Veterinary Assisting CCC

Veterinary Assisting CCC

Come see what we're all about at the Vet Tech Club sponsored Open House on Thursday, October 19, 2023 from 5 to 7 PM at Cocoa Campus, Building 21.

Open House Info & RSVP

Veterinary Assisting is a three-semester certificate program available as either a full-time, stand-alone College Credit Certificate or as part of the Veterinary Technology A.S. program. Students will complete a task-oriented curriculum focused on skills required for assisting veterinary technicians, veterinary nurses and veterinarians in clinical practice. The program includes hands-on and clinical experiences under the guidance of veterinary and veterinary technician/nursing faculty.

Completion of the certificate program can also serve as an acceleration mechanism for the Veterinary Technology A.S. degree program at EFSC. Fourteen credits will transfer to the A.S. degree program after the completion of the Veterinary Assisting program. The last term of the certificate program can even overlap with the first term of the A.S. degree if a certificate program student has applied and been accepted into the A.S. degree track. Admission to both programs is limited and requires a special application process.

Upcoming Application Deadline

The Veterinary Assisting application deadline has been extended to November 1 for a Spring Term (January) program start. Follow the process below to apply.

Veterinary Assisting CCC Application Process and Program Requirements

• Applicant must be 18 years of age by the application deadline.
• Applicant must have been accepted to EFSC following the college's general admissions guidelines before applying for the Veterinary Assisting program. This general admissions step will include submitting official high school and/or college transcripts to the EFSC Admissions office.
• Applicant must be a high school graduate or hold a GED.
• Applicant must have a college GPA of 2.0, with a minimum of 6 college credits (Suggested Courses:  BSCC 1084 - Survey of Anatomy and Physiology and SLS 1101 - Success Strategies for College and Life).
• Applicant must submit the Health Sciences Institute online application for the Veterinary Assisting program and pay the $25 application fee before the November 1 deadline.
• Applicant must submit unofficial college transcripts to the Health Sciences Admissions office. 
• Applicant must submit a handwritten essay on the topic explained in the Selection/Point System section below.
• Applicant must complete 20 hours of observation/volunteer/work experience in a Veterinarian's Office. See key details on this requirement in the Selection/Point System section below. Students must submit a completed Veterinary Assisting Experience Form to document this requirement.
• Applicant must submit one Letter of Recommendation from a Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Technician/Nurse, or the Office Manager where the hours of experience were completed.

Please submit all Application documents to Health Science Admissions on the Cocoa Campus, Building 11, Room 228 or email to healthscience@easternflorida.edu by 11:59 PM on November 1.

View answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Veterinary Assisting certificate program.

Selection to the Veterinary Assisting Program is based on a point system

Grade Point Average: Up to 20 points will be awarded for the student's GPA.  

Grade Point Average	Points
4.0	20 Points
3.8-3.9	18 Points
3.5-3.7	16 Points
3.0-3.4	14 Points
2.5-2.9	12 Points
2.0-2.4	0 Points

Experience in a Veterinary Clinical Setting: 20 hours of observation/volunteer/work experience in a Vet’s Office is required in order to be considered for the Veterinary Assisting program. Confirmation of experience must be submitted on the Veterinary Assisting Experience Form. A maximum of 5 Bonus Points may be awarded for hours completed above the required 20 hours, with Cat and Dog facilities preferred. Hours done in a shelter or humane society will not count for the Veterinary Assisting Program.  NOTE: Students who do not complete the minimum 20 hours by the application deadline will not be considered for program admission.

Hours of Experience	Bonus Points Awarded
20 Hours	Required (No Points)
21-25 Hours	1 Point
26-30 Hours	2 Points
31-35 Hours	3 Points
36-40 Hours	4 Points
Over 40 Hours	5 Points

Bonus Points for Completed Coursework: Students will receive bonus points for earning a "C" or better in the following courses.  A=5, B=3, C=1

     BSCC 1084 Survey of Anatomy and Physiology
     SLS 1101 Success Stragegies for College and Life

Students will also receive 1 bonus point for earning a "C" or better in MAC 1105, College Algebra, or higher Math.

Essay: Students must write a 150 to 200-word, handwritten essay on the following topic, using at least one citation in APA style: "Describe how the duties and education differ between a veterinary assistant and a veterinary nurse/technician." (This is a mandatory requirement, no points.)