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Career Area: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Technical Diploma
Program Number: 31-091-3
Approximately 1 Year to Complete
This is based on full-time enrollment. Actual time to completion may vary based on the availability of courses a college offers and the number of credits the student takes in any given time period.
Credit Program
Most credit programs are eligible for financial aid, while most non-credit certificates provide valuable work-related skills on a short timeline. Check with the college offering the program to determine if it is eligible for financial aid.
Average Annual Tuition: $4585.5
This is based on one year of full-time enrollment for in-state students. WTCS tuition is set by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board in March for the following year. It does not include books, materials or program/college-related fees.

Veterinary Assistant Careers

Recent Wisconsin job postings for this degree:

  • Veterinary clinic
  • Animal shelter
  • Pet store
  • Doggy daycare
  • Boarding facilities

Veterinary Assistant Programs

The Veterinary Assistant program at Madison College will prepare you to care for animals in a variety of professions.

Great veterinary assistants love animals, are compassionate, detail-oriented and good communicators. As a vet assistant, your job is to support the veterinarian and vet tech with tasks. Typical duties include cleaning enclosures, feeding, weighing, bathing, taking temperatures, restraining animals during treatment and giving medications.

The Veterinary Assistant program at Madison College helps students gain confidence through hands-on learning. While in the Vet Assistant program you will learn:

  • Veterinary medical terminology
  • Disease causes and symptoms.
  • Animal anatomy and physiology
  • Safe animal handling
  • How to give medications
  • How to collect blood from a variety of species
  • How to prepare and aid in surgeries
  • Office duties such as record-keeping
  • How to educate and support clients

In addition to classes and lab time, you’ll get real-world experience working in a clinic where you will practice your skills in animal care, nursing techniques and procedures..

Program Details

Veterinary Assistant students are required to take classes full-time.

Classes are offered at the Madison College Truax campus.

While in the Veterinary Assistant program, you must demonstrate the ability to perform essential functions as defined by the Board of Veterinary Medicine. 

Veterinary Assistant Part of a Career Pathway Program Transfers Offered completely online Shared Program
Madison College Veterinary Assistant at Madison College

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Wisconsin Technical College System

The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) offers more than 500 programs awarding two-year associate degrees, one- and two-year technical diplomas, short-term technical diplomas, certificates and related education for apprenticeships. The System is the major provider of customized instruction and technical assistance for Wisconsin employers. With more than 287,000 people enrolling in a technical college each year, it is the largest higher education system in the state.

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