Veterinary Technology Program Details
Questions? Contact Us!
Amy Fertig, DVM
Program Chair
ajfertig@dmacc.edu
515-965-7071
Applications are accepted all year. Application for the starting Fall Term will be cut off on March 1 of each year. This deadline may be extended if program seats are still available. Upon acceptance into the Veterinary Technology Program, all students are required to attend a group orientation in June of the year in which they are accepted. Below is some information about the orientation
- The group orientation will take at least 2 hours. Students will be given their fall semester schedule. Students will only be registered for classes after completing the orientation.
- Students will learn about the program expectations, dress code and rabies vaccination recommendations.
- Students will learn the program’s Technical Standards
Program Details
Vet Tech Program Entry
We have a competitive admissions process to be admitted to the Veterinary Technology Program at DMACC. All complete applications need to be submitted by March 1, 2025 to be considered for Fall 2025 admission.
- Complete an application for admission.
- Submit high school and, if applicable, any college transcripts. Transcripts must meet the following two requirements: High school transcripts and grades must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and combined college transcripts and grades must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- Submit evidence of grade "C" or better in one year of high school biology or equivalent (DMACC Academic Achievement Center Biology I & II or BIO 156).
- Submit evidence of grade "C" or better in one year of high school chemistry or equivalent (DMACC Academic Achievement Center Chemistry I & II or CHM 122).
- Satisfy required assessments with a minimum composite ACT score of 20 or ACCUPLACER Next Gen with a minimum score of 248 Reading and 254 Writing.
- Complete the Veterinary Technology Program admissions testing (ATI TEAS Exam). For Veterinary Technology 70% minimum score for reading comprehension and 60% overall minimum score.
- Attend a Veterinary Technology Program Informational Seminar with Program Chair/ Director.
Program Information Seminar dates are:
9/25/2024 - 6:00 p.m. FFA 215
11/22/2024 - 1:00 p.m. FFA 215
2/21/2025 - Virtual
Register Now! - A minimum of 30 hours practical experience verified by completion of the "Experience Verification Form".
- Applicants satisfying the above requirements will be invited to an Interview as part of the departmental selection process with the DMACC Veterinary Technology admissions committee. Applicants eligible for an interview will be invited to interview after April 15, 2025.
- Rabies vaccination according to the CDC Rabies PreExposure Prophylxis Category 3 recommendations. Documentation will be required.
- Attend any required orientation meeting.
Graduation Requirements
To earn a Veterinary Technology AAS degree, a student must successfully complete all coursework as prescribed and maintain a 2.0 grade point average in all Veterinary Technology program courses.
Vet Assistant Program Entry
- Complete an application for admission.
- Submit high school and, if applicable, any college transcripts. Transcripts must meet the following two requirements: High school transcripts and grades must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 1.8 and combined college transcripts and grades must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 1.8.
- Submit evidence of completion one year of high school biology or equivalent (DMACC Academic Achievement Center Biology I & II or BIO 156).
- Submit evidence of completion one year of high school chemistry or equivalent (DMACC Academic Achievement Center Chemistry I & II or CHM 122).
- Satisfy required assessments with a minimum composite ACT score of 16-18 or ACCUPLACER Next Gen with a minimum score of 230 Reading and 244 Writing.
- Complete the Veterinary Technology Program admissions testing (ATI TEAS Exam). For Veterinary Technology 50% minimum score for reading comprehension and 45% overall minimum score.
- Attend a Veterinary Assistant Program Informational Seminar with Program Chair/ Director.
Program Information Seminar dates are:
10/16/2024 - 6:00 p.m. FFA 215
11/22/2024 - 1:00 p.m. FFA 215
4/25/2025 - 1:00 p.m. FFA 215
Register Now! - A minimum of 15 hours practical experience verified by completion of the “Experience Verification Form”.
- Rabies vaccination according to the CDC Rabies PreExposure Prophylxis Category 3 recommendations. Documentation will be required.
- Attend any required orientation meeting.
Graduation Requirements
To earn a Veterinary Assistant, Certificate, a student must complete all required coursework as prescribed and maintain a 2.0 grade point average.
Due to the large volume of applicants relative to the number of available positions in the program, a point ranking system will be used. Each eligible application will be given a number for anonymity and demographic data will be removed. Applicants will be given points and ranked based on:
- GPA
- Scores on admissions exams
- Interview with Admissions Committee
- Bonus points, based on the grade are given for completion of general education requirements completed before admission to the program.
- Ties in point value will be ordered based on application date
Recommended High School Courses:
- Composition
- Speech
- General Business
- Bookkeeping
- Computer Literacy
- Human Relations
- Business Math
- Biology (This is required.)
- Chemistry (This is required.)
Veterinary Technician Specialties are the next step to advance technicians in their career. Veterinary Technician Specialists are those technicians who excel at their professional discipline of special interest. Currently there are 15 areas of specialization:
- Anesthesia and Pain Management
- Behavior
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Practice
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Emergency and Critical Care
- Equine Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Laboratory Animal Medicine
- Nutrition
- Ophthalmology
- Physical Rehabilitation
- Surgery
- Zoological Medicine
In order to receive the VTS designation, the technician must go through a program that has been approved by the Committee for Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS). For additional information, visit the NAVTA website.