This online veterinary assistant course will prepare you to become a productive member of a veterinary team by helping you learn the fundamental skills needed for a successful career.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 10 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Microsoft Word Online
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this program are included with enrollment. The following eBooks are available for your course. Reading assignments in each lesson will be linked to the eBook for the designated reading.
- Veterinary Assisting Fundamentals & Applications, 2nd Edition, by Beth Vanhorn
- An Illustrated Guide to Veterinary Medical Terminology, 4th Edition, by Janet Amundson Romich
Are you an animal lover? Have you ever considered a career as a veterinary assistant? If yes, then this veterinary assistant training course is perfect for you. It will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to become a productive member of any veterinary team.
Throughout this online veterinary assistant program, you will learn every aspect of veterinary assisting, including anatomy and physiology, animal restraint, laboratory procedures, emergency care, small and large animal assisting, exotic species, veterinary dentistry, human-animal bond, pharmacy procedures, and more.
You will also learn how to interact professionally with clients and gain the expertise you need to educate them about key topics in pet care, such as nutrition, vaccinations, and administering medication. This veterinary assistant course concludes with a lesson to prepare you for the job market, in which you will see how to create an effective resume, advance your expertise, and develop strong interview skills. You will truly learn everything you need to know to be successful in your new career.
- Veterinary Assistant
- The Veterinary Health-Care Team
- Veterinary Team Culture and Communication
- Introduction to Veterinary Medical Terminology
- Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology, and Terminology (Part I)
- Small-Animal Behavior and Restraint
- Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology, and Terminology (Part 2)
- Veterinary Receptionist Duties and Responsibilities
- Veterinary Inventory Management
- Pharmacy Procedures
- Hospital Safety and Infection Control
- Physical Exam and Patient History
- Small-Animal Vaccines and Infectious Diseases
- Small-Animal Nutrition
- Small-Animal Nursing Procedures
- The Human-Animal Bond and Euthanasia
- Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Assistants
- Diagnostic Imaging for Veterinary Assistants
- Small-Animal Surgical Assisting
- Hospitalized Patient Care
- The Role of the Assistant During Emergencies
- Veterinary Dental Assisting
- Assisting with Exotic Species
- Assisting with Large-Animal Species
- Personal and Professional Development
- Beginning Your Career as a Vet Assistant
- Land the Job
What you will learn
- Summarize the roles, responsibilities, and applicable laws and ethics as they pertain to the veterinary healthcare team
- Discuss the fundamentals of animal anatomy and physiology, restraint techniques, and basic examination tasks relevant to veterinary assisting, using proper terminology
- Explain how to perform veterinary assistant pharmacy tasks within the law's scope and discuss vaccinations, infectious diseases, transmission, and prevention.
- Describe how to respond appropriately to veterinary medical emergencies, surgeries, and various laboratory procedures
- Explain how to perform the veterinary assistant's responsibilities related to veterinary dentistry
How you will benefit
- This program prepares you to assist veterinarians and veterinary technicians in providing patient care
- Completing this comprehensive course along with your training can help you gain a new job or achieve a promotion within 120 days of completion
- In addition to hard skills, this program also helps you develop the soft skills required to work effectively with clients and the entire veterinary team
- Employers seek individuals who are passionate about animals and possess the communication and teamwork skills necessary to excel in the field
Tracy Heyland, RVT
Tracy Heyland is a Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT), earning the Academic and Practical Proficiency Award upon graduating. She brings 25+ years of experience in small animal medicine to her teaching, earned the Provincial Instructor Diploma, certified as a Professional Co-Active Coach, and is Fear Free Certified. Tracy has worked in general practice, emergency medicine, veterinary sales, operations management, and teaching positions and runs her own coaching and training company for veterinary teams, leaders, and managers.
Giving back to the veterinary profession is a passion of Tracy's where she volunteers for a veterinary technologist program advisory committee, remotely located spay and neuter projects, and a veterinary technologist association continuing education committee.
Mary Mould
Mary Mould has a bachelor's in veterinary technology and a master's in education. She has taught veterinary technology courses for 22 years and distance education for over 24 years. Completing her education through distance learning has been extremely helpful in understanding her students and the variables that go along with distance learning.
Mary published an article, "Brushing Your Dog's Teeth," in the Veterinary Technology journal and has spoken at the Midwest Veterinary Conference on animal pain management.
Mary is a member of the Association for Veterinary Technology Education (AVTE), Veterinary Support Personnel (VSPN), and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians (NAVTA).