4-H Program

Learn about the 4-H Veterinary Science Certificate Program.

4-H students (ages 12-18) enroll in the county 4-H Veterinary Science Certificate Program and complete the program in 3 to 5 years. Please check with your county extension agent for availability in your county. Not all counties have a program.
Students complete the curriculum and apprenticeship in their chosen career track.
Students who complete the program are eligible to earn the veterinary assistant (VA) title and a completion of program certificate.
Veterinary Assistant graduates are eligible to receive certification through a third party organization by examination.

Purchase the curriculum.

Students complete 100 lessons
Students following the One Health or Laboratory tracks require the core curriculum and the supplemental book in that track.
Curriculum Education/Coursework is required for students in addition to the clinical skills. A total of 200 hours of education/coursework of your choosing with an approved educator is required in addition to the 300 hands on clinical hours for a total of 500 hours for certification as a veterinary assistant.

Veterinary Science Certificate Program – Curriculum
Track	1. Clinical	2. One Health	3. Laboratory
Student Books	Core curriculum (book) Veterinary Science: Preparatory Training for the Veterinary Assistant	Supplement (book) One Health Science & Technology (25 One Health lessons)	Supplement (book) Laboratory Science & Technology (25 laboratory lessons)
Online Teacher Resources	Web-based resource: Veterinary Science Teacher Resources (Intended for use along with print edition books.)	Web-based resource: One Health Teacher Resource (Intended for use along with print edition books.)	Web-based resource: Laboratory Science Teacher Resources (Intended for use along with print edition books.)
The clinical track is the only pathway to certification as a veterinary assistant. One Health and Laboratory tracks are provided as enrichment curriculum but does not lead to certification.

Complete 300 skill hours in an apprenticeship.

Students complete a minimum of 300 clinical skill hours in an apprenticeship under appropriate supervision.

Veterinarian, credentialed technician or LVT, CVT, RVT or LVMT in veterinary practice.
- Students following the clinical track will use the NAVTA Veterinary Assistant Essential Skills List to track required skills. These are national standards developed and recommended by Agrilife Extension Veterinary Medicine.

Earn the veterinary assistant (VA) title.

Students who complete the program are eligible to earn the veterinary assistant (VA) title and a completion of program certificate.

Veterinary Assistant certificate by examination.

Students are eligible to sit for examination regardless of location and is open to all 50 states as long as all requirements are completed. A student may use any curriculum to gain the 200 hours of coursework to meet requirements. Examination is open to any student that has reached 16 years of age and meets the testing requirements. Exam fee is $50 and administered by Agrilife Learn.