Veterinary Technology
Healthcare for Your Four-Legged, Furry, Fuzzy and Flying Friends
The TCTC AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology Program is a shelter medicine facility and one of only two in the state. We house large dogs, small dogs, and cats from Anderson, Oconee and Pickens County animal shelters each semester. Students are supervised by full-time Licensed Veterinary Technicians as well as Veterinarians, providing basic to extensive health care, spaying and neutering, socializing and training to the shelter animals over the course of months. This hands-on experience allows our students to graduate with key experience that provides an edge when entering the field.
Schedule of Courses
Adoption Days
While working with animals from the area shelters, our students work to prepare them for adoption. The dogs are trained with basic commands on a gentle leader head collar and socialized with many people. The cats are handled constantly for socialization and enjoy playtime together. All animals have been spayed or neutered, received current vaccinations, dewormed and checked for heartworms or feline leukemia. Each semester, we host Adoption Days. There is a $45 fee, which includes a microchip and registration, payable at the time of adoption.
Under Construction
Recently, we completed Phase 1 EXTREME MAKEOVER: Animal House Addition. This 5,500 square feet facility is designed to provide a safe, healthy and low-stress environment for students, as well as housed dogs and cats.
- Educational learning space for students
- Student locker storage
- Modern non-porous concrete floor with an easy to clean state of the art drainage system
- Heat and air-conditioning with 3 air-handling units for redundancy and disease-control
- Separate entrance and separate containment space for quarantined animals
- Shower facility for faculty/students treating quarantined animals
- 39 kennels with sealed concrete floors and outdoor runs
- New treatment areas and storage space
- Commercial capacity laundry facility
- Animal bathing & grooming room
- Cat housing area for 20 cats
- Food preparation area
As with the initial work, the guiding principle for Phase 2 will be to provide industry comparable lab areas, treatment rooms, surgical suites and with overall clinical environment. Plans include:
- Student education and study space
- Surgery recovery room with viewing window
- State of the art surgical suite
- Surgery pack and prep room
- Clinical pathology lab
- Two temperature controlled rooms for exotic animal housing
- Conference space
- Administrative offices
Visit our Foundation Page to learn more or to make a gift.
Entry Requirements and Additional Information
Academic Advising
Academic advising for course registration is mandatory each semester for all students enrolled in degree, diploma, or certificate programs All Health Education advisors will be using Starfish to post office hours that will allow students to make appointments without assistance. Students are able to access Starfish through eTc or Blackboard. Please remember, appointment times are valuable and should be cancelled through Starfish if appointments cannot be kept. Students who schedule appointments with an advisor and no show two times will not be allowed to make another appointment until meeting with the Division Dean to discuss the missed appointments. If you have any questions, call the Health Education Division office at (864) 646-1400.
National Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students are eligible to take Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). State licensing requirements for Veterinary Technicians vary greatly from state to state, therefore graduates should contact the individual state’s licensing bureau for the current requirements. Pass rates for our students are found here.
Career Pathways for Success
Students who are still in high school may consider taking college courses now to get a jumpstart on completing your degree at Tri-County. View a sample pathway here.
Transfer Agreements
For students who wish to continue work toward a four-year degree, we encourage you to work with your advisor on the steps that are best for your plans. We do have an agreement already in place for students to transfer seamlessly to earn a BS in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Learn more about transfer options here.
Accreditation
The program has full accreditation granted by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 1931 N. Meacham Road Suite 100, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173-4360, Telephone: 847-925-8070, Fax: 847-9251329, and is sanctioned by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.
Check out area job openings, salaries and more.
DEPARTMENT HEAD
Ashley Brady
(864) 646-1547
afowler2@tctc.edu