fbpx
888.633.4362

Search

+

Become a Veterinary Assistant

A New Career with a Furry Side

If you love animals, enjoy being helpful and have a calm personality, Veterinary Assisting could be for you. The Veterinary Assisting program at High Desert Medical College (HDMC) is a great place to begin and you can complete our diploma program in less than a year. HDMC ensures you are ready to enter the job market with a program involving classroom theory lab procedures and externship.

No HS. Diploma? We can help.

Check out our Eligible Career Pathway (ECPP) Program

Veterinary Assistant Program

As a Veterinary Assistant, you will handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and veterinary technologists and technicians with their daily tasks. Tasks include feeding, bathing and exercising animals, restraining animals during procedures, maintain and sterilize surgical instruments, care for animals after surgery and give medication and immunizations prescribed.

Career Highlights & Opportunity

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks Veterinary Assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2019-2029 decade. Employment is projected to grow 16% – much faster than the average job ranking. As of 2019, Veterinary Assistants held about 100,000 jobs with employment in Veterinary Offices, Veterinary Hospitals, Research Facilities, Animal Shelters, Wildlife Refuges and Zoos.

VA Program Overview


  • Total Weeks in Program: 35 Weeks – Morning classes | 42 Weeks – Evening classes
  • Semester Credit Hours: 44.41
  • Financial Aid Credits: 25
  • Total Clock Hours: 940
  • Classroom Hours: 740 (Lecture 469 + Lab 280)
  • Clinical Externship Hours: 200
  • Teacher/Student ratio: 1/Class Lab 1/20
  • Student will receive a Certificate of Completion

Complete the Interest Form to Get Started

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.