Veterinary Assistant Schools in San Antonio, TX

About the School

Pima Medical Institute is a private, nonprofit school that provides quality medical career education.

Since its founding in 1972, they have been committed to its mission of helping people improve the quality of their lives through student-centered and hands-on healthcare instruction and training.

They want to create a qualified generation of employees in the healthcare field who can make an immediate and significant impact in the communities that they serve.

Through the years, they have had more than 150,000 graduates who have pursued careers in a variety of healthcare fields, such as medical assisting, nursing, dental hygiene, radiography, veterinary sciences, and physical therapy.

Whether on-campus, hybrid, or online, they strive to continue the legacy of their founders and support their students in their quests to become self-sufficient and find employment.

They are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and have multiple campus locations throughout Washington, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, California, and Arizona.

Courses Offered

The Veterinary Assistant Certificate Program provides the knowledge and training necessary to be employed as a capable entry-level veterinary assistant.

It tackles both the clinical and clerical skills that veterinary assistants do on a daily basis in a variety of veterinary facilities.

From animal nursing, surgical procedures, and laboratory tests to maintaining medical records, appointment scheduling, and fee collection, it teaches the best practices to be proficient and competent on the job.

The syllabus consists of the following courses:

Career Prep Sequence (100 theory hours, 20 laboratory hours)

• Study Skills
• Anatomy, Physiology, and Terminology
• Computer Basics
• Math Fundamentals
• CPR and First Aid

Professional Sequence I (72 theory hours, 48 laboratory hours)

• Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology, and Terminology
• Clinical Laboratory Procedures
• Sequence I Clinical Applications

Professional Sequence II (72 theory hours, 48 laboratory hours)

• Office Procedures
• Animal Life Stages, Nutrition, and Husbandry
• Animal Nursing and Radiography
• Sequence II Clinical Applications

Professional Sequence III (72 theory hours, 48 laboratory hours)

• Pharmacology
• Aseptic Technique and Surgical Assisting
• Sequence III Clinical Applications

Externship (240 hours)

The entire program requires a total of 720 hours and takes 30 to 34 weeks to complete.

About the School

The University of the Incarnate Word is a private Catholic in San Antonio, TX.

They are the largest Catholic university in the state, occupying 154 acres and housing 11 schools and colleges.

Founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, they offer a wide variety of academic programs in different areas of study.

They have undergraduate and graduate programs in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Education, Business Administration, Nursing and Health Professions, Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, and more.

Whether on-campus or online, their 150+ program offerings are designed for transformational education to ignite change and allow students to follow their own learning pathway in a personalized and professional environment.

Their mission is “a commitment to social justice and community service.”

Courses Offered

The Veterinary Assistant Program is a 100% online program that trains students to become a veterinary assistant.

The course objectives are as follows:

• Anatomy and physiology of the major organ systems
• Handling medical records and communicating with clients and coworkers
• Restraining animals for procedures, taking vital signs, and bathing them
• Nutrition, vaccinations, and administering medication
• Preparing prescriptions, taking blood samples, and radiographs

The course curriculum covers important information on the duties and responsibilities of a veterinary assistant.

Examples of lessons featured are:

• Physiology and anatomy – Skeletal, nervous, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and other bodily systems
• Front office duties – Records, client relations, etc.
• Restraint techniques – Canine, feline, and exotic animals
• Prescriptions – Types, calculating doses, preparing, and administering
• Blood samples – Taking, handling, and interpreting
• Dentistry – Charting, tooth disease, and dental care
• Parasites – Internal and external
• Surgery – Your role before, during, and after

The program is taught by a veterinary healthcare expert who is a companion animal veterinarian with 25 years of experience in the field and a pioneer in veterinary assisting teaching.

About the School

The Alamo Colleges District, previously known as the Alamo Community College District, is a school district made up of five community colleges that serve the Greater San Antonio metropolitan area.

Founded in 1945, their network consists of San Antonio College, St. Philip’s College, Palo Alto College, Northwest Vista College, and Northeast Lakeview College.

As South Texas’ largest higher education provider, they offer more than 300 degree and certificate programs and serve 100,000+ students from diverse backgrounds.

Their motto is “empowering our diverse communities for success.”

Courses Offered

The Become a Veterinary Assistant Program is an online course that provides answers to all questions regarding the veterinary assisting profession.

It covers pet nutrition, health and safety issues, parasite treatment and prevention, euthanasia, and more.

The syllabus consists of 12 lessons that feature the following topics:

• The evolution of veterinary medicine
• Vaccines: what they do, how they work, and why they fail
• Parasites that can infest pets and people and ways to prevent and treat them
• Pet health and prescription diets
• Pet first aid
• Tips to train puppies and kittens
• Client communication and education
• Keeping accurate medical records
• Acupuncture, chiropractic care, homeopathy, herbs, and other alternative therapies used in veterinary medicine
• Potential workplace hazards: x-rays, anesthetics, and certain drugs

There are two enrollment options, Instructor-Led and Self-Paced, and each costs $135.

The full program requires 24 course hours.