Northshore Technical Community College Veterinary Technology Program

Pontchartrain Animal Hospital is the home of the Veterinary Technology Program at Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC). The program has a wonderful partnership with the hospital and is able to utilize the equipment and facility to provide a real life teaching experience to students. Pontchartrain Animal Hospital was a great choice to house the Veterinary Technology program in, the staff is friendly, helpful and they all show a caring attitude toward clients, patients and the students. The equipment in the Pontchartrain Animal Hospital is state of the art giving the students good exposure to the latest tools the Veterinary health care team is using to diagnose and treat their patients. The Veterinary Health care team at Pontchartrain includes doctors, registered veterinary technicians, trained veterinary assistants, animal caretakers, receptionists and a practice manager. For more information about what a veterinary health care team is, please visit: http://www.avma.org

The Veterinary technology program at NTCC started out as a Veterinary Assistant program.  In March 2011 the program became an accredited Veterinary Technician Program. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) visited the program for three days going over all aspects of teaching, the facilities and equipment to determine if the program met their standards for accreditation as a Veterinary Technician Program. More information about the AVMA standards for Veterinary Technician programs can be found at: http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/cvtea_process.asp

The program at NTCC is a “hybrid” program, meaning we have some online classes and some traditional in classroom classes. A total of 72 credit hours are taken over a two year period. After the first year of classes the student is awarded a Certificate of technical studies as a Veterinary Assistant. Upon completion of the two years the student is awarded an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology. This degree makes the student eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), and with a passing grade the graduate is then able to register and become licensed as a Veterinary technician. Obtaining that license and degree opens up a world of career opportunities for the graduate. Private veterinary practice, research, teaching and zoo medicine are just a few of the available fields the Registered Veterinary Technician can choose from.

 Visit: http://www.avma.org/careers/veterinary_technician.asp for more information on careers for Veterinary Technicians and to view a short video on the subject.

The Veterinary Technology Program at NTCC is run by a team. Anna Veilleux, RVT and Gillian Stott, RVT are the two Registered Veterinary Technician Instructors in the program. Alissa Whitney, DVM and Amy Cangelosi, DVM are two Veterinarians working in practice and also as instructors in the program. Yolanda Skinner, DVM is a Veterinarian and Director of the Veterinary Technology Program.

If you would like more information about the program please contact us at: 985-514-4322 or you can email Dr Skinner at yskinner@northshorecollege.edu. You can also visit the schools web site at: http://www.northshorecollege.edu

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