Veterinary Assisting Fundamentals & Applications

Beth Vanhorn, AS, is a certified veterinary technician with more than 20 years of professional experience. When hired by the Dauphin County Technical School in 2005, she hit the ground running by outlining a curriculum for the Veterinary Assistant Program. In addition, she is the instructor for its NAVTA/AVA-accredited Adult Education Veterinary Assistant Program. Since 2012, she also has served as a full-time Practice Manager and CVT in a Banfield Pet Hospital. Dr. Robert Clark is an Administrative Director for Dauphin County Technical School (DCTS), and the developer of the school’s urban agricultural program. Upon realizing that there was no industry-recognized credential for veterinary assistants, he worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) to lay the groundwork for this innovative program that could answer the need for credentialing.

SECTION I: PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AND CLIENT RELATIONS.
1. Veterinary Medical Terminology and Abbreviations.
2. Medical Records.
3. Scheduling and Appointments.
4. Computer and Keyboarding Skills.
5. Veterinary Office Management.
6. Communication and Client Relations.
7. Veterinary Ethics and Legal Issues.
SECTION II: VETERINARY ANIMAL PRODUCTION.
8. Dog Breed Identification and Production Management.
9. Cat Breed Identification and Production Management.
10. Avian Breed Identification and Production Management.
11. Pocket Pet Health and Production Management.
12. Rabbit Identification and Production Management.
13. Reptile and Amphibian Breed Identification and Production Management.
14. Ornamental Fish Identification and Production Management.
15. Wildlife Management and Rehabilitation.
16. Zoo and Exotic Animal Production Management.
17. Laboratory Animal and Research Animal Management.
18. Beef and Dairy Cattle Breed Identification and Production Management.
19. Equine Breed Identification and Production Management.
20. Draft Animal Breed Identification and Production Management.
21. Swine Breed Identification and Production Management.
22. Sheep Breed Identification and Production Management.
23. Goat Breed Identification and Production Management.
24. Poultry Breed Identification and Production Management.
25. Aquaculture Identification and Production Management.
SECTION III: GENERAL ANATOMY AND DISEASE PROCESSES.
26. The Structure of Living Things.
27. The Musculoskeletal System.
28. The Digestive System.
29. Circulatory System.
30. The Respiratory System.
31. The Endocrine System.
32. The Renal System.
33. Reproductive System.
34. The Immune System.
35. The Nervous System.
36. The Sensory System.
37. Animal Nutrition.
38. Microbiology and Parasitology as Disease Processes.
SECTION IV: CLINICAL PROCEDURES.
39. Animal Behavior.
40. Basic Veterinary Restraint and Handling Procedures.
41. Veterinary Safety.
42. Veterinary Sanitation and Aseptic Technique.
43. The Physical Examination and Patient History.
44. Examination Procedures.
45. Hospital Procedures.
46. Grooming Procedures.
47. Veterinary Assisting Procedures.
48. Laboratory Procedures.
49. Radiology Procedures.
50. Pharmacy Procedures.
51. Surgical Assisting Procedures.