Curriculum

Vet Assistant Curriculum

In our Veterinary Assistant classes, you'll learn the skills and get the hands-on veterinary assistant training required to tend to the needs of animals. After you’ve completed your coursework, you are required to complete an externship to get hands-on training before completing the veterinary assistant program. You may be able to secure your externship site at a veterinary practice near you, or through our partnership with one of the largest veterinary hospitals in the country, VCA Animal Hospitals.

Veterinary Assistant

Career Diploma

12 months

As low as $59/mo

Full Program Overview

1-800-471-3232 (9AM - 9PM ET)

Vet Assistant Curriculum

10 courses
58.2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
27 exams
1 externship

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 12 months
Average time = 16 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

In this course, you’ll develop the necessary skills to ensure your success in the program. You’ll learn how you can improve your study skills so you’re able to use a number of tools that will help you to be successful.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
In this course, you’ll get an overview of what’s needed to work as a veterinary assistant in a variety of settings. Veterinary assistants work closely with animals alongside other veterinary professionals. This course will introduce you to the skills needed to be a valuable member of the veterinary team in any of the many different areas of the profession. Veterinary healthcare is an exciting, constantly changing field.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Describe qualities, requirements, functions, and professionalism of veterinary practice
- Identify scientific approaches and characteristics of animal behavior
- Navigate large and small animal handling and restraint
This course provides an introduction to veterinary terminology. You’ll learn to recognize, understand, and pronounce anatomical and veterinary procedure terminology. You’ll also learn about metric terms and abbreviations. You’ll study the anatomical terms to correctly indicate the orientation and location of animal body parts, and you’ll recognize cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems, both structurally and functionally. You’ll also study the four major classes of joints and explain how they function. Finally, you’ll describe the structure and function of skin and the animal’s fur, identify the glands and their secretions, explain the structural and functional differences between the organs of the upper and lower respiratory system, and understand how the lungs and the parts of the respiratory system work together to supply oxygen to the body’s cells.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Define veterinary terminology, language, and procedures
- Recognize the structure and function of the skeletal and muscular systems
- Recognize the structure and function of the integumentary, circulatory, and respiratory systems
In this course, you’ll identify the organs of the digestive system and explain the structure and function of each part, compare the structure of the stomach and large intestine of carnivores and herbivores, recognize the organs of male and female reproductive systems and the events that occur during fertilization, and explain the anatomy and functions of the urinary system. You’ll also study the organization of the nervous system and how the nervous system receives and interprets information; the four senses and their primary functions, which are to provide animals with an awareness of their environment and assist them in their survival; and the function of the endocrine system and the major glands and hormones that maintain body homeostasis.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- List the organs and their functions for the digestive, reproductive, and urinary systems
- Identify the nervous system, sensory organs, and endocrine system
In this course, you’ll learn about proper nutrition for animals and the veterinary assistant’s role in nutritional care. You’ll also study the reproductive systems of the male and female animals. You’ll study how to care for aging animals. You’ll learn about the unique anatomies of birds and reptiles. Finally, you’ll learn to take a good medical history, perform a thorough physical examination, and assist the veterinarian with the animal patient in ways that are humane, safe, and effective.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Explain the veterinary assistant’s role in nutritional care and the six nutrients essential for life
- List the functions of the various parts of the male and female reproductive systems
- Identify the body systems common to all birds and reptiles
- Describe the veterinary assistant’s role in routine veterinary examinations
In this course, you’ll learn about what vaccines exist, how vaccines work, and when a vaccination is necessary. You’ll also study how to handle calls from pet owners, how to advise owners on how to transport injured animals, and how to provide appropriate first aid in transport. You’ll learn to recognize the signs of common emergency problems and participate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In addition, you’ll learn to recognize the different types of wounds, explain how a wound heals and the factors that affect wound healing, care for wounds, and identify the proper way to maintain, change, and remove bandages, splints, casts, and slings.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Describe the functions of the immune system and how vaccines work
- Discuss how to handle emergency situations and manage grief
- Explain proper wound care
In this course, you’ll learn about parasites and parasitology, the different types of animal parasites, and how to diagnose, treat, and prevent parasites. You’ll also learn how to monitor and observe an animal’s habits and behaviors. You’ll study common procedures used in veterinary sample collection and diagnosis, treatment procedures involved in veterinary nursing, and physical therapy concerns and methods relevant to your duties as a veterinary assistant. You’ll also study the principles and procedures of dog and cat dental prophylaxis, as well as the concerns and procedures of pediatric, geriatric, and routine animal health care. Finally, you’ll study veterinary drugs, where they come from, and who regulates them. You’ll learn how drugs enter the body and how to ensure that the right amount enters and identify drugs used for infection, inflammation, vital organs, body systems, disease prevention, and hormone regulation.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Explain common types of parasites and their detection
- Describe your role in the care of hospitalized animals
- Discuss routine animal care and common treatment procedures
- Explain veterinary pharmacology and types of drugs used to treat various systems
In this course, you’ll study the principles of radiology and the veterinary assistant’s role in radiology. You’ll learn how to prepare patients for radiographic and ultrasound examination and the safety measures and guidelines for radiographic procedures. You’ll learn how to label, file, and store radiographs. You’ll also learn to recognize various surgical instruments and how to clean, sterilize (eliminate all bacteria, fungi, and viruses), and maintain the instruments. Finally, you’ll learn the general process of admitting a patient to a hospital and the importance of a good relationship with the animal’s owner, as well as study some commonly performed surgical procedures and how to prepare an animal for surgery. You’ll learn to recognize anesthetic drugs, how they’re used, the anesthetic process, and how an animal is monitored and maintained under anesthesia.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Discuss radiology and radiation safety
- Describe surgical instruments, sterilization, and aseptic techniques
- Outline commonly performed surgeries and your role in surgical preparation and surgery
In this course, you’ll learn how to order and maintain office inventory and supplies as well as how to admit and discharge patients and prepare appropriate release forms and certificates. You’ll study the role of the veterinary assistant within a typical veterinary practice, including how successful interpersonal communication skills can help you deal with clients and coworkers. You’ll also study some of the basic accounting principles you’ll need to keep accurate records of office financial transactions. You’ll prepare billing statements and collection letters, write checks, complete deposit slips, and reconcile bank statements.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Explain the policies, procedures, and day-to-day operations of a standard veterinary practice
- Describe the communication process and how it functions within a veterinary practice
- Identify how to use accounting systems to manage the payroll and expenses of a veterinary practice
- Demonstrate comprehension of the skills required of a veterinary assistant
This course introduces the student to the Veterinary Assistant externship. The goal of this clinical externship is to provide you with the hands-on experience necessary to develop the skills you’ll need to work as a veterinary assistant. You’ll practice under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or credentialed veterinary technician. This externship consists of 100 hours of clinical experience in a full-service companion animal practice to be completed in 8 to 16 weeks.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Demonstrate program skills as defined on the Veterinary Assistant Evaluation form

Note: We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.