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Veterinary Technician, Associate in Applied Science

Admission Requirements

*Please note that we are launching a new, more efficient application system on October 18 to simplify the process of applying to NCC. If you have already begun an application in the current system, we recommend completing it before October 18 to avoid having to start over. Additionally, our Fall 2025 application will also open on October 18.*

Admission Criteria and Program Requirements

Before Admission:

  • High school diploma or GED
  • A minimum GPA of 2.5
  • High School Biology (with a lab), or college equivalent, with a grade of B or better. *
  • Completion of high school Algebra I and II ,or college equivalent, with grade C or better. *
  • Submission of official high school transcript or copy of GED and official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
  • Placement into college level English and Math; Any remediation must be completed before starting the program
  • At the time of the application, the student must have completed 20 hours observation in a Veterinary facility within the past year and completed the Career Exploration Form available on NCC homepage.
  • Interview by invitation. Only the most qualified applicants are interviewed; the college will contact students to schedule interviews when appropriate.

*High school courses must be college preparatory level. Equivalents from other colleges may satisfy requirements.

Please Note: Admission into the Veterinary Technician program is competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the Veterinary Technician program. If available spaces in the program are not filled by students who have met the aforementioned standards, the College reserves the right to accept students who have, in the judgment of the College, the potential to complete the Veterinary Technician Associate Degree.

After Admission:

  • Medical Forms: physical examination
  • Proof of current health insurance
  • Rabies pre-exposure vaccine.

Contact the Admissions Office at 610.861.5500 for further information.

Deadlines

Veterinary Technician is a fall-start program. Students may apply to the clinical program starting October 1. Applications must be completed by March 15. Students will not be able to apply to the clinical program after March 15. 

After March 15, students who wish to take general education courses toward the Veterinary Technician degree may apply to the General Studies program of study.

Contact the Admissions Office at 610-861-5500 for further information.

Academic Dismissal from Health Sciences Selective Admission Programs

Any student who does not successfully complete* one (1) course that carries the prefix of the student's Health Sciences major will be dismissed from the program. This policy applies to courses in these programs: Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMSG), Radiography (RADT), Nursing (NURS) and Funeral Services (FUNS).

Any student who does not successfully complete* two (2) courses (either two different courses or the same course twice), that carry the prefix of the student's Health Sciences major will be dismissed from the program. This policy applies to courses in these programs: Dental Hygiene (DENH), Medical Assistant (MDAS), Veterinary Technician (VETC), and Respiratory Care (RESP).

Students may apply again for possible readmission, which includes testing of previous core course material. Readmission is on a space available basis, and priority is given to students entering the program for the first time and to those students who have successfully completed the core courses and have maintained continuous enrollment.

If the student is readmitted and again does not successfully complete one (1) course that carries the prefix of the student's Health Sciences program, they will be dismissed from the program and will not be eligible to reapply.

*Unsuccessful course completion is defined as a final course grade of F or W.

Overview

Career Exploration Form - Virtual Shadowing (PDF)
Career Exploration Form - In-Person Shadowing (PDF)

American Veterinary Medical Association

Veterinary Technician National Exam Pass Rates (PDF)

Narrative

If you love animals and want a career that keeps you in constant contact with them, being a Veterinary Technician is an affordable and accessible way to achieve your goal. Veterinary technicians are animal care professionals knowledgeable in the care and handling of various species, basic principles of normal and abnormal life processes, routine laboratory and clinical procedures, and veterinary medical and surgical nursing.

Certified veterinary technicians find employment in small and large animal veterinary facilities, the pet food industry, specialty practices, diagnostic labs, pharmaceutical research centers, zoo and wildlife organizations, animal shelters, and educational institutions. The job opportunities are numerous and varied. With more Americans than ever sharing their homes with companion animals, the need for formally trained veterinary technicians in veterinary practices continues to grow.

Working jointly with Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton's Veterinary Technician program will provide you with all the necessary coursework, hands-on training, guidance and experience you need to begin an exciting career working with animals.

Graduates of the program are prepared to sit for the veterinary technician national board examination. Students that pass the exam may obtain certification.

The Veterinary Technician program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA).

Mission Statement

Lehigh Carbon and Northampton Community Colleges Veterinary Technician Program provides excellent, comprehensive learning experiences to prepare students with the knowledge and critical skills to develop into competent veterinary nurses.  The program instills in its students a commitment to be a lifelong learner, a competent communicator, and provide excellent patient care and compassion for animals.

Features

Northampton's program provides academic and practical experience through a combination of veterinary technology and general education core courses. One-third of veterinary technology courses include laboratory experience including exposure to small, large and exotic animal species.

The culminating experience of the program is a summer externship experience during which students can expand and build proficiency of clinical skills at veterinary hospitals. Instructors in the program are practicing veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians working in the field.

Classes are held on NCC and LCCC campuses. There is a clinical science laboratory on the Northampton campus and a Veterinary teaching facility adjacent to the LCCC campus provided exclusively for the veterinary technician students. Classes are offered during the day and the program takes 2 full years (fall, spring and summer to complete).

Career Potential: Veterinary Technician, Biologic Research Labs, Lab Animal Technician, Small Animal Practice, Large Animal Practice, Exotics and Specialty Practices, Zoos, Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers, Pharmaceutical Companies, Teaching Institutes, Diagnostic Labs, Aquariums, Animal Shelters, Animal Feed Companies

Any questions or concerns? Contact one of our Program Director; Dr. Lisa Martini-Johnson at: LMartini-Johnson@northampton.edu or Lmartinijohnson@lccc.edu.

Outcomes

Graduates of the program will:

  • Demonstrate competence in performing and engaging in office and hospital procedures, client relations and communication.
  • Demonstrate proficiency working in the pharmacy and understand and utilize pharmacologic concepts.
  • Safely and competently engage in medical nursing.
  • Safely and competently engage in surgical nursing.
  • Safely and competently engage in anesthetic nursing.
  • Competently perform laboratory procedures.
  • Safely and competently perform diagnostic imaging.
  • Competently perform laboratory animal and exotic patient husbandry and nursing.

Courses

First Semester

COLS101College Success

1 credits

COMM101Introduction to Communication

3 credits

CHEM135Chemistry of Life

4 credits

ENGL101English I

3 credits

VETC101Veterinary Anatomy & Physiology

4 credits

VETC105Veterinary Terminology and Communication

1 credits

VETC110Introduction to Veterinarian Technology

2 credits

Total Credit Hours:18

Second Semester

BIOS202Microbiology for Allied Health

4 credits

 

ENGL151LEnglish II

3 credits

OR

ENGL151REnglish II

3 credits

OR

ENGL151TEnglish II

3 credits

 

VETC115Animal Management & Nutrition

2 credits

VETC120Veterinary Parasitology

2 credits

VETC125Veterinary Clinical Laboratory Techniques

4 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Summer Session

VETC210Large Animal Clinical Procedures

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:3

Third Semester

MATH120Nature of Mathematics

3 credits

VETC215GAnimal Disease

3 credits

VETC218Veterinarian Pharmacology and Anesthesia

3 credits

VETC220Small Animal Clinical Procedures

4 credits

Arts and Humanities Elective (AH)

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Fourth Semester

VETC223Veterinary Radiology

1.5 credits

VETC225Veterinary Surgical Nursing and Anesthesia

3 credits

VETC228Laboratory Animal Science and Exotics

4 credits

Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time Elective (SIT)+

3 credits

Social Science: Scientific Study of Human Behavior Elective (SSHB) ++

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:14

Summer Session

VETC230Veterinary Technician Externship

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:3

Total Credit Hours: 69.5

ENGL151: Students have the choice of ENGL151L (Literature option), ENGL151R (Report Writing), ENGL151T (Technical Writing). Consult with your advisor.

+It is recommended that students take SOCA102 as the Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time (SIT) Elective; this also satisfies the Diversity (D) requirement.

++ It is recommended that students take PSYC103 as the Social Science: Scientific Study of Human Behavior (SSHB) Elective.

  • One course should be designated as Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
  • Completion of VETC215G satisfies the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement.