Programs handbooks

Veterinary Technology: Academic overview

Learning outcomes

Veterinary Technology AAS Degree Outcomes

Curriculum

The PCC VT program is seven consecutive terms (quarters) in length (this includes the summer quarter in between the first and second academic years). In the first four terms, the basic sciences and technical laboratory skills are taught. This provides a knowledge base and preparation for the more advanced courses as well as clinical experiences, including Cooperative Education. During the last three terms, students take advanced courses oriented toward specific medical areas. These courses include Applied Radiography, Anesthesiology, Dentistry, Surgical Nursing and Laboratory Animal Procedures, Animal Nutrition, Veterinary Pharmacology and Advanced Pharmaceutical Math, Small Animal Diseases, and Large Animal Diseases and Procedures. Students also participate in three Cooperative Education experiences during their two years. Depending on a student’s previous academic history, in addition to the veterinary technology courses, they may need to complete 16 credit hours of general education.

A total of 95 credit hours of Veterinary Technology program coursework is required. The Veterinary Technology course sequence can be found on the PCC Catalog Veterinary Technology AAS Degree page. All coursework must be taken in the sequence specified in the catalog.

Technical standards

Essential skills occur variably throughout the two-year program. These are a set of skills and knowledge formulated by the AVMA-CVTEA (American Veterinary Medical Association – Committee on Veterinary Education and Activities) which each graduate veterinary technician, from an accredited program, must have obtained prior to graduation. The essential skills are usually performed in the laboratory portion of the course. See the CVTEA accreditation policies and procedures for more information.

Students must complete all essential skills to pass the course, regardless of their performance on tests or other assignments. If a student fails to complete these essential skills, they may receive an “Incomplete” grade or may not pass the class, as outlined in the syllabus grading rubric. Even if a student has earned enough points for a passing grade, their grade may still be withheld until they successfully demonstrate the required skills.

Should the student eventually meet the essential skill(s), the grade can be updated accordingly. However, if the student is unable to retain the knowledge or concepts necessary to meet these skills, they will not receive a passing grade and will be unable to continue in the Veterinary Technology program. Completion of all essential skills is mandatory for graduation from the program.

Every student has access to their own Essential Skills Shell within D2L. This is where they will work with their instructor and support staff to certify completion of Essential Skills. Your responsibility as a student is to:

  1. Review which skills will be covered in which courses that term.
  2. Learn the steps for completion of that skill.
  3. Have the skill assessed by a staff member during the course of that term.
  4. Complete the necessary steps in D2L to submit the skills as complete.

Essential skills must be completed, or a plan to complete any missed essential skills must be in place by the end of each term. A failure to do so could result in an inability to graduate from the program.

Grading

The grading scale used for each class in the Veterinary Technology program will be outlined in each course syllabus. Students will be expected to maintain the minimum level of performance as outlined under Academic Standards regardless of the type of grading definition used. The basis for the letter grade is the composite score of projects, papers, quizzes, lab modules/clinical objectives, essential skills, and/or tests for each course. In making a grade determination, instructors can take into consideration student performance in the course in terms of attendance, attitude, participation, and other evidence of student achievement. Students must maintain a “C” (or Pass) grade for each course in the program.

Academic standards

See the College policies: conduct, professional standards, and ethics section for the Portland Community College academic standards and refer to PCC’s Grading Guidelines.

Veterinary Technology students must adhere to the following Veterinary Technology program academic standards in order to remain in good standing with the program. A failure to adhere to the following academic standards will result in dismissal from the program:

  • Achieve satisfactory academic progress as defined by the college, and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA in all VT program curriculum.
  • Achieve a grade of “C” or better, or a grade of “P” (pass) in all VT program courses. Grades of less than “C”, as well as “I” (Incomplete) or “NP” (No Pass) grades are not acceptable.
  • Satisfactory demonstration of all tasks or essential skills as required by an instructor. If a task or skill is not performed adequately, a grade of Incomplete “I” or Course in Progress “CIP” will be issued until the time the student is able to demonstrate the task or skill to the instructor’s satisfaction. If necessary, based on the instructor’s evaluation of the student’s performance, the student may be required to repeat the entire class. As mandated by the AVMA, courses in the Veterinary Technology program are outcome oriented and require demonstration of adequate performance to pass. Passing exams and completing homework are not necessarily the sole criteria for issuing a passing grade to the student by the instructor. Students MUST be able to perform certain course objectives, tasks, and skills in order to graduate from the program and to be considered qualified to work as a veterinary technician.
  • Adherence to the program attendance policy (see Attendance requirements).
  • Adherence to requirements surrounding animal care duties (see the Animal care requirements section).
  • Satisfactory performance in all Cooperative Education work experiences.
  • Compliance with all rules outlined in this student handbook.
  • Refer to the Due process for violations section for information about program dismissal and appeals.

Transfer credits and prior learning

For information regarding advanced placement, transfer of credits, and credits for experiential learning, see the Academic overview section.

Some students may have taken a Radiation Safety course as part of their employment in a veterinary clinical setting. The completion of an equivalent course often allows for the student to apply for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and eliminates the need for that student to take VT 109 Radiation Safety. Students in this situation should follow the PCC process for applying for credit for prior learning.

Competencies for graduation

The American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA-CVTEA) specifies that students must pass all psychomotor and didactic competencies (described in the Technical standards section) within each course in order to pass the class. This means students must demonstrate competency within the psychomotor and didactic domains of the course curriculum. If students do not show competence for one or more of the psychomotor and didactic competencies they are unable to pass the course and therefore unable to continue to matriculate through the program coursework. See the Veterinary Technology student essential and recommended skills list for details.

Advising and counseling

Every student is required to meet with the academic advising specialist during the Fall term of a student’s first year. The purpose of these advising meetings is to review transcripts of any previous college education, and plan any necessary coursework that may be required outside of the core veterinary technology. In cases where a student needs general education coursework in addition to veterinary technology courses, they must register for general education classes that do not interfere with VT classes or animal duties. Any changes made to the approved class plan must be approved by the academic advising specialist. See Academic Advising for more information.

Learning support

Refer to the Support services section to find resources from PCC. Here are some specific pointers from program faculty to help you navigate this demanding learning environment in an effective way.

  • Tips for effective learning
    • Create a dedicated study space (hint: not your couch or bed!)
    • Know your learning style
    • Actively take notes
    • Schedule time to study on your calendar
      • Ensure that this time takes into account that for every one credit hour in which you are enrolled you need to spend two to three hours outside of class studying
    • Set reminders for important due dates (exams, projects, quizzes, presentations)
    • Set daily and weekly goals for studying and reward yourself for completing them
    • Keep yourself accountable and use your network to do so!
    • Form a study group
    • Do one thing at a time
    • Participate and bring your experiences and thoughts to the class
    • Give yourself breaks

Withdrawal and re-entry

Any student may resign from the program of study at any time. Whenever possible, this should be accomplished in a professional manner by informing the faculty department chair prior to leaving. The faculty department chair will ask that the student fill out the Exit Interview form.

Students that resign but choose to return may be readmitted to the program by re-applying (see “re-entry and re-admission procedures” below). It is important to note that any grades in courses which are not completed will turn to F (Fail) or I (Incomplete) one year after leaving the program. This could have a significant academic impact on a returning student and should be taken into consideration.

Refer to PCC’s refund guidelines to see if refunds will be applicable.

Re-entry and readmission procedures

A student who is dismissed from the Veterinary Technology program or has departed from the program on their own accord is still eligible and encouraged to pursue further education outside of the Veterinary Technology program with Portland Community College.

Students may be readmitted to the program by re-applying to the program. A successful reapplication will depend upon the reason for dismissal but may include demonstration of the capability and willingness to achieve the necessary grades, and an explanation for any failures to follow the policies and procedures of the program and the college. Upon return to the program, the previously dismissed student will undergo a probationary period. The guidelines for this probationary period will be dictated by the reason for dismissal. Any student may only exit and return to the program once.

Academic resources

The following are commonly used links that are helpful for the academic journey.

Continue to next section

Standards and procedures