Moraine Valley Offers Introductory Veterinarian Assistant Course

PALOS HILLS, IL -- Do you love animals? See if a veterinary career is a good fit for you by registering for Moraine Valley Community College's introductory veterinary assistant pre-professional program. The one-semester, non-credit course is accepting students for the fall program, which starts Jan. 22, 2018 on MVCC's main campus in Palos Hills.

The course includes more than 90 hours of classroom instruction and 60 hours of observational experience working in a clinical setting. Veterinary assistants are an integral part of the veterinary team. The average salary for full-time veterinary assistants is $23,130 per year. Employment in this field is expected to grow 10 percent through 2022, faster than average occupations. Despite average employment growth, high turnover will result in good job opportunities.

Topics covered in the Veterinary Assistant Pre-Professional Program include: medical terminology; animal behavior and handling; medication administration; preventative care; laboratory safety; radiology procedures; surgical prep, monitoring and recovery and aseptic practices to help prevent spread of disease.
Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion, which could be used to satisfy some entrance requirements in more advanced veterinary career programs. The course has received positive feedback from the veterinary community and is in the beginning stages of applying for NAVTA approval.

The course starts Jan. 22, 2018 and meets from 6 to 9:45 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, through May 23, 2018. Register online at Moraine Valley Community College Non-Credit Classes. Click begin and search for the term "Vet Assistant," and follow the prompts.

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