Prerequisites and General Education

Advanced Classes

Alternate Route

PREREQUISITES AND GENERAL EDUCATION

*AG 401 -- Orientation to Veterinary Technology -- 1 unit *AG 510 -- Animal Health and Disease Control -- 3 units
*AG 180 -- Animal Care Experience -- 1 unit *AG 501 -- Principles of Animal Science -- 3 units
*AG 181 -- Work Experience -- 1 unit *AG 511/512 -- Anatomy and Physiology -- 4 units
*Math 115 -- 5 units CHEMISTRY 51 -- 5 units
*Biology 3 -- 4 units ENGLISH 101 -- 3 units
Office Administration 82 -- 3 units Health and Physical Education -- 3 units
Humanities -- 3 units Social and Behavioral Sciences -- 3 units
Microbiology 20 -- 4 units Natural Sciences -- 3 units
Language and Rationality -- 6 units  

*Completion of these classes and eligibility for English 101 is required prior to entrance in advanced 400 classes.

Clicking on any underlined class number will give you a description of that class.

ADVANCED CLASSES

AG 410/411 -- Small Animal Nursing I -- 3 units AG 412/413 -- Small Animal Nursing II -- 3 units
AG 420/421 -- Clinical Procedures I -- 3 units AG 422/423 -- Clinical Procedures II (Surgery) -- 3 units
AG 430/431 -- Veterinary Clinical Pathology -- 3 units AG 470 -- Laboratory Animal Care -- 3 units
AG 402 -- Topics in Veterinary Technology -- 2 units AG 441 -- Large Animal Nursing -- 2 units
AG 435/436 -- Veterinary Radiography -- 3 units AG 480 -- Clinical Experience for Veterinary Technicians -- 3 units
SUMMER SCHOOL FOLLOWING ADVANCED COURSES
AG 480 -- Clinical Experience for Veterinary Technicians -- 3 units  

Clicking on any underlined class number will give you a description of that class.

"Alternate Route" refers to a method of qualifying to take the California RVT State Board Examination.Instead of earning an AS degree in Veterinary Technology, the candidate can qualify if they fulfill two separate requirements.

1) Practical Experience

- The candidate must acquire 3 years (4,680 hours) of practical experience under the
supervision of a California licensed veterinarian.

- During this time, the candidate must complete a task proficiency checklist, verified by the signature of a veterinarian.

2) Post-secondary Education

- 20 semester units OR

- 30 Quarter units OR

- 300 continuing education hours OR

- any combination of the above to equal 300 hours

The law is specific about areas of education, but not numbers of hours for each area.The required subject areas are listed below:

  • Dental prophylaxis and extraction
  • Anesthetic instrumentation, induction and monitoring
  • Surgical nursing, including instrumentation, suturing techniques and application of casts and splints
  • Radiography and radiation safety
  • Diseases and nursing of animals, including zoonotic diseases and emergency veterinary care

Additional subject areas, such as chemistry, mathematics, biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology must be taken as separate courses or included with the instruction given with the required subject areas. All instruction and experience must be completed within five (5) years prior to application.

Pierce College Veterinary Technology Program offers a certificate for alternate route candidates.The student will take all the classes listed under "REQUIRED COURSE WORK" for 18 units, and one other class of their choice listed under "OTHER COURSES AVAILABLE TO FULFILL 20 UNIT REQUIREMENT" to fulfill the remaining 2 units. Students must verify that they have acquired a minimum of two years of full time experience performing technical duties before beginning the program.A letter from a California licensed veterinarian on hospital letterhead must be on file in the RVT office prior to enrolling in classes.

Upon completion of the course work, the student will receive a certificate of completion, but official transcripts will need to be submitted with their application for the state board exam.The student is wholly responsible for acquiring the practical experience and completing the task check-off list .

REQUIRED COURSE WORK

  • Radiography / Ag 435/436 -- 3 units
  • Clin Pro I / Ag 420/421 -- 3 units
  • Clin Pro II / Ag 422/423 -- 3 units
  • Small Animal Nursing I / Ag 410/411 -- 3 units
  • Small Animal Nursing II / Ag 412/413 -- 3 units
  • Animal Health & Disease Control / Ag 510 -- 3 units

TOTAL UNITS = 18

OTHER COURSES AVAILABLE TO FULFILL 20 UNIT REQUIREMENT

  • Anatomy & Physiology / Ag 511/512 -- 4 units
  • Large Animal Nursing / Ag 441 -- 2 units
  • Microbiology 20 -- 4 units
  • Clinical Pathology / Ag 430/431 -- 3 units
  • Biology 3 -- 4 units

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

180 Animal Care Experience (2) 
Lecture 1 hours; Laboratory 2 hours. 

This course is designed to provide veterinary science students with knowledge, skills, and abilities in animal care.  Areas of study will include sanitation, housing, nutrition, grooming, restraint, training, and environmental enrichment requirements for both livestock and companion animals.

   
181 Field Work (10) 
Laboratory 30 hours. 

Supervised job experience extending occupational learning in the classroom to on-the-job learning related to the student's occupational goals.
   
401 Orientation to Veterinary Science (1) 
Lecture 1 hour. 

Directs student exploration of Animal Health Technology and Veterinary Medicine as a career choice.  Includes job tasks, job market possibilities, preview of current legislation and medical terminology. 


402 Topics in Veterinary Technology (2) 
Lecture 2 hours. 
Prerequisite:  Agriculture 401 

Normally offered in the Veterinary Technology Program.  Includes medical terminology, veterinary ethics and discussion of the role of the technician in veterinary medicine.  


410 Animal Nursing I (2) 
Lecture 2 hours. 
Prerequisite:  Approval to enter Veterinary Technology Program. 

Studies the symptoms and treatments of diseases affecting small animals, vaccination protocol, pharmacology, first aid procedures, and veterinary dentistry. 

 
411 Animal Nursing I (2) 
Laboratory 2 hours. 
Corequisite:  Agriculture 410 

Provides for practical experience in performing specific skills involved with animal nursing. 

 
412 Animal Nursing II (2) 
Lecture 2 hours. 
Prerequisite:  Agriculture 410. 

Studies emergency procedures, care of critically ill patients, and an introductory study of birds and reptiles. 

 
413 Animal Nursing II Laboratory (1) 
Laboratory 2 hours. 
Corequisite:  Agriculture 412. 

Continues Animal Nursing I Laboratory in providing practical experience in performing new technical skills involved in animal nursing. 

 
420 Clinical Procedures in Animal Care I (2) 
Lecture 2 hours. 
Prerequisite:  Approval to enter the Veterinary Technology Program. 

Prepares the student to perform common clinical procedures in the animal hospital or laboratory under the supervision of a veterinarian. 

 
421 Clinical Procedures in Animal Care I Laboratory (1) 
Laboratory 2 hours. 
Corequisite:  Agriculture 420 
 
Provides for practical experience in various clinical procedures needed by the animal health technician. 

 
422 Clinical Procedures in Animal Care II (2) 
Lecture 2 hours. 
Prerequisite:  Agriculture 420 and 421. 

Prepares the student to perform additional clinical procedures with emphasis on surgery and anesthetics. 


423 Clinical Procedures in Animal Care II Laboratory (1) 
Laboratory 2 hours. 
Corequisite:  Agriculture 422. 

Provides for practical experience in anesthesiology, surgical assistance and other aspects of clinical procedures. 


430 Veterinary Clinical Pathology (2) 
Lecture 2 hours. 
Prerequisite:  Approval to enter Veterinary Technology Program. 

Provides a comprehensive introduction to modern practical methods in veterinary clinical laboratory analysis.  Includes blood, urine, feces and skin scrapings tests with emphasis on small animal species.


431 Veterinary Clinical Pathology Laboratory (1) 
Laboratory:  2 hours. 
Corequisite:  Agriculture 430. 

Provides practical experience in performing various clinical analysis examination and procedures. 

 
435 Veterinary Radiography (2) 
Lecture 2 hours. 
Prerequisite:  Approval to enter the Veterinary Technology Program to assist the veterinarian. 

Considers radiological terms, safety, and techniques needed by the animal health technician to assist the veterinarian.

 
436 Veterinary Radiography Laboratory (2) RPT 1 
Laboratory 2 hours. 
Corequisite:  Agriculture 435. 

Provides practice in radiological techniques and film developing as well as safe use of equipment. 

 
441 Large Animal Nursing Laboratory (2) RPT 1 
Laboratory 4 hours. 
Prerequisite:  Approval to enter Veterinary Technology Program. 

Provides hands-on practical experience in performing procedures and husbandry practices common to large and laboratory animal species.  Extensive practice in handling and restraint also provided. 


470 Laboratory Animal Care (2) 
Lecture 2 hours; Laboratory 1 hour. 
Prerequisite:  Approval to enter Veterinary Technology Program. 

Presents an introduction to laboratory animal care and husbandry.  Topics include care and restraint of rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents and other pocket pets.  Career opportunities will also be addressed. 

 
480 Clinical Experience for Animal Technicians (3) RPT 2 
Laboratory 9 hours. 
Prerequisite:  Agriculture 420 and/or Agriculture 422 with a grade of "C" or better. 
Offered every semester. 

Provides an opportunity to obtain specialized experience in a veterinary clinic through an internship program.  During this internship program, students will be given varied practical experience in all aspects of veterinary assistance and will be able to coordinate this experience with their classroom instruction. 

 
501 Principles of Animal Science (3) UC:CSU 
Lecture 3 hours. 
Offered every semester. 

Provides a broad perspective of livestock management problems and decisions that must be made in livestock production.  Covers the following class of livestock:  beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, swine, horses and poultry.  Topics include breeds, feeding, and reproduction as well as other management activities. 

   
510 Animal Health and Disease Control (3) CSU 
Lecture 3 hours. 
Offered every semester. 

Relates the physiology of animals to animal health.  Includes common animal disease, their causes, prevention and control, the treatment of wounds and the relation of sanitation to disease prevention.

 


511 Anatomy and Physiology of Animals (3) CSU 
Lecture 3 hours. 
Offered every semester. 

Provides a basic study of the facts and principles of animal life.  Includes detailed reference to the anatomy and physiology of domestic animals.  Comparative anatomy and physiology is included. 

 
512 Anatomy and Physiology of Animals Laboratory (3) CSU 
Laboratory 3 hours. 
Corequisite:  Agriculture 511. 

Provides practical experience discovering principles and structures associated with the anatomy and physiology of animals.  Microscope work and dissection of the cat are included.