Enjoy the rewards of working with animals! This exciting new online Veterinary Assistant Program can help you can make a difference. The essential skills you will learn in this program will help you keep animals healthy, care for them when they are ill, and assist veterinarians in their offices! Learn how to:

• Interact with animals and their owners.
• Obtain animal health histories and records.
• Understand veterinary medical terminology.
• Recognize the major breeds of various animals.
• Assist the veterinarian with caring for animals.
• Assist with surgical and treatment procedures.
• Recognize signs and symptoms of illness and disease.
• Perform administrative duties in the veterinarian's office

FEATURES

This nationally recognized Veterinary Assistant online certificate course will prepare you for an exciting new career as a veterinary assistant by teaching you the essential skills of a veterinary assistant. Students in the program will learn about the care of animals as well as how to recognize signs of illness and disease. This online program will also cover interpersonal communication, interaction with clients and their animals, as well as assisting the veterinarian during examinations. Administrative duties, such as fee collection, banking, and accounts payable will be emphasized, and the program will contain basic information about pet insurance. Textbooks included. This online program is offered in partnership with major colleges and universities.

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TOPIC HIGHLIGHTS

1. Veterinary Medical Terminology
2. Veterinary Office Practices
3. Computers in the Veterinary Practice
4. The Veterinary Assistant as Communicator
5. Ethics and Law in the Veterinary Office
6. Billing and Collecting in the Veterinary Office
7. Dosage Calculations in Veterinary Medicine
8. Preparing for Employment

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CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

A 70% or better must be achieved in order to receive a Certificate of Completion.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Identify the roles and responsibilities of the veterinary assistant.
• Practice safety measures to prevent injury to animals and their owners, as well as the veterinary team.
• Communicate in an effective manner with the veterinary team, animal owners, and visitors to the veterinary clinic.
• Apply ethical and legal standards to issues in the veterinary office.
• Practice professional work habits.
• Understand proper office and compartment cleaning methods for safety of animals and the veterinary team.
• Identify the major breeds of various animals.
• Understand veterinary medical terminology.
• Perform office procedures related to the administration of the veterinary office.
• Understand the importance of observation skills.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Understand the basics of responsible animal care.
• Know how to handle animal specimens correctly and process them accurately.
• Identify opportunities for employment in the field of veterinary assisting.

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PDF BROCHURE

Please click here to download the PDF brochure for the Gatlin online courses offered by OCPE.

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WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Prerequisites
Students should be proficient in keyboarding, have a basic understanding of a word processing computer program (Microsoft Word recommended), and have a command of English grammar and punctuation. No veterinary office work experience is required.

The target audience for the Veterinary Assistant program is individuals interested in learning job skills for veterinary office opportunities or individuals interested in changing job skills to become veterinary assistants.

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This course is taught by part-time George Mason University, OCPE, Gatlin instructors.

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1. How do I register for a Gatlin online course?

Please contact our office on the Fairfax campus in Northern Virginia (NOVA) or call 703-993-2113. Click here for more information or to download a copy of the registration form.

2. How much do Gatlin online courses cost?

To view the prices for all Gatlin courses that are offered by George Mason University, please click here.

3. Why do I have to take Gatlin courses through a participating school?

Gatlin does not offer courses directly to the public. They partner with major colleges and universities to offer their programs.

4. Do I have to travel to register for or to attend a Gatlin online course?

All Gatlin courses are delivered entirely online, you do not have to go to a class or travel to a school. If you are unable to visit our office on the Fairfax campus in Northern Virginia (NOVA), please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here for more information or to register for a course.

5. How long does it take to complete a Gatlin course?

All of our Gatlin courses are asynchronous. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. Most courses are designed to be completed within 180 days. You may request an extension if you think you will need more time to complete a course (fees may apply). Please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here if you have any questions or if you would like to register for a course.

6. Do I have to buy additional materials?

Please refer to the green Included Materials box located on the upper right hand side of this page. If materials are included in this course, they will be shipped by Gatlin to you via UPS ground service after you have registered for a course.

7. Can I get financial aid for Gatlin courses?

Gatlin courses are non-credit and therefore are not eligible for Federal Student Aid. However there are a number of loan programs that can be used to fund your course. Click here to view a list of these options or call 703-993-2113 for more information. Gatlin also provides a loan opportunity for students (www.collegeloanapplication.com).

8. What happens when I complete the course?

If you obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater in a course, we will award you a George Mason University certificate of completion.

9. Who will be my instructor?

Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (by e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. Facilitators are all successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

10. What are the system requirements in order to take an online course?

Please see the "PC requirements" section listed for individual courses.

11. When can I start the course?

Registrations are rolling. Please send us your registration form at the time you wish to start your course. Registrations take five to seven business days to process.

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