Veterinary Technology, AAS

Program Requirements

First Steps: Admission and the Pre-Clinical Phase

Upon application students should choose “Undeclared Pre-Health Science – Veterinary Technology” as their major. Choosing this major places a student in the pre-clinical phase of the Veterinary Technology Program. This is a non-competitive step.

Not all students admitted to the preclinical phase move on to the clinical phase of the veterinary Technology Program. Admission into the clinical phase is highly competitive and is based on the grade point average (GPA) earned in selected pre-clinical courses known as “KEY” courses and the number of seats available. (See: “The Candidacy Process”).

FALL 2024 candidacy

Clinical Phase

The clinical phase of the Veterinary Technology Program at LaGuardia Community College is comprised of a series of courses that introduce students to topics in small, large, exotic and research animal technology. Specific areas of study include veterinary anesthesia, nursing, dentistry, radiology pharmacology, pathophysiology, laboratory techniques and animal handling.

These courses are instructed in lecture and live animal laboratory formats. On campus coursework is further supported by two off-campus Internships in each of the Spring II semesters. Please see the online course catalog for in-depth course descriptions and prerequisites.

Students must receive the two doses of the pre-exposure Rabies immunization and submit proof from the health care provider to the program before participating in any off-campus animal activities including internships. These immunizations must be scheduled by students at clinics or hospitals that carry the Rabies vaccine. All costs associated with pre-exposure Rabies immunization are the responsibility of the Veterinary Technology student. Additional information regarding Animal Care Responsibilities, Clinical Phase Academic Standards, Laboratory Etiquette and Dress, the Veterinary Technology Resource Room, and other policies can be found in the Vet Tech Handbook.

Candidacy Process

Entry into the clinical phase of the Veterinary Technology Program is competitive. Students are admitted based on a GPA ranking system. Applications to the clinical phase of the Veterinary Technology Program (Candidacy Process) can be made once a year in the Fall I semester. In order to be eligible to apply for the clinical phase students need to ensure that all of the pre-clinical KEY course requirements are be completed by the end of the Fall I semester in which the student wishes to apply.

A student interested in applying for the clinical phase of the Veterinary Technology Program at LaGuardia Community College must do so by completing the Application for Candidacy Form by emailing the Health Sciences Department at HealthSci@lagcc.cuny.edu in the first three weeks of the Fall I, 12-week term. There are no credits, no meetings and no charges involved in registering for this “application code”, it is merely an administrative designation. Students should save the receipt of this application for their files.

To apply for candidacy for the clinical phase of the Veterinary Technology Program, a student must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Be officially registered at LaGuardia as an Undeclared Health: Veterinary Technology Major.
2. Be registered for Intent to Vet Tech (VTA 000.4599) in Fall I semester (by the deadline date noted on the academic calendar)
3. Have successfully completed all 4 of the preclinical KEY courses list below with an earned grade of C or better by the end of the Fall I semester in which they are applying.
   • ENG 101 – English
   • SCC 110 or SCC 201 – Foundations of Chemistry or General Chemistry
   • MAT 115/117 – College Algebra
   • SCV 208- Vertebrate Anatomy I
4. Have successfully completed a minimum of 12 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.5 by the end of the Fall I semester in which they are applying.
5. Applicants must have completed a letter of volunteer or work experience and essay (as described below) by December 31st of the year in which they are applying.