Veterinary Technician Associate Degree Program
Program Type
Associate Degree
Delivery Method
On Campus
Course Length
Approximately
18 months**
** Course length includes the PMI Veterinary Assistant program, which is eligible for transfer into the Veterinary Technician program.
Program Objective
A veterinary technician is a nurse for animals. They work closely with and assist veterinarians in surgery, lab procedures and radiography.
The day-to-day responsibilities of a veterinary technician center around optimal care for animals and their well being. Veterinary technicians use their specialized knowledge of animal behavior and care to perform surgical assisting, laboratory testing and nursing procedures.
Students in the Veterinary Technician program will gain the skills and knowledge to confidently provide emergency care and first aid to injured animals, administer anesthesia and monitor animal responses, collect laboratory samples for testing, perform lab tests, take and develop X-rays and prepare animals/instruments for surgery. Classes are taught by instructors with years of experience.
Through hands-on activities and labs that mirror real-world settings, students will also be able to administer medications, vaccines and other treatments, and collect/record patients’ histories. All of which are critical tasks to providing high quality care for animal patients.
Graduates of the program from this school are prepared to sit for certification exams including the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).
All Locations
Careers as a Veterinary Technician
What Are My Career Opportunities as a Veterinary Technician?
What Are My Career Opportunities as a Veterinary Technician?
This associate degree program will prepare graduates to apply their skills in a variety of environments, such as:
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Laboratories
- Ranches
- Zoos
- Biomedical facilities
- Wildlife facilities
- Humane societies
- Animal control facilities
- Wildlife facilities
- Other professional veterinary settings
Job Outlook
Job Outlook
Employment is expected to grow as veterinarians continue to utilize technicians and technologists to do general care and lab work on household pets.
The availability of advanced veterinary services, such as preventive dental care and surgical procedures, may provide opportunities for veterinary professionals specializing in those areas. Biomedical facilities, diagnostic laboratories, wildlife facilities, humane societies and animal control facilities may provide more jobs for veterinary technicians.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow significantly from 2020 to 2030.
When you’re a Pima Medical Institute student, you get access to our Career Services team—here for you when you need extra help with finding the right job opportunities, building a resume, strengthening your interview skills or just looking for general guidance.
Clinical Externships
At Pima Medical Institute, most programs allow students to work in their field through clinical externships—a chance to be mentored by full-time professionals and interface with real patients.
In addition to real-world experience, clinical externships offer students resume-worthy opportunities, letters of recommendation from supervisors and sometimes job placement directly after graduation.
Program Outline
Learn more about the courses in this program.
Program Outline for All Locations Except El Paso
Professional Sequence I
Professional Sequence II
Professional Sequence III
Professional Sequence IV
Professional Sequence V
Externship
* The Veterinary Technician program is a degree completion program; the total program length and program hours include the PMI Veterinary Assistant program. Program length: day classes total 77 weeks and evening classes total 86 weeks. The total number of program hours is 1,775 at all campuses except in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas campus program hours total 1,820 and includes one additional 3 credit class presented online or on-ground (HST 205 Nevada History and US Constitution). Graduates of this program are granted an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Program Outline for El Paso
Semester I
Semester II
Semester III
Semester IV
Semester V
Externship and Seminar
Interested In Starting This Program?
Find out more about our Admissions Requirements or view our How to Apply page.
Success Is Within Reach
We are truly invested in making sure our students succeed.
“After graduation, I took a position at a clinic in Galveston where the veterinary medical director worked at Moody Gardens, a resort and educational nature facility with an aquarium and rainforest. I have been able to work part time at the resort and I’ve just been offered a full-time position working at Moody Gardens as a zoo and marine technician.”
Sara Post, Veterinary Technician Graduate
Pima Medical Blog
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Ana (Marianna) Blair, found herself at a personal crossroads when she split with the father of her children. Making the decision to pursue her dreams…
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McKenzie “Mickey” Tureman has had a love of animals since she was a child. Now, that love has turned into a passion and a rewarding…
Disclosures And Accreditations
State Licensure Determination Disclosure
The Veterinary Technician program is offered via on-ground and hybrid delivery methods. The program is available to residents of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington, and meets applicable licensure requirements in those states. While there may be online components, completion of this program requires on-ground attendance at the campus at which the student is enrolled and cannot be completed solely via distance education. Prospective students and enrolled students should understand that moving out of the state in which they enrolled may adversely impact a student’s ability to complete the program. If a student is planning to relocate outside of their state of enrollment he or she is required to discuss this with the Student Services Coordinator and/or Program Director.
In compliance with 34 CFR 668.43 Pima Medical Institute has made a reasonable effort to determine graduate eligibility for licensure in all states for programs designed and advertised as leading to licensure. The document below lists Pima Medical Institute programs and states where the curriculum meets licensure requirements, states where the curriculum does not meet licensure requirements, and states in which Pima Medical Institute has been unable to determine if the curriculum meets state licensure requirements. All consumers should be advised that due to the frequent changes to state statutes, rules, and regulations Pima Medical Institute cannot guarantee licensure based on the lists below.
State Licensure Determination Disclosure – Associate Degree
Contact information for state licensing boards in which Pima Medical Institute has determined the program does not meet state licensure requirements or where Pima Medical Institute has been unable to determine if the program meets state licensure requirements can be found below.