Veterinary Assistant

Questions or additional information can be obtained by forwarding any inquiries to Scott Shanes at 732-224-2011 or email sshanes@brookdalecc.edu or cpshealthcare@brookdalecc.edu 

Please note: information sessions are conducted Remote Live via Zoom

Veterinary Assistant Information Sessions

Click HERE to register in Eventbrite: Wednesday, December 6th – 1pm

Veterinary Assistant Program

Program Director: Janet McConnell, CVT
Instructors: Victoria Vierschilling, CVT
                      Harriet Terodemos, CVT

This newly expanded Veterinary Assistant Program in collaboration with Red Bank Veterinary Hospital is approved through the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). Students who graduate are eligible to sit for the national exam to earn the credential of Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA).

Veterinary Assistants are an integral part of the veterinary healthcare team, working under the direct supervision of a veterinarian or credentialed veterinary technician. Through classroom and clinical instruction, students are trained to provide assistance in the following area of study:

• Office procedures and client relations
• Pharmacy
• Preventative healthcare
• Behavior and restraint
• Veterinary medical terminology
• Anatomy and physiology
• Safety in the veterinary workplace
• Animal nursing
• Laboratory procedures
• Surgical and recovery room assistance
• Radiology
• Emergency response

254 hours (93 classroom, 57 online, 104 clinical). Successful graduates are eligible to sit for the National Approved Veterinary Assistant Exam (exam fee is $100).

Students who achieve the AVA credential are eligible to articulate their education and receive:

2 college credits toward the Veterinary Technician Program (AVMA Accredited) at Bergen County College in Paramus, NJ

-or-

4 college credits toward the Veterinary Technician Program (AVMA Accredited) at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA

Mandatory Prerequisites

From the bulleted list below, submit scores in any combination (one math AND one English) with the application form.

• Grades of C on college transcript in 100-level math and English courses
• Accuplacer scores of 250 in arithmetic and reading comprehension (if you need to take Accuplacer tests, you will receive a Testing Center order form at the Mandatory Workshop. Each test is $5.)
• SAT scores of 540 in critical reading and 530 in quantitative
• ACT scores of 23 in reading and 22 in math
• Grade of 4 in advanced placement high school English and math

Additional Information
(Instructions to access prerequisite forms will be emailed to you upon registration)

• must be 18 years of age or older
• Admitted students must submit to criminal background check and drug screen (additional fee).
• Physical required including tetanus shot and immunization titers
• Admitted students must have health insurance
• 75 percent average is required for participation in clinical
• NAVTA program attendance requirement for classroom and clinical instruction must be met to graduate.
• Students must purchase textbooks, khaki scrubs, and sneakers for class and clinical instruction.
• Admitted students without documentation submitted prior to the start of the program will be administratively withdrawn from the program and a $150 processing fee will be charged.

Classes are a combination of Remote Live and In-Person at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital (RBVH)

Monday & Thursday
February 5 – May 30
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
(No class March 11 & 14, May 27)

 Clinical & AVA Exam: TBD

Fee and Code: $3569, XMEDG 081
Textbooks and AVA exam not included (approx. $375) Click here for the textbook and supply list

Questions or additional information can be obtained by forwarding any inquiries to Scott Shanes at 732-224-2011 or email sshanes@brookdalecc.edu or cpshealthcare@brookdalecc.edu 

This program meets strict academic requirements for renewal from NAVTA every 2-3 years.
Brookdale’s Veterinary Assistant program achieved renewal status again in July 2021.

From the NAVTA* Approved Veterinary Assistant Committee…
“…We congratulate you and your faculty for continuing to provide the very best in education and training of Veterinary Assistants.”

-National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America

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