Veterinary Science Certificate Program makes job-ready high school graduates

Haley Andrews, a veterinary science instructor in Pasadena, follows one guiding principle when it comes to choosing eighth-grade students for the high school veterinary science program: the more curious, the better.

“We’re really looking for those kids who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty,” she said. “Veterinary science is a unique industry, and we love finding those remarkable kids who want to develop their minds for veterinary science.”

Andrews teaches a customized version of the Veterinary Science Certificate Program offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service through the Department of Animal Science. At her school, students undergo a four-year pathway that culminates during their senior year with an industry-based certification exam.

The exam, once passed, guarantees graduates are ready and qualified for work as a veterinary assistant. They can then enter directly into a veterinary assistant job and assist in treating animals’ injuries and illnesses, or they can apply the knowledge and experience gained for a multitude of other pathways in the life sciences.

When taken through their high school, students achieve certification for nothing more than the $50 cost of the exam. And the program’s approval by the Texas Education Agency has made incorporating the program into new schools easier than ever.

Gaining veterinary assistant certification

In participating high schools, veterinary or agricultural science teachers lead students through the required coursework as part of a typical day. The students can also receive career and technology or science credits by taking the courses.

“We teach a series of classes, from principles of agriculture and small animal management all the way up to advanced animal science,” Andrews said. “The students then take the practicum course, which is where they work directly with DVMs or licensed veterinary technicians, then sit for their certification exam.”

Samantha Valdez, a current veterinary assistant and previous student of Andrews, enrolled in the program already believing — but not quite sure — a veterinary career path would be right for her.

“In high school, what was really appealing was that it was something new,” she said. “Every young kid wants to do something to start their career early, to get ahead and get that life experience. I would go to my normal English, math and other classes, then I would go to the veterinary science classes and get to learn all the basics of being a vet assistant.”

She said it allowed her to experiment and start early with something she loved, knowing that if it turned out she didn’t like it, she would still have the chance to try new things before graduation.

To graduate from the program and earn a completion of program certificate, students must complete 200 hours of coursework and 225 clinical hours, during which students apprentice under professional supervision and gain 100 necessary skills, such as understanding the basics of essential food nutrients and how to obtain a patient’s history. 

After meeting these requirements, students are eligible to take the veterinary assistant certificate exam. Those who pass the 100-question exam receive a certificate designating them as a veterinary assistant.

“In those 225 hours of clinical apprenticeship, students obtain all of these skills to make them job ready,” said Nikki Boutwell, program coordinator of the Veterinary Science Certificate Program. “Once they take their exam, they’re able to go straight into the workforce. The certification identifies these graduates as industry ready and job trained. It shows that these people have the knowledge and skills to walk into a clinic and perform the duties of a veterinary assistant.”

Statewide certification, worldwide use

Although the program was designed with Texas in mind, it’s used in classrooms and for personal study across the U.S. and internationally.

The veterinary science program is one of two programs within AgriLife Extension that meet the industry-based certification standard granted by the Texas Education Agency. The standard ensures the curriculum adequately prepares students for success in the workforce and/or postsecondary education.

Schools also benefit from including industry-based certifications because they contribute to academic accountability ratings, which are a key metric for assessing a school’s performance.

Though the veterinary science program standards and requirements are uniform, the actual implementation of the curriculum is intended to be customized. In Pasadena, Andrews uses it as a four-year program, but it can also be set up as a one-year track. Schools can also decide which state-approved courses to include.

“What’s really cool about our program is that a school can set up their own pathway and decide how they want to offer it,” Boutwell said. “We assist teachers and schools to help them set up their program in a way that works for them.”

By working with veterinary professionals, students also build a professional network.

Valdez, for instance, earned hours as a senior intern at a vet clinic that would eventually lead to a full-time job offer. She’s been with that clinic for four years now.

Opportunities following veterinary science education

Boutwell said the program can be used as a starting point for many different career paths.

She explained that some students opt to use the knowledge and skills for pursuing an associate, undergraduate or graduate degree in veterinary, animal or biomedical sciences. After Valdez earned her certification, she went on to pursue an associate’s degree and found she already had a solid foundation for much of the coursework because of the program’s classes.

“At my high school, we learned the basics of veterinary assistant requirements like grooming, nail trimming, ear cleaning; and they also added some agriculture,” she said. “In college, I had more agriculture classes, and seeing some of the material before helped me a lot. It made those classes a breeze.”

The hours of hands-on training are also useful for applications to graduate programs. When applying to veterinary school, students are typically expected to already have 500 to 1,000 hours of clinical experience.

The early start also helps students find out for themselves if a veterinary pathway is something they would actually enjoy for a career, as Valdez did.

Andrews said many students might come into this type of program because of their love for animals, but the ones who stick to it are those willing to get their hands dirty — and who aren’t squeamish about performing the medical tasks required. The low cost also makes the program exceptionally appealing for low-income students.

“As the veterinary industry faces a shortage of qualified employees, there’s never been a more important time to educate youth in veterinary science and usher them into the world of animal care,” Boutwell said. “We’re trying to help these students make career choices and gain experience so that they can prepare for after high school and find what they want to do for a career.”