Extension Veterinary Medicine
Extension Veterinary Medicine

Homeschool Program

Homeschool Program

  • Students work with a parent or homeschool instructor to complete the required curriculum and apprenticeship. Parents/leaders assign lessons and activities and track student progress.
  • Students must complete the curriculum and apprenticeship in their chosen career track (outlined below).
  • 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.

Career Tracks (students complete 75 core lessons and 25 lessons in their chosen career track)

  1. Clinical track: companion, livestock, and exotic animal health – classification Veterinary Assistant (VA). Student completes 75 core lessons and 25 clinical lessons (identified in the table of contents) for a total of 100 lessons. Students following the clinical track require 1 book. Students earn the Veterinary Assistant title and become eligible for certification through the TVMA.
  2. One Health track: animal, human, and environmental health – classification Veterinary Assistant (VA). Student completes 75 lessons in the core curricuclum and 25 laboratory lessons in the One Health supplement for a total of 100 lessons. Students following this track require 2 books. Students earn the veterinary assistant (VA) title, but are NOT eligible for TVMA certification.
  3. Laboratory track: animal health research and diagnostics – classification Veterinary Assistant (VA). Student completes 75 lessons in the core curricuclum and 25 laboratory lessons in the laboratory supplement for a total of 100 lessons. Students following this track require 2 books. Students earn the veterinary assistant (VA) title, but are NOT eligible for TVMA certification.

Print Curriculum:

  • Books: available through the Texas A&M AgriLife Bookstore – 979-985-5259.
    Web-based resources available through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Conference Services – 979-845-2604.
  • Students are required to complete 100 lessons: 75 core lessons and 25 supplemental lessons in their chosen career track.
Veterinary Science Certificate Program – Curriculum Options
Track Option 1: Clinical
Option 1: One Health
 Option 1: Laboratory
Option 1:
includes both
print books and online teacher resource
Track Option 2: Clinical
 Option 2: One Health
 Options 2: Laboratory
Option 2:
includes online  curriculum only
(no print books needed)
  • Web-based curriculum:
    Laboratory Science
    Independent-Study Curriculum
    (no books required)
  • 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.
  1. Veterinary Science: Preparatory Training for the Veterinary Assistant by Floron C. Faries Jr.,  (contains 75 core lessons and 25 clinical lessons)
  2. One Health Science & Technology by Heather L.  Simmons (contains 25 One Health lessons)
  3. Laboratory Science & Technology by Heather L. Simmons (contains 25  laboratory science lessons)
  4. Teacher keys are available for each book

 Web-Based Teacher Resources

Web-based resources are available through Texas A&M AgriLife Conference Service and hosted at Extension Campus. Web-based resources are separated by track and intended for use along with corresponding book.

  1. Web-Based: Veterinary Science Teacher Resource
    Annual subscription based on students enrollment (1-10 students $80); (11-30 students $100); (31-60 students $120); (61-100 students $145); and (over 100 students $170).
  2. Web-Based: One Health Teacher Resources – One Health track. ($75 annual subscription)
  3. Web-Based: Laboratory Science Teacher Resources – laboratory track. ($75 annual subscription).

Apprenticeship: Students complete a minimum of 500 clinical skill hours in an apprenticeship role under a professional in the filed.

  • Veterinarian or credentialed veterinary technician (clinical track) in veterinary practice
  • One Health professional (One Health track) related industry
  • Laboratory professional (laboratory track) diagnostic or research laboratory
  • Students may download the application form and level I clinical skills checklist from the TVMA website at: tvma.org < Certifications < CVA < CVA Applications and Checklists (for Hospitals)

 Completion of the Program: (completion of program certificate)

  • Students who complete both the curriculum (100 lessons, questions, and 50 activities) and 500 hands-on clinical skills hours receive Veterinary Assistant (VA) classification.

Certification: Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA)

  • Graduates of the Veterinary Science Certificate Program are eligible for TVMA CVA certification by examination.
  • The TVMA application form/skills validation checklist is available on the TVMA website: http://www.tvma.org/ > Certifications > CVA > CVA Applications and Checklists > Level I Hospital Application and Checklist