Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

See the application timeline.

See the application timeline.

To ensure student success in the program, applicants must complete all prerequisite courses to be considered for the program.

Please submit a copy of your unofficial transcript (PDF preferred) to vet@pcc.edu [opens in new window].

Yes. Please contact Aimee Bosland with PCC Career Services for assistance.

The Veterinary Technology program receives 60-70 applications per year and accepts 25-30 students to begin in the Fall term.

To be most competitive, an applicant would satisfy some combination of the following criteria:

• At least three months experience in a veterinary clinical setting
• A’s and B’s in prerequisite coursework
• Other college credits (especially in math and science)
• Competitive college GPA
• Excellent letter of recommendation from a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician
• High interview score

Candidates who are not accepted must fill out a new application and re-submit the application packet the following year.

The Veterinary Technology program is cohort-based. First year students entering the program do so only once per year in the fall.

Veterinary Technology is a full-time program that takes seven consecutive terms to complete.

Veterinary Technology students receive top-quality veterinary medical training that aligns with current industry standards. This training includes hands-on experience with a variety of animal species, low student to teacher ratios, timely feedback and advising, and completion of three 140-hour externships in various veterinary facilities.

Our program has state of the art facilities for both our lecture and laboratory learning spaces. All classrooms are equipped with all necessary multimedia equipment. Our laboratory classroom is equipped with the appropriate spaces and equipment necessary for microscopic evaluation, anatomical dissections, display of anatomical models, and more. Our Veterinary Technology classroom contains a full radiology suite, surgical suite, examination tables, and laboratory for running diagnostic tests.

We house our program dogs and cats in a kennel facility located on campus. At the end of their time in our program, these animals are adopted out to new homes. We also have a working farm on our campus which includes sheep, cattle, llamas/alpacas, horses, goats, rabbits and chickens. These animals provide ample opportunity for our students to obtain first hand experience in the husbandry and medical needs of various species.

This program offers classes during day time hours only and, on a set schedule. Most Veterinary Technology courses are offered only once per year

See the Sample Veterinary Technology Schedule [pdf] for an example of a student schedule (Note: This may not be your exact class schedule.)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks Veterinary Technology as a career that is growing faster than average. Rising salaries and the nationwide shortage of veterinary technicians supports rapid employment after graduation.

See approximate costs of the Veterinary Technology program.

Yes, please see the PCC Financial Aid website for details on financial aid and scholarships. You can also contact our Career Services office to get individual help finding scholarships.