Associate of Applied Science – Veterinary Technology
Available at: MACC Mexico Campus
The two-year Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology program will prepare you to deliver the highest quality health care to a variety of animal species. The program offers:
- Hands-on involvement with 8 different species. Working with live animals makes the learning experience fun and effective.
- Dogs, cats, horses, cattle, goats, rats, rabbits, and chickens
- Instructors with real-world experience
- Our hybrid format, with lectures online and laboratories in person, allows you time for employment at a veterinary facility. Working while in the program helps keep your student debt low and improves your knowledge retention and hands-on skills.
- Our partnership with the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine means that you get hands on experience at the MU Veterinary Health Center during the 2nd year of the program.
- Affordable tuition and A+ accepted
Veterinary technicians are compassionate, dedicated professionals committed to animal health care. Veterinary technicians are entrusted with many duties as part of the animal health care team. These duties include animal nursing care, laboratory diagnostics, radiology, anesthesia, surgical assistance, dentistry, client education, and more!
The two-year Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology program will prepare you to deliver the highest quality health care to a variety of animal species. Successful completion of the program does not guarantee eligibility to take the national exam. Please see the Code of State Regulations by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board which provides additional criteria for eligibility to apply for licensure as a Registered Veterinary Technician in Missouri.
This program is approved by Higher Learning Commission and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Courses with a VTT prefix are only taken by students in the Veterinary Technology Program after they have been approved for admission.
The VTT professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.
A grade of “C” or better must be obtained in all required courses.
For additional admission information, please see the Application Submission tab or contact Stephanie Gilliam, Director of Veterinary Technology at stephgi@macc.edu.
The program accepts 32 students per semester. To increase your chances of being accepted please follow these steps.
- Apply to Moberly Area Community College.
- Send official high school/GED/HiSET or college/university transcripts to Moberly Area Community College. Please see instructions for submitting official transcripts at www.macc.edu/transcript-request.
- Prerequisites must be completed prior to entry into the program:
- LAL101 Composition I
- MTH140 Precalculus Algebra OR MTH142 Quantitative Reasoning
- BIO101 Biology
- Biology, Microbiology, and Foundations of Chemistry/General Chemistry I must be repeated if completed five years or more before the first veterinary technology course date of the program.
- If you are currently enrolled in courses at the time of application, your admission to the program will be contingent upon completion of these courses with a grade of at least a “C.”
- Be employed in a veterinary medical facility with a registered veterinary technician (RVT) on staff, OR complete at least eight (8) hours of observation of an RVT at work.
- Have a high school or college GPA of 2.25 or better. High school GPA is used unless you have 12 or more college credit hours.
Applications for the program are due by March 20. No late applications will be accepted.
Application Processing
| Application Deadline | Interviews of the top 50 applicants | Acceptance Letters Sent | New Class Orientation | Classes Begin |
| March 20th | April | May 15 | July | August |
Send completed forms to:
Moberly Area Community College
Veterinary Technology Program
2900 Doreli Ln.
Mexico, MO 65265
OR
OR
Applications may also be hand delivered to the veterinary technology office, room 130 at MACC Mexico
To meet the requirements for graduation from MACC, you must meet the requirements of the degree and:
- Complete 15 semester hours of college level credit applicable to the degree at Moberly Area Community College.
- Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology graduates must also meet the following requirements: a.) earn a total of 76 hours of credit; and b.) earn a grade of “C” or above in all required courses that are part of the VTT curriculum,
- Submit an application for graduation,
- Participate in graduation ceremonies (requests to be excused from commencement ceremonies will be reviewed by the Dean of Student Affairs), and
- Pay in full all fees due to Moberly Area Community College.
Students seeking any Associate’s degree must also meet the following requirements:
- Pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Exam as specified in Senate Bill 807 with a score of 70% or higher (beginning Fall 2019);
- Complete the state Constitution requirements as specified in Section 170.011 RSMo (Supp. 1987). This requirement is met by taking HST105, HST106, PSC103, or PSC105 or transferring an equivalent MOTR course. Students transferring an appropriate government or political science course from another institution may take an exam to satisfy this requirement.
| Ability | Standard | Some Examples of Skills and Aptitude Needed for Success in a Veterinary Technology Career |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | Critical thinking sufficient for clinical judgment. | Identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situations. Develop nursing care plans. Demonstrate problem solving skills. Adapt to stressful situations. |
| Interpersonal | Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with patients, clients, families & groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural & intellectual backgrounds. | Establish rapport with patients/clients & colleagues. Recognize appropriate boundaries in relationships with patients/clients & colleagues. |
| Communication | Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room, maneuver in small spaces, lift fifty pounds, and provide assistance to patients. | Safely move around in patient & treatment areas. Administer CPR. Provide physical assistance to clients & colleagues to ensure safety within the environment. Ability to prevent or escape injury caused by animals. (i.e. biting, kicking, stampede) |
| Mobility | Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room, maneuver in small spaces, lift fifty pounds, and provide assistance to patients. | Safely move around in patient & treatment areas. Administer CPR. Provide physical assistance to clients & colleagues to ensure safety within the environment. Ability to prevent or escape injury caused by animals. (i.e. biting, kicking, stampede) |
| Motor Skills | Gross & fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe, effective nursing care in a timely manner. | Use of instruments, supplies, safety devices and communication equipment in the care of patients. Performance of nursing care, surgical assistance, & laboratory techniques. |
| Hearing | Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. | Hear ausculatory sounds, monitor alarms, emergency signals, and cries for help. Hear warning sounds from animals and humans of impending danger/injury. |
| Visual | Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care. | Observe patients for expected and unexpected physical and emotional responses to nursing and medical treatment regimens. Use of diagnostic equipment such as a microscope, thermometer, refractometer, etc. |
| Tactile | Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and to perform nursing duties in a timely manner. | Perform palpation functions of physical exam. Administer oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, & intravenous medications. Insert and remove tubes and perform wound care management. Surgical assistance. |
| Physical Condition | Physical ability and stamina sufficient to restrain, lift, & assist in the care of a variety of species of animals. Ability to stand for extended periods of time. Ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. Immune system competence. | Safely lift, position and restrain animals such as; dogs, cats, cattle and horses, and supplies for treatment. Surgical assistance. Daily clinical routine, cleaning cages and feeding animals. Year-round treatment and care of outdoor animals. Exposure to a wide range of chemical and biological agents. |
Mission:
The mission of the Moberly Area Community College (MACC) Veterinary Technology Program is to produce exceptional career-ready veterinary technicians committed to improving animal health and the profession of veterinary medicine.
Program Objectives:
Upon completion of the Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology Program, the graduate will be able to:
- Demonstrate proficiency of animal behavior, care, and handling to minimize fear and stress of the patient and to ensure safety of the veterinary medical team.
- Describe the anatomy and functions of major body systems.
- Apply a working knowledge of common companion and large animal diseases and actively participate in the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care in both nonemergent and emergent situations along with other veterinary medical team members.
- Develop effective interpersonal relationships with clients, patients, and members of the veterinary medical team.
- Demonstrate competence in performing procedures related to veterinary preventative care, pharmacology, anesthesia, surgical and medical nursing, and diagnostic imaging.
- Accurately perform laboratory procedures in veterinary parasitology, clinical chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, and cytology.
- Demonstrate competence in performing nursing procedures with companion animals, laboratory animals, and farm animals.
- Assume responsibility for self-direction and continuing personal and professional growth.
- Understand the current issues that affect the veterinary industry and practice within the ethical and legal framework of the registered veterinary technician as outlined in the Missouri Veterinary Medical Practice Act.
Veterinary technology is career focused on the nursing aspects of veterinary medicine. If your ultimate goal is to be a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), the veterinary technology courses will not meet the undergraduate requirements for most veterinary school admissions.
Program Outcomes
When students complete an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Veterinary Technology (Vet Tech) degree at MACC they will be able to: AAS-Vet-Tech-program-outcomes. This is our program promise.
Statement on AVMA CVTEA Accreditation:
MACC Veterinary Technology has been granted initial accreditation by the AVMA CVTEA.
What to Expect for Your Veterinary Technology Courses:
- Daytime classes
- Classes in Mexico
- Several classes in hybrid and online formats
- Hands-on labs
- Practicum/clinical work with live animals (various locations)
Meet our Faculty and Staff:
AAS in Veterinary Technology: Jefferson College, Hillsboro, MO
BAS in Veterinary Technology: St Petersburg College, St Petersburg, FL
MS in Biomedical Sciences with an emphasis in Veterinary Sciences: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Stephanie grew up in a small town in southeast Missouri called Bonne Terre. She moved to Columbia, MO in 2005 and worked in research at MU before accepting a position at the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center as the neurology/neurosurgery technician in 2007. She received her certification in canine physical rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee in 2008 and her VTS (Veterinary Technician Specialist- Neurology) certification from the Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians in 2013. She became the Director of Veterinary Technology at Moberly Area Community College in August 2019. She is also an adjunct instructor for the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, the legislative chair for the Missouri Veterinary Technicians Association, and the Director at Large for the neurology section of the Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians. She is married to Kyle and they have 3 children: Sawyer, Korban and Oaklyn. They live on a small farm with their cattle, donkey, goats, pigs, dogs, cat, chickens, and rabbit.
Bachelor of Science in Pre-Vet Animal Science; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Growing up in central Missouri Cindy was born with a caregivers’ heart that initiated her as a child to be a foster family for the Central Missouri Humane Society and evolved into pursuing her passion as an adult, a career in veterinary medicine. She has spent the last 12 years “workin’ hard, savin’ lives, and livin’ the dream” as a small animal private practitioner in both Las Vegas, NV, and Northwest Arkansas, before moving back home to Missouri in the fall of 2019. Cindy enthusiastically accepted a position at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine as the Program Director for the new Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology Degree and is incredibly excited about its potential future success. Along with this new position at Mizzou, she has been assisting in the collaborative development of MACC’s Veterinary Technology Program and is looking forward to interacting with students as an adjunct instructor in the fall semester. Cindy is extremely appreciative of the opportunity to be close to family and friends again and enjoys spending time outdoors with her 3 dogs. They are a motley crew of rescue pets that she lovingly refers to as “the worst behaved dogs in America”.
Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medicine: University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Laboratory Animal Residency Program: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Doctor of Philosophy – Pathology Area Program: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Despite being a city girl raised in the near south suburbs of Chicago (Oak Lawn), Diane spent her years practicing veterinary medicine as a Dairy Cattle/Mixed animal practitioner in Pullman, WA and North-West Wisconsin before coming to Columbia, MO in 1989 to pursue her interest in pathology and research. Diane entered the Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency program at the University of Missouri where she completed a PhD in the Pathology Area program. Diane has spent many years at the University of Missouri working on translational biomedical research projects at both the Veterinary College and the School of Medicine prior to joining the staff in the Veterinary Technology Program at Moberly Area Community College. Veterinary medicine has been a rewarding field for Diane, with so many options available, and she is excited to share her experiences. Her hope is that the students will find their passion and niche and pave their way for a successful career as a veterinary technician/nurse. Between her husband, Allen, and herself, Diane is a proud mom of five adult children, and seven grandchildren. Diane and Allen currently share their homestead in Sturgeon, MO with three horses, an occasional steer, and their dog, Sadie.
AAS in Veterinary Technology: College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV BS in Biology: Columbia College, Columbia, MO
Alyssa was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She grew up being surrounded by dogs and cats and learned early on that she wanted to work in veterinary medicine. After working in general practice for several years and graduating from her veterinary technology program, she relocated to Columbia, MO in 2010 and worked in a privately-owned biomedical research facility. She transitioned to working at the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center as the Cardiology technician in 2018.
After suffering from compassion fatigue and burnout, Alyssa decided to refocus on the impact she could create for future veterinary technicians and accepted a position as an instructor at Moberly Area Community College in 2023. She received her Compassion Fatigue Professional certificate in 2023, is on the Missouri Veterinary Technician Association (MOVTA) board and is also a mentor in the MentorVetTech program.
In her free time, Alyssa can be found hiking or kayaking, as well as spending time with her boyfriend and extremely talkative siamese, Clover.