Veterinary Assistant Program

A Veterinary Assistant is a wonderful way to get your foot in the door of this animal-centered allied health profession. As a part of a veterinary team, you assist veterinary nurses in providing hands-on care to animals in need.

Why Choose Veterinary Assisting?

Students who choose to pursue the Veterinary Assistant Program will take a sequence of classes that will allow completion of the program and the opportunity to take a credentialing exam from the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America to become an AVA (Approved Veterinary Assistant). NAVTA approval is expected by the time the first class completes the course sequence. Students will receive hands-on experience at the veterinary facility at TMCC's Meadowood Center (North) and at partner veterinary hospitals in the greater Reno area.

Dog on Scale

What Will I Study?

There are no prerequisite classes prior to entry into the program. An application to the program must be submitted before July 1 for the new class which begins each Fall Semester. Students will complete VETN 100, VETN 105, and VETN 125 in the first semester of the program and VETN 120 and VETN 130 in the Spring Semester. The Fall classes must be completed with a C or better to advance to the Spring classes.

Note: There is a pathway for Veterinary Assistant students to apply to the Veterinary Nursing Program if they decide they would like to further their career in the veterinary field. Contact the Veterinary Programs Office for more information. Veterinary Assistant students will be given credit for VETN 105 and 125 if they pursue Veterinary Nursing.

Steps to Apply

  1. Apply to the College
    All applicants must have a student ID number (NSHE ID) which is assigned when a student applies to a college in the NSHE system. If you do not have an ID number, you must complete the TMCC application for admission.
  2. Submit Veterinary Assistant Program Application
    Complete and submit the Veterinary Assistant Application. The application opens at the beginning of April and is due by July 1. Please note: the class starting in August 2024 has been filled. You can still submit an application for future consideration.
  3. Have a Letter of Recommendation Sent to Us
    This letter must be from a veterinarian, veterinary technician, practice manager, high school or college instructor or someone else related to education or the animal field. This letter can be optionally uploaded with your application.

Requirements for All Applicants

Students with Dog

Please be prepared to upload the following documents along with your online application:

  • Provide a resume with information on which High School you graduated from (or information for High School Equivalency). Include college coursework if you have taken college classes. Include your work history. 
  • A one-page essay describing your interest in the veterinary field and why you want to attend the Veterinary Assistant Program. You can discuss animal-related experiences for the essay but they do not need to be actual work experiences (e.g. growing up on a ranch, participation in FFA, dog training and agility, etc.).
  • A letter of recommendation (as noted previously).

Application Review

Completed applications are reviewed after the deadline.

Applications are selected according to resume information, the strength of the reference letter, and quality of the admissions essay.

A letter of acceptance or denial will be emailed by mid-July. Upon receipt of a letter of acceptance, students will receive details for registration for the fall semester and general information including a date for our orientation session.

Students who are denied admission are welcome to apply again for the following year.

Program Worksheet

View our Program Overview (special admissions procedures, core requirements, prerequisites, etc.) in the current TMCC College Catalog.

Questions

Please contact us if you have any questions.