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.
• Students complete the curriculum and apprenticeship in their chosen career track.
• Students who complete both curriculum and apprenticeship receive Veterinary Assistant (VA) classification in their chosen career track.
• Graduates of the clinical track are eligible for certification through the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) by examination.

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Choose your career track. (The clinical track is the most popular choice.)

1. Clinical track (companion, livestock, and exotic animal health) – classification Veterinary Assistant (VA) clinical
2. One Health track (animal, human, and environmental health) – classification Veterinary Assistant (VA) One Health
   
3. Laboratory track (animal health research and diagnostics) – classification Veterinary Assistant (VA) laboratory

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Purchase the curriculum needed for your career track.

Print materials: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Bookstore – 979-985-5259
Web-based materials: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (Vet Science) – 979-458-8692

• Students complete 100 lessons (75 core lessons and 25 lessons in their chosen track: 1) Clinical, 2) One Health, or 3) Laboratory).
• Students following the One Health or Laboratory tracks require the core curriculum and the supplemental book in that track.

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 (*75 core & 25 clinical lessons)	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 *75 core lessons that all students must complete are found in Veterinary Science: Preparatory Training for the Veterinary Assistant and are identified in the table of contents.

Complete 500 skill hours in an apprenticeship.

Students complete a minimum of 500 clinical skill hours in an apprenticeship under appropriate supervision.

• Veterinarian or LVT (clinical track) in veterinary practice.
  • Students following the clinical track will use the 4-H CVA Level I Exam Application/Skill Validation Checklist to track required skills.
• One Health professional (One Health track) regulatory, environmental, animal, or human health related industry.
• Laboratory professional (laboratory track) diagnostic or research laboratory.
  • Students following the One Health or Laboratory tracks earn the VA title but are NOT eligible for TVMA certification.

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