This program is designed for in person programs taught by an Agriculture Science Teacher during the school day. Any approved educator can implement this program into their animal science coursework or pathway.
High school students are eligible to earn the Veterinary Assistant (VA) title by completing 200 hours of education/coursework and an apprenticeship (225 clinical hours) under professional supervision.
Step 1: Determine which career track(s) to teach.
- Students who complete the program are eligible to earn the veterinary assistant (VA) title and a completion of program certificate.
- Clinical: companion, livestock, and exotic animal health.
Students following this track are eligible to earn the clinical veterinary assistant (VA) certificate and program completion certificate. - One Health: animal, human, and environmental health. Students following this track are eligible to earn the One Health veterinary assistant certificate and a program completion certificate.
- Laboratory: animal health research and diagnostics. Students following this track are eligible to earn the Laboratory veterinary assistant certificate and a program completion certificate.
- Veterinary Assistant graduates are eligible to receive a certification through a third party organization by examination.
Step 2: Purchase curriculum needed for career track.
Print materials: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Bookstore
Web-based materials: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (Vet Science)
- Students complete 100 lessons
- Students following the One Health track (blue) or Laboratory track (green) will need the supplemental materials in that track along with the core curriculum (purple).
- Clinical track only: Agricultural science teachers, homeschool parents or other designated educator are able to teach up to 200 hours in the classroom of the required total 425 hours.
- Teacher training is available to demonstrate how to teach clinical skills to students.
- Students in the One Health and Laboratory tracks complete all 225 under a professional in that field (e.g., diagnostician or regulatory professional)
| Track | Option 1: Clinical | Option 1. One Health | Option 1: Laboratory |
| Option 1: Includes both print books and online teacher resource |
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| Option 2: Clinical | Option 2: One Health | Option 3: Laboratory | |
| Option 2: Includes online curriculum only (no print books needed) |
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| 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. |
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Step 3: Complete 225 apprenticeship hours.
- Students complete a minimum of 225 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 VSCP Skills List to track required skills.
- Veterinarian or LVT (clinical track) in veterinary practice.
Step 4: Earn the veterinary assistant (VA) certificate in their track.
- Students who complete the curriculum receive a completion of program certificate and are eligible to earn the veterinary assistant (VA) certificate in their track by examination.
– Clinical Veterinary Assistant Certificate
– One Health Veterinary Assistant Certificate
– Laboratory Veterinary Assistant Certificate
Step 5: Apply for certification – $50 (clinical track only).
- Veterinary Assistant Certificate Examination.
- Students who pass the exam earn the veterinary assistant (VA) title and receive a certificate of completion designating them as a veterinary assistant.