The Veterinary Assistant program is designed to provide the student the knowledge and hands-on skills necessary to build a successful career as a veterinary assistant. The program prepares the student to work in a veterinary hospital, private practice, nature center, zoo, research facility, or veterinary clinic.
The Veterinary Assistant program provides the student with the knowledge of proper restraint and control of animals, collecting and recording medical histories, performing vital signs, receiving hospital patients, and assisting the veterinarian with the treatment of patients. The student will also learn to prepare animals and instruments for surgery, perform inventories, assist with filling prescriptions, perform laboratory tests, and obtain lab specimens. The student will also learn to position animals to obtain x-rays, administer medications, and apply bandages. The program concludes with an externship to a local veterinary facility to provide hands-on working experience.
This program offers a hybrid learning experience. Students complete coursework online and complete hands-on learning on-campus.
Below is a list of employers who recently hired graduates of the Veterinary Assistant Program
We have been working with Great Lakes and their extern program for several years, and have been fortunate to have gained several great technicians. As our practice continues to grow and thrive, we will continue to work with Great Lakes to provide us in the future with well-qualified technicians.
I'm very happy with my decision to attend Great Lakes. When I graduated, I already had a job waiting for me at Twinbrook. Now I get to go to work every day and do a job I love!
My training at Great Lakes prepared me with an abundance of knowledge and hands-on experience pertaining to both small and large animal medicine, different ways to handle high pressure situations, and how to interact with the humans behind the animals.
I loved coming to Great Lakes every day. It was very hands on and you could tell the Instructors loved what they did. It made me want to be in the field even more!
The Veterinary Assistant grads we've hired are highly trained and passionate about caring for animals. Great Lakes has been a valuable resource when it comes to staffing our veterinary hospital.
Great Lakes Institute of Technology
5100 Peach Street
Erie, Pennsylvania 16509
