A veterinary assistant plays an important role in a veterinary team.
Their primary job is to assist veterinarians and veterinary technicians in various veterinary procedures.
They are also tasked to keep the facility clean and sterilized.
They interact with clients and their pets and perform administrative duties too.
In Lexington, KY, they earn an average of $31,000.
With more years, education, skills, and certifications, they can take home $40,000 or higher.
If you think this career path is the one for you, check out the veterinary assistant schools in Lexington, KY listed below.
Medical Career and Technical College
About the School
Medical Career and Technical College is a school that offers a wide range of diploma programs that help students become immediately employable and credentialed upon graduation.
Their curriculums are designed to provide training that prepares for the real world and jumpstart careers.
Their 6 career program offerings are as follows: Dental Assistant, Medical Administration, Medical Assistant, Medical Massage Therapy, Practical Nursing, and Veterinary Assistant.
They are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and have locations in Richmond and Lexington.
Courses Offered
The Veterinary Assistant Program offers a subject-focused curriculum in which students take only one course at a time and attend two days per week.
Requiring 600 total clock hours, its class schedules are from 9 am to 4 pm on either Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, or Wednesday/Friday.
It teaches the day-to-day duties of a veterinary assistant professional, such as performing lab work, administering medications, sterilizing surgical instruments, assisting veterinarians with exams and procedures, and monitoring vital signs.
It features the following topics:
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy/Physiology
- Veterinary Assistant I
- Veterinary Assistant II
- Veterinary Assistant III
- Veterinary Assistant Externship
It takes 36 weeks to complete and tuition costs $9,400.
Address: 630 University Shopping Center, Richmond, KY 40475, United States
Eastern Kentucky University
About the School
Eastern Kentucky University is a public university that offers a broad range of associate, baccalaureate, master’s, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees.
Founded in 1874 as Central University, they also have adult degree completion programs and online degree options.
They strive to be a premier university that is committed to innovative student engagement and success, advancing their home state, and impacting the world.
By being an accessible, equal-opportunity, dignified, respectable, and inclusive educational institution, they want to create a learning environment where intellectual creativity and diversity thrive.
They are also dedicated to being a school of opportunity that fosters personal growth and prepares their students to contribute to the success and vitality of their communities and the globe.
Courses Offered
The Veterinary Assistant Program is a 100% online course that features the fundamentals of veterinary assisting.
Called “Become a Veterinarian,” its topics range from pet nutrition and health and safety issues to parasite treatment and prevention and spaying and neutering.
Its syllabus consists of the following lessons:
- Lesson 1 – History of Veterinary Practice and Dog and Cat Reproduction
- Lesson 2 – Vaccinology for Dogs and Cats
- Lesson 3 – Parasites Infesting Pets and People
- Lesson 4 – How to Pick the Best Food for Your Pet; Prescription Diets
- Lesson 5 – Euthanasia: The Procedure, How to Help Clients, and Assisting Children With Pet Loss
- Lesson 6 – Workplace Safety and Veterinary Hospital Economics
- Lesson 7 – Pet First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Lesson 8 – External Parasites of Pets, Including the Flea
- Lesson 9 – Confidentiality and Grievances, Client Communications, and Client Education
- Lesson 10 – Medical Records and Prescriptions
- Lesson 11 – Alternative Therapies in Veterinary Medicine
- Lesson 12 – Behavior Counseling for Puppies and Kittens and Putting It All Together in a Health Plan
Offering two enrollment options, Instructor-Led and Self-Paced, it requires 24-course hours and costs $139.
Address: 521 Lancaster Ave. Richmond, KY 40475
Northern Kentucky University
About the School
Northern Kentucky University is a public university established in 1968.
They are a student-ready university that is committed to meeting students wherever they are in their educational journeys.
With nearly 16,000 students coming from Highland Heights, the Greater Cincinnati Area, and other parts of the country and the world, they have gained recognition as a top innovative university and a leader in return on investment.
To empower the future of their students and enhance the economic, social, and civic vitality of their region, they strive to provide access to all seeking a higher education, removing barriers, and preparing them for productive careers and community engagement.
Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, they offer undergraduate and graduate programs, from Business and Arts and Sciences to Informatics and Law.
Courses Offered
The Veterinary Assistant Program is an online course designed to prepare students to become productive members of a veterinary team.
It aims to teach important concepts related to veterinary assisting, such as:
- Anatomy and physiology of the major organ systems
- Animal restraining techniques
- Nutrition, vaccinations, and medications
- Blood collection, handling, and testing
- Radiographs
- Assisting during surgery and dental procedures
- Medical records, client communication, and clerical tasks
It is self-paced and open enrollment.
Requiring 225-course hours, it takes about 6 months to complete and costs $2,145.
Address: 1 Louie B Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY 41099, United States
Western Kentucky University
About the School
Western Kentucky University is a public research university that provides educational programs, research, service, and lifelong opportunities for its students, faculty, and community.
Established in 1906, they house five academic colleges, a graduate school, and an honors college.
From Education and Behavioral Sciences to Science and Engineering, their 200+ academic programs are designed to prepare students of all backgrounds to be productive, engaged, and socially responsible citizen-leaders of a global society.
With a total enrolment of nearly 17,000, they not only offer on-campus classes but also distance learning and online programs.
They are accredited by the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Courses Offered
The Become a Veterinary Assistant Program is a course for those who are considering a career as a veterinary assistant.
It introduces what veterinary assistants typically do to care for animals, such as vaccinating dogs and cats, treating cuts and injuries, and preventing parasites.
It also teaches how they assist veterinarians during dental procedures and surgeries.
It covers office management tasks too, including fee collection and medical records.
It aims to educate students about various aspects of veterinary medicine, particularly on:
- How ancient veterinary medicine evolved into a modern-day practice
- How vaccines work and why they sometimes fail
- What parasites do and how to prevent them
- How to select the best food for your pet
- How to train your pets
- What to do during a veterinary emergency
- How to keep accurate medical records
It requires 24-course hours and has two enrollment options available:
Instructor-Led
- Taught by a registered veterinary technologist with 25+ years of experience in small animal medicine
- Offers four start dates: October 18, November 15, December 13, and January 17
- Costs $135
Self-Paced
- No instructor involved
- Can start anytime
- Costs $135
Address: 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, KY 42101
Veterinary Assistant Schools by City in Kentucky