Veterinary Nursing, AAS

About the Program

The Veterinary Nursing Program is a science-based veterinary nursing program offering an Associate in Applied Science (AAS). The Veterinary Nursing Program at Purdue University is designed to allow a student to gain the knowledge, information, and skills necessary to practice as a veterinary technician. It is an AVMA accredited program. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).

This unique program is a part of the four-year curriculum with the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) embedded within the Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing (BSVN) degree. Years 2-3 offer students over 1200 hours of clinical experience in Purdue’s Veterinary Hospital.

Entry to the AAS degree is a competitive entry process. Students electing to complete the AAS only are students who have previous college experience or degree.

For more information, see the Veterinary Nursing website.

Careers

As part of the veterinary team, credentialed veterinary technicians perform a wide range of veterinary nursing, imaging, anesthesia, dental hygiene and diagnostic laboratory procedures in a veterinary practice. Other career opportunities include specialty practice, clinic/hospital team leaders, research, 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 plan of study in veterinary nursing does not meet the requirements for application to veterinary school to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).

Veterinary Nursing Major Change (CODO) Requirements  

Degree Requirements

70 Credits Required

Departmental/Program Major Courses (63.5 credits)

• BMS 23100 - Anatomy-VN Credits: 4.00 ♦
• BMS 23200 - Physiology-VN Credits: 2.00 ♦
• BMS 23300 - Introduction To Pharmacology-VN Credits: 0.50
• BMS 33100 - Pharmacology-VN Credits: 1.50
• CPB 25500 - Clinical Pathology-VN Credits: 4.00
• CPB 35100 - Microbiology-VN Credits: 2.00
• CPB 35200 - Parasitology-VN Credits: 2.00
• VCS 22100 - Veterinary Nursing Techniques For The Normal Animal (SA & LA) Credits: 4.00
• VCS 22200 - Dentistry-VN Credits: 0.50
• VCS 22300 - Surgical Nursing-VN Credits: 1.00
• VCS 22400 - Small Animal Nursing I Credits: 2.00
• VCS 22500 - Large Animal Nursing I Credits: 2.00
• VCS 22600 - Principles Of Anesthesia-VN Credits: 2.00
• VCS 22800 - Small And Large Animal Nutrition-VN Credits: 1.00
• VCS 25100 - Introduction To Diagnostic Imaging-VN Credits: 0.50
• VCS 25200 - Diagnostic Imaging-VN Credits: 2.00
• VCS 32100 - Large Animal Nursing II Credits: 2.00
• VCS 32200 - Small Animal Nursing II Credits: 2.00
• VM 20100 - Introduction To Veterinary Nursing Credits: 1.50
• VM 24100 - Occupational & Public Health I Credits: 1.00
• VM 24300 - Clinic Rotations I Credits: 1.50
• VM 24400 - Clinical Rotations II Credits: 1.50
• VM 24900 - Clinical Rotations III Credits: 3.50
• VM 32300 - Laboratory Animals & Exotic Pet Medicine-VN Credits: 2.00
• VM 34210 - Integrations-VN Credits: 2.00
• VM 34300 - Clinic Rotations IV-VN Credits: 5.00
• VM 34400 - Clinic Rotations V-VN Credits: 5.00
• VM 34500 - Veterinary Management Topics I-VN Credits: 1.50

•  

• VM 39000 - Practicum Credits: 4.00 or
• VM 41001 - International Practicum Credits: 4.00

Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (3-4 credits)

• ENGL 10600 - First Year Composition With Conferences Credits: 4.00 or
• ENGL 10800 - First Year Composition Credits: 3.00

Electives (3.5 credits)

Grade Requirements

• All courses must be completed with a grade of D- or higher.
• Any retaken course must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.

GPA Requirements

• 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Associate in Applied Science degree.

Course Requirements and Notes

• Courses must be taken in specified order.

Pass/No Pass Policy

• No courses except those listed may be taken with a Pass/No Pass grade: VM 10900, VM 41001, VM 41003, VM 44400.

Transfer Credit Policy

• Transfer credit may be used to satisfy elective and other program course requirements. Consult your academic advisor.

Notes

• The Veterinary Nursing Program has additional academic standards, found here.

Sample 2-Year Plan

Pre-Requisite Information

For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here.

Critical Course

The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program.”

Disclaimer

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.