Certain jobs give you the opportunity to work closely with animals.
One example is a veterinary assistant.
If you are one, you get to be around dogs, cats, and other pets every day.
You feed, bathe, and exercise them.
You also clean and disinfect their kennels and cages.
To be able to diagnose them, you assist in collecting their blood, tissue, or urine samples.
During exams and laboratory procedures, you use proper restraining techniques on them.
Then, after treatment or surgery, you monitor their vitals and administer prescription medication.
These duties are essential in the health and wellbeing of your patients so you have to have the knowledge and training to perform them properly.
By enrolling in a veterinary assistant course, you can become a reliable veterinary assistant.
If you are in Boston, MA, below are some veterinary assistant schools in Boston, MA that you might want to consider.
Bunker Hill Community College
About the School
Bunker Hill Community College is the largest community college in the state of Massachusetts.
Every year, they welcome more than 19,000 enrollees.
Since 1973, they have been providing a wide range of learning options for their diverse student population.
They offer more than 100 associate degree and certificate programs that range from Health Sciences and Humanities to Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Workforce and Economic Development.
They also have day, afternoon, evening, late evening, weekend, distance-learning, and web-based classes to suit their students’ schedules.
Fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, they have two main campuses, three satellite campuses, and multiple instructional centers located in the Greater Boston Area.
Courses Offered
The Hybrid Veterinary Assistant Program with a Clinical Externship is a 100-hour Veterinary Assistant Program that prepares students for the field of veterinary medicine.
It teaches how to care for animals, recognize signs of illness and disease, communicate and interact with clients and their animals, and assist veterinarians during exams and procedures.
It also trains how to perform various administrative duties, such as fee collection, banking, and accounts payable.
It has an online portion and an instructor/mentor portion.
- Online portion – Students will learn at their own pace through online learning and an e-book.
- Instructor/mentor portion – Students will be assisted by a course instructor and mentor and get answers to any course-related questions that have.
Course topics covered include:
- Veterinary Terminology: Anatomy and Physiology
- Veterinary Ethics: Patient Care and Communication
- Veterinary Pharmacology and Filling Prescriptions
- Assisting with Veterinary Procedures and Surgery
- Nursing Care of Hospitalized Animals
- IV Initiation and Fluid Therapy
- Animal Behavior and Breeds
- Restraining and Transporting Animals
- Office Procedures
Near the end of the program, there is an in-person lab experience in which students will need to be on campus to complete the class.
The program can be successfully completed in 8 to 16 weeks.
Students who complete the program will be eligible to take part in a 40-hour clinical externship and test for the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Veterinary Assistant (VET) Exam.
Address: 250 Rutherford Ave, Boston, MA 02129, United States
Roxbury Community College
About the School
Roxbury Community College is a public community college that offers quality higher education to the Greater Boston community.
They provide academic and non-academic support through their associate degree programs, certificate programs, non-professional certification programs, worker training programs, and lifelong learning and fitness classes.
Their vision is to empower their community through education that matters and their mission is to create a nurturing environment that welcomes all community members, regardless of their background.
They are committed to excellence and innovation so that they can transform lives and prepare their students for success.
They are accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Courses Offered
The Veterinarian Assistant Program is a comprehensive 60-hour program designed to teach the skills necessary to work an entry-level position as a veterinary assistant.
It features several topics, such as:
- Medical Terminology
- Nutrition
- Animal Behavior and Restraint
- Pharmacology and Anatomy
- Surgical Assisting
- Imaging and Laboratory Procedures
It also trains how to perform general patient care and other responsibilities, such as:
- Obtaining and recording patient history and vital signs
- Restraining animals for exams and procedures
- Preparing supplies
- Monitoring hospitalized patients
- Educating pet owners
- Performing basic kennel work
Upon successful completion, students will receive a Certificate of Completion and can start applying for veterinary assistant jobs in the state.
Tuition costs $1,000.
Address: 1234 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02120, United States
Veterinary Assistant Schools by City in Massachusetts
