Veterinary Assistant CIP Code01.8301- Competency RecordsPossible CareersVeterinary Assistants & Laboratory Animal CaretakersVeterinary Technologists & TechniciansVeterinary Hospital ManagerVeterinariansVeterinary ReceptionistHealth Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryPotential CertificationsPVMA CertificationBasic Animal First AidNAVTA CertificationPA Skills Certificate (NOCTI)OSHA-10Employability: Interviewing SkillsArticulated CreditsLocal Articulation Agreements Mrs. HoutzProgram OverviewDo you want to turn your love and dedication for animals into a career? If you have a sincere devotion to promoting and aiding in the well-being of animals, this field might be for you! The Veterinary Assistant Program will prepare students for working in the Veterinary industry as a Veterinary Assistant through theory and hands-on learning to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for taking care of small and large animals. This program affords students with the opportunity of working with live animals daily. Seniors will have the opportunity to become Nationally Accredited as a Veterinary Assistant by NAVTA (The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America) and earn a Certificate of achievement from PVMA (The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association). Upon graduation, students can be working in a veterinary facility as a Veterinary Assistant or students have the opportunity to continue their education in a Veterinary Technology Degree Program or Pre-Veterinary Degree Program. Skill Alignment Chart (Click to Expand)Educational & Physical AttributesExpectationsProgram Safety & Physical ConsiderationsEmotional & mental stabilityEmpathy to understand the pains & suffering of othersGood personal hygiene–hair pulled back, no artificial nails, facial piercings removed, no dangling earrings nor visible tattoosLift heavy objects/animalsNot disturbed by incidences such bodily fluids, surgeries, injections & traumatic situationsProlonged standing, bending & stoopingNo allergies to animalsClearances requiredEssential APTITUDES for this lab–Recommended LevelsVeterinary specific math skillsReading comprehension & writing skillsStrong science skillsComplex problem solvingSocial perceptivenessService orientationMultitaskingFlexibility in changing situationsGood attention to detailNote taking and listening skillsReadingExplain the main ideas or draw accurate conclusions after reading textFollow a complex multi–step procedure independentlyEvaluate how an author’s point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a textEvaluate how words and phrases shape meaning and tone in textsComprehend written text and apply it to understand tables, charts, and other visualsLearn and apply content–specific symbols and acronyms correctlyApply content–specific vocabulary correctlyIdentify and explain how different ideas connect throughout textRead and understand diagnostic and medical data to solve a problemCompare & contrast information in a textSummarize information from different written resourcesEvaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis & conclusions in a technical textBy the end of grades 9–10 & 11–12 read & comprehend technical texts independently & proficientlyTextbook: Elsevier’s Veterinary Assisting Textbook, Average grade reading level: 16.2WritingWrite with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task, and audienceDevelop and analyze a topic with relevant, well–chosen, and sufficient facts or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topicProduce clear & coherent writingDevelop and strengthen writing by brainstorming, revising, editing & rewritingWrite with awareness to audience using program–specific vocabularyConduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problemWrite routinely over short/long time frames for a range of tasks, purposes & audiencesClearly convey with precision step–by–step work completedWrite fast–paced, accurate medical reportsUse technology to produce, publish or share writingMath LevelsNumbers and Operations:Grade 6 – Fluency in operations with whole numbers and decimalsGrade 6 – Fraction computationsGrade 7 – Fraction to decimal conversionGrade 7 – Percent and ratio problemsGrade 8 – Decimals to rational number (fraction) conversionAlgebra 1 – Problem solving with real world units, including conversionsMeasurement:NG – Units: English and Metric Precision: Nearest mmAlgebraic Concepts:Grade 6 – One–step equation solutions – one variable with all non–negative componentsGrade 7 – Two–step equation solutions – one variableData and Probability:Algebra 1 – Interpret data on various displays – use to make predictionsTheory TimeAbout 1.5 hours/dayHomeworkAbout 2 hours/week (varies each week)May include:Studying for examsProjectsViewing videos on practical skillsLab TimeAbout 4 hours/dayTestsChapter examsPractical skills assessmentsPOS Academics and Electives RecommendedEnglish & Math are a component of the DCTS programVeterinary specific Science courses (Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Chemistry)Study & Other SkillsStudy guide completionTime managementTechnology Skills/KnowledgeUse and navigate school–issued laptopWeb navigationEmail managementNavigate learning management system and instructional technology toolsVideo conferencingCertifications OfferedPVMANAVTABasic Animal First AidAvimark Online Software CertificateOSHA Healthcare 10 Hour CardPost–Secondary Options and Continuing EdOption to attend college to pursue:Veterinary Technologist and TechnicianVeterinary Hospital ManagerVeterinarianLocal/State Postsecondary Schools (i.e. Harcum College, Wilson College, Manor College, Johnson College, Lancaster County Career and Technology Center), York Technical Institute, Lehigh Carbon & Northampton Community College, Vet Tech Institute)