Veterinary Assisting

Carrington College’s Veterinary Assisting program prepares students for the clinical, lab, and administrative duties required for entry-level employment as a veterinary assistant. The program concludes with an externship that allows students to practice skills in an actual veterinary health care setting.

The curriculum, which may be delivered in a traditional or blended format, provides students with education in the clinical, laboratory, and administrative duties of a veterinary assistant.

Courses cover animal anatomy and physiology, nursing skills, animal surgical assisting, pharmaceutical chemistry and application, animal restraint and patient services, and front office skills, such as computer basics, telephone communication requirements, and appointment scheduling.

Upon completion of the Veterinary Assisting program, graduates will be able to:

• Complete appropriate veterinary assisting procedures related to animal husbandry, diagnostics, equipment maintenance and client care in a variety of settings.
• Apply basic knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology of multiple species in relation to animal care.
• Maintain a professional and safe work environment.

Carrington College’s Veterinary Assisting program is available at five locations in three states. To learn more about each location, explore their location pages.

• Mesa, Arizona
• Phoenix Trades Education Center, Arizona*
• Portland, Oregon
• Spokane, Washington
• Tucson, Arizona

We know college is a big step. But education can be the first step in building a better future. Your instructors, administrators, and fellow students are there to help if you ever hit a bump in the road along the way. Carrington College offers a lot of great student support services designed to help you succeed.

Student Finance
From scholarships and grants to loans, we will help you understand how to search and apply for financial aid. Student loans, grants, and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

Tutoring and Study Groups
For help with schoolwork, your instructors and Student Success Center staff are often available for tutoring or you can join in an open student study group.

Externships, Clinical Rotations and Fieldwork
Most programs include an opportunity to learn in the real world before you even graduate! You’ll earn impressive experience that looks great on your resume.

Career Services
Before graduation from our Veterinary Assisting program, we’ll help you with job search strategies with everything from resume writing help to job search support to interview tips.

Veterinary assistants provide routine animal care to help veterinarians with their daily tasks. Between 2020 and 2030 employment for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is expected to grow 14%, faster than average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.²

Most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work full time and may work holidays or weekends. Expect this industry to continue to grow with the animal rights movement and the demand for better operational procedures for pets.

Education is a major investment, but it’s an investment in your future. Every student comes to Carrington with unique financial needs. Carrington College is committed to helping you achieve your education goals. We participate in most financial assistance programs, both federal and state, as well as private financing. Each program has different requirements and application instructions. Student loans, grants, and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

For complete information on current tuition costs, please see the Academic Catalog.

The best way for us to understand your financial needs is to meet in person. Call 1-877-206-2106 to make an appointment with our Student Finance Department so we can help you develop your personalized financial plan to achieve your educational goals.

Carrington College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC/WASC), 428 J Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814; 415- 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at www.accjc.org/.

For comprehensive information on Carrington’s accreditation and approvals, visit carrington.edu/accreditation.