Penn Foster College's Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma program gives you the opportunity to learn how to keep animals healthy. Read more about the Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma program at Penn Foster College here.
<h2 id="section---FrequentlyAskedQuestions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<h3 id="section---WhatKindOfProgramIsIt">What Kind of Program Is It?</h3>
<p>Penn Foster College's Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma program is designed to be completed in as little as twelve months. You have the opportunity to learn about obtaining animal health histories and records, providing specialized nursing care, assisting with surgical procedures, and washing, feeding, and caring for animals. This program is also intended to teach animal behavior, the animal skeletal and muscular systems, the nervous system, nutrition, pathology, immunology, emergency care, veterinary pharmacology, and veterinary practice and administration. Penn Foster College will provide you with lessons, equipment, learning aids, special charts, and videos that demonstrate veterinary procedures.
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<h3 id="section---WhatAreThePrerequisites">What are the Prerequisites?</h3>
<p>You should like animals and be interested in working with veterinarians before you enroll in the Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma program at Penn Foster College. Applicants to Penn Foster College's programs should be at least 18 years old.
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<h3 id="section---WhatAreTheCourseRequirements">What are the Course Requirements?</h3>
<p>To earn Penn Foster College's Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma you must complete nine instruction sets. This program includes a work experience option.
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<table border="1"><tr><th>Instruction Set</th><th>Lessons</th></tr>
<tr><td>Instruction Set 1 </td><td> Learning Strategies <br /> Introduction to Animal Care</td></tr>
<tr><td>Instruction Set 2 </td><td> Behavior <br /> Handling and Restraint</td></tr>
<tr><td>Instruction Set 3 </td><td> Introduction to Veterinary Terminology <br /> Animal Skeletal and Muscular Systems <br /> Integumentary, Circulatory, and Respiratory Systems</td></tr>
<tr><td>Instruction Set 4 </td><td> Digestive, Reproductive, and Urinary Systems <br /> Nervous System, Sensory Organs, and Endocrine System</td></tr>
<tr><td>Instruction Set 5 </td><td> Nutrition <br /> Genetics, Reproduction, and Aging <br /> Avian and Reptile Anatomy <br /> History and Physical Examination</td></tr>
<tr><td>Instruction Set 6 </td><td> Pathology <br /> Immunology <br /> Emergency Care <br /> Wound Care and Management</td></tr>
<tr><td>Instruction Set 7 </td><td> Clinical Parasitology <br /> Small and Large Animal Nursing, Parts 1 & 2 <br /> Veterinary Pharmacology</td></tr>
<tr><td>Instruction Set 8 </td><td> Radiology, Parts 1 & 2 <br /> Instrumentation and Principles of Aseptic Technique <br /> Surgical and Anesthetic Preparation</td></tr>
<tr><td>Instruction Set 9 </td><td> Veterinary Practice and Administration <br /> Interpersonal Communication <br /> General Accounting Practices <br /> Veterinary Practice Procedures</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhatCouldIDoAfterIGraduate">What Could I Do After I Graduate?</h3>
<h4 id="section---CareerOpportunities">Career Opportunities</h4>
<p>Once you complete Penn Foster College's Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma program you might be able to pursue employment in the veterinary field working alongside veterinarians. You could be able to find employment in a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, kennel, or laboratory. Responsibilities could include assisting with treatment, washing animals, or gathering medical histories and information.
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<p>Positions you might be able to seek include:
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<ul><li>Veterinary aide
</li><li>Veterinary assistant
</li><li>Veterinary technician
</li></ul><h4 id="section---AdvancedDegrees">Advanced Degrees</h4>
<p>After you finish the Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma program at Penn Foster College you might be interested in earning an associate's degree in veterinary technology. This could increase your knowledge of treating animals and could prepare you for advancement in the veterinary field.
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<p>Associate's degree options include but are not limited to:
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<ul><li>Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology
</li><li>Associate of Veterinary Technician
</li><li>Associate of Veterinary Technology
</li><li>Associate in Veterinary Medicine
</li><li>Associate in Veterinary and Animal Health Technology
</li><li>Associate in Veterinary Science and Animal Care</li></ul>

