Veterinary Technician Option, Veterinary and Animal Science | Holyoke Community College

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 29-1131.00

Skills

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionActive LearningScienceCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingSpeaking

Knowledge

BiologyMedicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageMathematics

Abilities

Oral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningNear VisionInformation OrderingWritten ExpressionSpeech Recognition

Tasks

Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performi
Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.

Technology

Document management softwareMedical softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software

Tools

Ambu bagsAngiography cathetersAnimal catching polesAnimal electrocardiograph ECG unitsAnimal snaresArterial line cathetersArthroscopic surgical equipmentAspiration cathetersAutomated chemistry analyzersAutomated microbial identification systemsAvian restrainersBandage scissorsBarcode scannersBattery-operated orthopedic drillsBenchtop centrifuges

Work Values

AchievementIndependenceRecognitionRelationshipsWorking ConditionsSupport

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium29-1131.00	Veterinarians	title_inference	$125,510 median$212,890 top	+9.61%	830

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Associate's Degree)

Disease diagnosis — examine animals, synthesize clinical signs, and formulate differential diagnoses with limited oversight in a general veterinary practice.
Surgical procedures — perform routine soft-tissue surgeries such as spays and neuters with reduced supervision, following standard aseptic technique in an operating theater.
Vaccination program execution — design and administer species-appropriate inoculation schedules for individual patients and small herds in a mixed-practice environment.
Diagnostic imaging interpretation — independently operate radiographic and ultrasound equipment and interpret resulting images to guide treatment decisions in an outpatient clinic.
Pharmacotherapy management — prescribe, adjust, and monitor medication regimens for common medical conditions across multiple species in a routine clinical setting.
Orthopedic injury management — evaluate and treat fractures by applying splints or performing bone-setting procedures under general clinical protocols in an emergency or referral context.
Client bereavement and euthanasia counseling — guide pet owners through end-of-life discussions and euthanasia decisions with empathy and professional judgment in a companion-animal practice.
Animal owner education — deliver clear, evidence-based advice on sanitation, nutrition, and preventive care to diverse clients during scheduled consultations in a clinical practice.
Zoonotic disease education — prepare and present public health information about animal-to-human disease transmission risks to community groups or client audiences in outreach settings.
Time and case management — prioritize and manage a caseload of multiple patients simultaneously, allocating resources effectively across a busy mixed-species practice day.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.