Veterinary Technology: Admitted Program Students FAQs

A: Prior to the start of classes in the fall semester, all program students are required to attending a mandatory welcome orientation the week prior to the start of classes.  In addition, by orientation day, all students are required to have completed the mandatory health screenings – including getting a physical exam, a TB test, and updating required vaccinations. Failure to either attend the mandatory orientation or complete the health screenings may result in being dropped from the program. If you are unable to attend the mandatory orientation and/or complete the health screenings on time, we expect that you will notify the program faculty with as much advanced notice as possible.  We hold students responsible to communicate with program faculty in a timely and professional manner. 

A: Each semester, all students are required to meet with one of the academic counselors assigned to support the Veterinary Technology program. In addition, the Veterinary Technology Program Director will be in touch with program faculty and students to follow up on student progress through the veterinary technology curriculum.

A: If possible, getting your pre-requisites completed would be of great benefit. This includes taking Chemistry V01A/L, Math V44, and Biology V01/L.  Many students find that it helps to get these courses finished prior to the start of the program so that they can focus solely on the vet tech courses.  It is however, not required that you complete these pre-requisites prior to entry to the program. Please note that you must pass all pre-requisite courses with a “C” grade or better by the end of the first year of the program or you will not be allowed entry into the second year of courses or the Associate’s Degree program. 

A:  Fortunately, the Veterinary Technology program at Ventura College has most of the required readings covered as zero-cost textbooks which means that the textbooks are free for students to borrow for the duration of the semester.  The only textbook that students are required to purchase is the “McCurnin's Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses” - Textbook and Workbook Package, 10th Edition (2021) by Joanna M. Bassert, VMD and John Thomas, DVM.  The cost for a new textbook is approximately $150. The other required supplies students are responsible for purchasing prior to the start of the program include a stethoscope, program scrubs (uniform for lab classes), and sturdy closed-toe shoes. The budget for these items is approximately $150.

A:  Students may need to purchase a second set of program scrubs at approximately $40 for the set.  The college is working on procuring more zero-cost textbooks for the second year of the program but at this time, it is uncertain on the projected cost of required textbooks for year 2. No other additional supplies are required for the second year of courses.

A:  If you do not pass all of the first-year required pre-requisite courses (Math V44, Chemistry V01A/L and Biology V01) by the end of the year, you will be dropped from the program and not allowed to advance to the second year.  If you fail any of the required veterinary technology courses you will be dropped from the program and you will not be able to advance to the next semester.  In order to be eligible to receive the Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assistant you are required to pass all first-year pre-requisites and vet tech courses with a “C” grade of better.  If you wish to re-enter the program after being dropped you will have to reapply for the fall semester of the following academic year. Students reapplying for admission will be placed on the wait list and entry will be based on available space. If you fail a course after readmission, you will be dropped from the program and prohibited to reapply in the future.

A:  If you fail a required program or pre-requisite course, you will be dropped from the program and will not be allowed to advance to the following semester.  If you wish to re-enter the program you will have to reapply to the program for the fall semester of the following year. Re-entry for students reapplying to join a second-year cohort will be based on available space in the cohort.  If you fail a course after readmission, you will be dropped from the program and prohibited from reapplying to the program in the future.

A: Yes, you will have to reapply to the program and are not guaranteed readmission.

A:  If you withdraw or are dropped from the program and then are readmitted, you will not have to retake any of the pre-requisite or vet tech courses that you have already passed with a “C” grade or better.  You will only be required to retake courses that you did not previously pass. 

A:  All students are required to meet with an academic counselor prior to entry into the program.  They will work with the Veterinary Technology faculty to determine if any of your previous college courses are transferrable.

A: It depends on how comfortable you are with balancing work and a full academic course load.  A typical semester course load is 12-15 units.  This program is academically challenging and requires a significant amount of time dedicated to attending classes, studying, and completing assignments.  There are many vet tech students that work during the school year but typically only on a part-time basis.

A: At its November 3-6, 2022 meeting, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) granted initial accreditation to the Ventura College veterinary technology program.  The accreditation is effective on August 25, 2022. 

The CVTEA requires that program graduates demonstrate competency in over 300 essential skills and that programs produce practice-ready graduates.  The accreditation of the Ventura College veterinary technology program is a recognition of the program's rigor.  Furthermore, it will allow graduates to be able to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam.