role in patient history, physical exam, grief counseling, and client educations; introduction to medical terminology. CSC101: Computer Literacy (3 credits) Hardware and software; computer networks; information systems; legal and ethical dilemmas. (Required textbook provided with the course.) SCI120: Introduction to Biology (3 credits) An introductory course that explains the origin of life and the relationships between all living things. It describes how a significant number of organisms are structured and how they work, in order to enable students to discuss intelligently the various forms of life and their processes. VET113: Animal Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits) Structures and function of the animal body with emphasis on the similarities and differences of domestic animals: principles of biology, body organization and metabolism of cells, tissues, and organ systems including the respiratory, digestive, skeletal, muscular, and cardiovascular systems. MAT140: Medical Mathematics (3 credits) Mathematics refresher; calculating dosages and solutions. ENG103: Information Literacy (1 credit) Teaches students to become effectively literate in finding and utilizing information at libraries and other information centers, and through electronic resources available in libraries and on the World Wide Web. Proctored Examination*

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SEMESTER TWO

VET105 – Veterinary Office Management (2 credits)
Veterinary technician’s role in practice management; accounting basics; personnel management, leadership skills; stress management; customer relations; practice ethics.

ENG100 – English Composition (3 credits)
Writing difficulties; grammar review (sentences, parts of speech, punctuation marks, and paragraphs); defining unfamiliar terms; finding ideas through freewriting and brainstorming; organizing ideas; principles of revising and editing; figures of speech; writing for the senses; getting the readers’ attention; descriptive writing; first-person narratives; reflective and persuasive essays; thesis statements.

MAT260 – Survey of Mathematics (3 credits)
Designed for liberal arts and business majors. A sampling of the history of mathematics and calculations using algebra, geometry, and trigonometry; problems and exercises that provide “real life” applications of concepts.

VET114 – Animal Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
Continuation of Anatomy and Physiology I; integumentary, urinary, and endocrine systems; nervous system and sensory organs.

VET120 – Diagnostic Imaging (3 credits)
Radiation and ultrasound; x-ray production, film types and development, equipment operation and care, darkroom and developing procedures; radiation safety and preventative measures; positioning the animal for radiograph production.

VET123 – Veterinary Pharmacology (3 credits)
Use of drugs in veterinary medicine; introduction to drug testing methodology and the use/handling of prescriptions; calculation of dosages and administration techniques; drug actions, interactions, and adverse reactions.

Proctored Examination*

VET130 – Practicum 1 (4 credits)
The first of two nine-week practicums at a veterinary hospital; be part of the working veterinary team and practice the knowledge and skills acquired from the course material.

SEMESTER THREE

VET201 – Clinical Pathology I (3 credits)
Microbiology, histology, cytology, and urinalysis; basics of microbiology; microorganisms and their effect on humans, animals, and the world around us; study of morphology, genetics, virology, and immunology.

VET221 – Animal Parasitology (3 credits)
Common endo- and ectoparasites, their life cycle, identification, treatment, prevention, and effects on animals; zoonotic and public health concerns and how they relate to parasites; fecal examinations.

VET223 – Animal Diseases, Pathology, and Immunology (3 credits)
Basic disease processes as they relate to various body systems; transmission diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases that affect domestic animals; healing processes; immunological responses and vaccination types and techniques; zoonosis and preventative measures.

SSC130 Essentials of Psychology (3 credits)

VET211 – Surgical Procedures (3 credits)
Principles and practices of surgical nursing; methods and mechanics of the process of sterilization, identification, use and maintenance of surgical instruments; common surgical procedures.

VET213 – Anesthesiology (3 credits)
Pharmacology of commonly used anesthetic agents, patient induction, monitoring, and recovery, anesthetic equipment and procedures, dose calculations, and anesthetic emergencies.

Proctored Examination*

SEMESTER FOUR

VET200 – Animal Care and Management (3 credits)
Veterinary emergency care, first aid, wound and bandage management, dental prophylaxis, general nursing care, and sample collection and treatment techniques.

ENG121 – Business and Technical Writing (3 credits)
Writing styles; ABC method of organizing material; grammar (parts of speech, active and passive voice, complete sentences vs. sentence fragments; parallel construction); using action verbs; constructing paragraphs; writing memos, business letters, and e-mails; organizing material; conducting research; documenting sources; outlining; providing illustrations; writing reports, proposals, descriptions, instructions, articles, and manuals.

VET202 – Clinical Pathology II (3 credits)
Hematology, clinical chemistry, and immunology; theoretical basis for analysis of body chemicals, urinalysis, hematologic, serologic, and cytologic evaluations; familiarization of equipment, reagents, and techniques required to utilize blood as a diagnostic aid; clinical laboratory safety, record keeping, quality control, necropsy sample collection, and storage.

VET225 – Animal Nutrition, Reproduction, Genetics, and Aging (3 credits)
Science of nutrition and its application to feeding practices of domestic, farm, and companion animals; basic nutrients and nutritional requirements of individual species, approximate food analysis, interpretation of food and feed labels, and types of animal foods; physiology of reproduction, aging, and genetics.

VET227 – Laboratory Animal Science (3 credits)
Biomedical research and the ethical considerations centering on the use of laboratory animals in research; state, federal, and local animal welfare regulations; biology, care, utilization, and diseases of commonly used laboratory animals.

VET229 – Veterinary Technician Examination Review (1 credit)
Comprehensive review to assist the student in preparation for state and national certifying examinations for the veterinary technician; reviews basic science, clinical practices, diagnostics, and ethical concerns; covers birds, reptiles, laboratory animals, and large and small animal species

Proctored Examination*

VET230 Practicum 2 (4 credits)
The second nine-week practicum at a veterinary hospital.

* As a degree candidate, you will take a proctored examination at the end of each semester. We make it easy because you pick the location and the person you want to supervise the examination, as long as Penn Foster College established policy and qualifications are met. Complete information packets, with procedures, will be provided well in advance, before completion of final semester coursework for each semester.

** This program requires the student to enroll in a nine-week practicum at the end of Semesters Two and Four.

Some states require certification before Veterinary Technicians can begin practice. Please check with your state regulatory agency.

NOTE: Advanced standing student shipments may vary from the above schedule.

A High School Diploma or GED is required to enroll in this degree program. Although this outline covers all four semesters of the Veterinary Technician Program, you receive lesson materials for each semester as you enroll.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

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