The Veterinary Assistant plays an important role in the world of veterinary medicine, helping to provide medical care to sick and injured animals, as well as preventative medical care.
Get the skills and certification needed to land entry-level jobs right out of high school. Become certified and work toward college credits through the Veterinary Assistant program at the Skill Center.
What types of skills will students perform in this program?
A day in the life of a Veterinary Assistant is rarely routine! Students will learn the following skills:
- Administering medicines
- Feeding, housing, and caring for animals
- Assisting with examinations and diagnostic tests
- Assisting with surgery
- Monitoring a pet's pulse, temperature, respiration, and overall wellbeing
The work is sometimes hard, repetitive and dirty, but people who love animals find it both interesting and extremely rewarding!
As part of the Veterinary Assisting curriculum, students will learn:
- Preparing examination or treatment rooms
- Restraining animals during procedures
- Preparing equipment and instruments for surgical procedures
- Assisting Veterinarians during surgery
- Appropriately recognize and assist with emergencies
Upon successfully completing the Veterinary Careers program at the New Tech Skills Center, students may be eligible to earn 2 college credits at Yakima Community College and a HIV/AIDS credit at Spokane Community College.
For more information, please contact the instructor.
Instructor Contact Information:
Michelle Burdick
Phone: (509) 354-7433
Email: MichelleBu@spokaneschools.org
The NEWTECH Veterinary Assistant program will provide you with experience that will be helpful when working in a variety of settings such as:
- Animal Hospitals
- Clinics
- Shelters
- Zoos
- Laboratories
- Dog Parks
Students will also learn about growing animal care fields which include:
- Dog Groomers
- Kennel workers
- Animal trainers
What can I do with this training upon completion of the Veterinary Careers Course?
- Work in a veterinary clinic
- Get certification in Veterinary Assisting
- Get college credits for Veterinary Technology programs
- Continue on to be a Veterinarian
Upon semester completion of the Veterinary Careers Program, students will earn 0.5 Science and 1.0 Elective Credits towards their Washington State High School Diploma. Students may take the class in both Fall and Spring semesters, earning 3.0 Credits in a school year.
Michelle Burdick is the Veterinary Careers Instructor at the NEWTECH Skill Center.
Hi, my name is Michelle Burdick. I am a Registered Veterinary Technician and Certified Career and Technical Educator of Veterinary Assisting. I am excited to have been involved with the development and beginning of the Veterinary Assisting Program at the NEWTECH Skill Center and hope to continue teaching for years to come. One of the major goals I have as an instructor is to prepare the students for a job, as well as teach them about my field. I teach by including my vast experiences from working in the veterinary field including small, large and wild animals.
Phone: (509) 354-7433
Email: MichelleBu@spokaneschools.org
