Veterinary Technician, AAS

About the Program

Associate in Applied Science Degree

West Lafayette Campus

Curricula

This unique program combines one four-year curriculum with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) and Bachelor of Science (BS) options. Students wanting only the Associate degree, or who have previously completed the general education college courses found in Year One of the bachelor’s degree, begin in the clinical portion, or Year Two, of the program.

Although any student can compete to start in the Year Two associate degree program, high school students, or those without any college experience, are strongly advised to apply for the first year of the BS degree program. This allows students to obtain a science, math and general education background and develop college-level study skills prior to entering the intensive clinical portion of the curriculum.  The student who completes the first year of the BS degree program but wishes to stop after completing the associate degree would complete the curriculum in three years (The first year of general education and two years, including two summers, of associate degree curriculum).

For more information, see the Veterinary Technology website (https://vet.purdue.edu/vettech/)

Careers

As part of the veterinary team, registered veterinary technicians with an AAS degree perform a wide range of veterinary nursing, imaging, anesthesia, dental hygiene and diagnostic laboratory procedures in the practice setting.

Veterinary technologists (BS degree) add organizational skills and case/project management to their technical abilities. Possible career tracks for technologists include animal behavior counselors, specialty practice technologists, clinic/hospital team leaders, veterinary technology program educators, pharmaceutical sales, wildlife rehabilitation, zoo and shelter medicine.

Credentialed veterinary technicians are required to maintain continuing education according to state regulations. Information about continuing education programs is available through the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Office of Lifelong Learning.

The AAS and BS plans of study in veterinary technology are not intended to meet the requirements for application to veterinary school to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).