Turn your love of animals into a rewarding career!
Veterinary technicians are kind-hearted professionals committed to animal healthcare. As part of a team, they are entrusted with animal care, lab diagnostics, anesthesia, surgical assistance, dentistry, radiology and more.
If you want a career with meaning where you can make a positive impact on the lives of animals and the people who love them, then being a veterinary technician may be a perfect job for you.
Our program prepares you to perform the nursing and technical duties used in clinical
practice and research on small, large and laboratory animals. Housed in a state-of-the-art
facility, our outstanding program has many advantages:
- Full accreditation by the AVMA since 1975
- Hands-on involvement with 12 different animal species. Working with live animals makes the learning experience fun and effective.
- Dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens
- Instructors with real-world experience
- Classes four days a week encourages employment at a veterinary facility. Earning while you are learning helps keep your student debt low, improves your knowledge retention and improves your hands-on skills.
- High pass rate on the national board exam.
- Affordable tuition, and A+ funds are accepted.
We'll give you every advantage to become a highly skilled veterinary technician. Earn your degree and be on your way to a great career!
Accreditation
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Application information
Follow the steps to start your career path
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- Complete an online application (All students on a visa, DACA or undocumented must fill out an international application)
- Send us your transcripts
- If you have a disability, see Disability Support Services (DSS)
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Prior to applying to the veterinary technology Program, please complete the following
- Complete the following prerequisite courses before applying:
- BIOL 106 General Zoology (or BIOL 101 General Biology)
- ENGL 101 Composition and Reading I
- CHEM 105 Introductory Chemistry (or CHEM 111 General College Chemistry I)
- It is recommended that you complete or be enrolled in the following general education
courses as you are applying:
- ANHS 130 Veterinary Terminology
- BIOL 208 Microbiology
- COMM 100 Fundamentals of Speech (or COMM 103 Interpersonal Communications)
- History or Political Science Course (choose from the following MCC courses HIST 120, HIST 121, POLS 136)
- Complete (7) hours of observation of a registered veterinary technician in a veterinary hospital (or be employed in a veterinary hospital). You will be asked for a contact person from your observation experience or veterinary hospital employment to complete an evaluation when you apply to the program.
- Create a resume including your work experience, high school that you attended, colleges/universities that you attended, awards and honors that you have received, and any animal experience that you may have. You will submit your resume when you apply to the program.
- Create a typed 200-300 word essay describing how attending the MCC-Maple Woods veterinary technology program will help you achieve your career goals. You will submit your essay when you apply to the program.
- Have a 2.5 college GPA
- Complete the following prerequisite courses before applying:
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After completing steps 1 & 2, apply to the program by using the following application:
Download the Veterinary Technician Application
Applications are due April 1 each year. The top fifty (50) applicants will be invited to interview with the selection committee before the end of April. Interviews will be conducted in May.
Rabies vaccination requirement
Rabies vaccination is required for all MCC-Maple Woods Veterinary Technology students. Students must provide documentation of immunization by the start of the program to be compliant with AVMA accreditation standards.
View the CDC recommendation for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
Approximate cost
Each vaccination is $300 to $400 per dose, resulting in an overall cost of $600 to $800 for the 2-dose series
Where to get the vaccine:
- Verify coverage with your health insurance company.
- Emphasize the following
- You are entering a high risk profession
- This is considered preventative care
- If necessary, a letter to your insurance company justifying the need for pre-exposure rabies immunization can be provided.
- Emphasize the following
- Consult with primary care physician on availability of vaccine
- If working in a veterinary facility, ask your employer if they offer an allowance for vaccination
- Places that may carry the vaccine
- Local pharmacies
- City or county health departments
- Passport Health locations
- Sanofi Pasteur offers a patient assistance program for eligible students
Career and salary information
Visit the MoSCORES website for information on MCC's programs, including length, credit hours, and wage and employment data. Search Metropolitan Community College. Note: The historical data listed is informational and can vary based on the number of credit hours students earn, local wage conditions and other factors.
Transfer made simple
Many MCC students plan to transfer. Whatever your transfer destination, we'll work to make sure your credits move easily. That's why we're experts at it.
We've worked out specific transfer agreements with many four-year colleges and universities, so make sure you speak with an academic advisor before enrolling, particularly since transfer agreements can change based on curriculum revisions.
Learn more about MCC's seamless transfer
Veterinary Technician transfer agreements
Scholarships
MCC provides plenty of sources to fund your education, including federal aid, loans, state aid, veterans benefits and more. For information, contact the MCC-Maple Woods financial aid office at 816.604.1000. Apply for financial aid 6-10 months prior to enrollment. MCC scholarship application deadline for the fall semester is April 1.
Veterinary Technician Scholarships
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Area of Study: Veterinary Technology Program
Enrollment Status: At least 8 credit hours
Academic Performance: 2.75 GPA
Financial Need Required: Yes
Scholarship to be awarded to a working student either full-time or part-time. In addition, the student must have completed at least one semester in the veterinary technology program.
The recipient will be selected by the Director of Veterinary Technology
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Area of Study: Veterinary Technology Program
Must have successfully completed the first semester of the Veterinary Technology program, may apply before completion of first semester.
The recipient will be selected by the Director of Veterinary Technology and the MCC-Maple Woods Scholarship Committee for the spring term.
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Area of Study: Veterinary Technology Program
Must have successfully completed the first semester of the Veterinary Technology program, may apply before completion of first semester.
The recipient will be selected by the Director of Veterinary Technology and the MCC-Maple Woods Scholarship Committee for the spring term.
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Area of Study: Second-year student in Veterinary Technology Program
Academic Performance: Must have a 2.0 GPA
Enrollment Status: Full-time
Financial Need: Must demonstrate financial need as shown on the student aid report.
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Area of Study: Veterinary technology
Academic Performance: Must have at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA
Enrollment Status: Full-time (at least 9 credit hours)
Financial Need: Must demonstrate financial need as shown on the student aid report. First preference is given to Pell Grant eligible students.
Other: Student must have successfully completed 10+ hours in the vet tech program and two recommendations from instructors.
The student will submit a one-page essay addressing the following: How will you use the vet tech scholarship to further your career goals? Renewable for the current academic year if the student continues to meet criteria.
Selection of the recipient will be made by the Auriel Clegg Vet Tech Scholarship Committee.
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Area of Study: Veterinary Technology Program, first preference.
Academic Performance: Must have 2.0 cumulative GPA.
Enrollment Status: Full-time or part-time (minimum of six credit hours)
Financial Need: Yes, must be Pell grant eligible
Other: Must submit a written recommendation from an instructor, a college counselor or a high school counselor.
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Area of Study: Veterinary Technology Program
Academic Performance: Must have at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA
Enrollment Status: Full-time (at least 9 credit hours)
Other:
- Be a student in good standing in the vet tech program;
- Write a paper 500 words in length (will be reviewed for substance, not style) describing the student's experience with small and/or large animals, a motivation for choosing the vet tech field and career aspirations including desired employment locale;
- Second year students only are eligible to apply for fall semester scholarship so a GPA can be established whereas first and second year students are eligible to apply for a spring semester scholarship;
- First preference for scholarship recipient selection will be given to a child of a member of the Heart of America Kennel Club, if any, regardless of residence location.
- Limited to one award per recipient.
The recipient will be selected by the Director of Veterinary Technology
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Area of Study: Veterinary Technology Program
Academic Performance: 2.8 GPA
Enrollment Status: Full-time (at least 9 credit hours)
Other:
The student in good standing in the vet tech program with at least one semester completed. Write a statement approximately 250 words in length describing the student's experience with small and/or large animals and motivation for choosing the vet tech field.
One time award per recipient. The recipient to be selected by the Director of Veterinary Technology.
The student must submit a letter of recommendation from a vet tech instructor or college counselor.
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Area of Study: Veterinary Technology Program
Frequently Asked Questions
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The best way to find out more information is to come visit us. Once a month we offer a Vet Tech Tour. You can see our state-of-the-art facility and get your questions answered by our coordinator or one of our program instructors.
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Good news! The cost of the entire degree, books and fees for an in-district student is approximately $11,000-$13,000. That includes the pre-requisites and general education classes that students take prior to starting the program.
We encourage students to work 10-20 hours a week in a veterinary facility during the program. This allows many students the opportunity to pay their way through school and graduate with no student debt. Learn more about MCC's current tuition rates and fees.
The Midwest Student Exchange Program can reduce the out-of-state fee if you live in Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota or Nebraska.
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- Spend some time in a veterinary hospital observing a registered veterinary technician to learn if it is the right career for you.
- Complete the college pre-requisites of College Zoology or Biology with a lab, Chemistry
and Composition.
When you take the pre-requisites, try to complete some of the general education courses so you will not have to take them with the harder veterinary technician courses.
- Apply to the veterinary technology program. (Applications are due April 1steach year)
- Graduate from the veterinary technology program.
- Pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
- Pass the state board examination.
- Congratulations! You are now a veterinary technician.
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Both careers work with animals in the veterinary field. The difference is the education level, level of responsibility, salaries and the skills that they can legally perform.
A veterinary assistant is on-the-job trained or has completed a veterinary assistant certificate program.
A veterinary technician has a degree from an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program, passed the National Veterinary Technician Exam, and passed the state board exam. To be called a veterinary technician, one must have a veterinary technician registration.
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Our program does not offer online courses. Veterinary technician courses require you to perform skills with animals.
We use hands-on education with live animals to help students learn the knowledge and skills they will need. We have found that students are more successful when they get personalized, hands-on, practical application education.
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Past experience has shown that students try to work full time (40 hours/week) when night classes are utilized. Because of that reason, most students are not successful when they do not focus enough time on studying.
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We highly recommend that you work 10-20 hours per week in a veterinary hospital while attending the program. By working part-time during the program, you will improve your hands-on skills and your retention of the material will be better.
Our courses are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., or 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. With classes only taking up half the day and no classes on Friday, students are encouraged to work 10-20 hours per week.
If you complete all of your general education courses prior to starting the program, then you will have more time to work part-time while you are in the program.
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Our program has an active student body. You can join the veterinary technology club and SCNAVTA (NAVTA Student Chapter).
Students host lunches, participate in community service, organize donation drives for area animal shelters and raise funds. Your club membership also makes you eligible for various scholarships.
Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) results
Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) results for MCC- Maple Woods veterinary technology graduates.
| July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Total number of graduates taking the exam (VTNE) for the first time | 71 |
| Three year VTNE pass percentage % | 94.3% |