Admission Requirements
The Veterinary Technology program uses a competitive admission process to select students. The Veterinary Technology program admits students once per year to begin program-specific (VETT) courses at the beginning of Fall Semester. Applicants must submit all required documentation for admission at the associate-degree level to the Admissions Office by June 1 to receive consideration in the selection process. Prospective students may gain admission to the college initially as Healthcare Science students/applicants to Veterinary Technology in order to complete any learning support classes and required general education and health core courses. Applicants not selected for the program may reapply during subsequent admission intake periods. There is no waiting list between intake periods; applicants must complete the application process for each attempt for entry into the Veterinary Technology program.
Program faculty members recommend that applicants to the Veterinary Technology program have volunteer or paid practical experience in a veterinary hospital or an animal care facility prior to seeking admission to the program. This experience should be under the supervision of a registered veterinary technician or licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. While there is no specific requirement for the number of hours of experience, it is important that applicants be fully aware of the profession and job requirements prior to enrolling in the program.
The number of students accepted into the program is limited. To receive consideration for admission to the Veterinary Technology program, applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office by the June 1 deadline:
- Completed and signed application for admission to the college and the required $20 nonrefundable application fee.
- Provide proof of legal presence in the United States.
- Official transcripts from every college attended demonstrating that they have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale on all college coursework attempted previously. The admissions committee will consider high school grade point averages (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) if applicants have not attended college in the past.
- Documentation of completion of college algebra (MATH 1111), biology (BIOL 1111 and BIOL 1111L), chemistry (CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L), and introduction to computers (COMP 1000) or equivalent courses with final course grades of C or better. Applicants transferring from other colleges must confirm the transferability of equivalent coursework with the college's director of registration and records before the June 1 application deadline.
- Completed Veterinary Technology Program Intent Form. Blank forms are available on the college website.
- Valid SAT test scores. Test scores must be less than five years old on the application deadline date (see Selective Admission Examinations).
- A personal statement essay attached to and addressing the questions listed on the Veterinary Technology: Personal Statement Guidelines and Signature Form. Blank forms are available on the college website.
- A photocopy of applicant's official birth certificate, passport, driver's license, or state-issued photo identification card to document that they are at least 18 years old.
- The signature form included in the Veterinary Technology Program Policies and Procedures Manual confirming they have reviewed and understood the material included in the manual. The manual and signature form are available on the college website.
- A signed document acknowledging that the commission of a felony may prevent graduates from becoming registered veterinary technicians in the State of Georgia and acknowledging that they may be required to complete drug testing and/or background checks at their own expense prior to participating in internships, practicums, or clinical activities at certain host sites for these activities (see Drug Testing/Background Checks). Blank documents are available on the college website.
Applicants who are on academic probation or are academically dismissed from the college as of the June 1 application deadline will not be considered for admission. Because performance in math and science has proven to be an excellent predictor of success in the Veterinary Technology program, and because communications skills (reading and writing) and personal experiences contribute greatly to achieving that success, candidates will be ranked using the following criteria:
Although applicants must have a minimum grade of C in the prerequisite courses, it should be noted that the prerequisite course grade point average is one of the main criteria for selection in health and life science programs, so grades of C are typically not competitive.
Applicants invited to join the program at the end of the selection process will be required to attend a scheduled, mandatory New Veterinary Technology Student Orientation prior to the beginning of the Fall Semester for which they have been accepted (typically in July; failure to attend or, in the event of a catastrophic event, to make alternate arrangements to obtain the information presented will result in the forfeiture of admission to the program).
At the beginning of the Fall Semester when students begin VETT courses, they must submit the following documents to the Veterinary Technology program chair:
- A completed Veterinary Technology Physical Examination Form with the results of a recent medical examination with a qualified healthcare provider indicating that the student is in satisfactory health to work with animals. Physical Examination Forms will be distributed by the program chair at the mandatory New Veterinary Technology Student Orientation and/or through the United States Postal Service.
- Verification of malpractice insurance (see Malpractice Insurance).
- By September 30 of their first semester of enrollment, students will be required to submit official immunization records proving they have received vaccines against rabies, tetanus, and measles/mumps/rubella.