Veterinary Technology

Start Your Career in Veterinary Technology at NOVA

Located on the Loudoun Campus, NOVA’s Veterinary Technology program is designed for individuals who want to master the latest techniques and skills in pursuit of a meaningful career as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT). Upon acceptance into the program, students will combine their scientific aptitudes and compassionate natures to become patient advocates trained in blood draws, X-rays, laboratory samples, anesthesia, dental treatments, surgical preparation and assistance, medication administration and animal nursing techniques.

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology

The Veterinary Technology program offers a rigorous curriculum, with laboratories housed in our state-of-the-art teaching hospital that prepares students for specialties in disciplines such as primary care, anesthesia and analgesia, surgery, dentistry, emergency and critical care, animal behavior, equine veterinary nursing, internal medicine, dentistry, oncology and rehabilitation.

Length:: Two Years
Credits:: 68
Locations:: Loudoun

Curriculum Details

Why Veterinary Technology at NOVA?

Hands-on Training

One of the highlights of NOVA’s Veterinary Technology program is its state-of-the-art teaching hospital: it boasts a surgery suite, dental suite, digital radiology suite, and even patient housing, allowing students the ability to perform the majority of their required essential skills on-site.

Work-Life Balance

NOVA’s Veterinary Technology program can be completed full-time or part-time.

Qualified Veterinary Faculty and Staff

NOVA faculty veterinarians and staff LVTs leverage their expertise to create a supportive learning environment through one-on-one meetings, small classroom sizes and tailored instruction.

Program Details

The application window opens once a year in the spring. Upon admission into the program, students will begin VET coursework the following fall and work toward earning an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Veterinary Technology. In their final semester, students will prepare for the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), an entry-level national licensing exam.

Application Details

The Veterinary Technology program application opens once a year each spring on April 15th. Please ensure that you have passed all required pre-veterinary technology courses with a grade "C" or better and that you have identified a veterinary mentor before applying.

NOVA’s Veterinary Technology Mission Statement

We are dedicated to preparing students with the evidence-based knowledge and clinical skills needed to improve the health and welfare of animals, as well as provide compassionate care and contribute to public safety.

Veterinary Technician National Exam

VTNE Results for the NOVA Veterinary Technology Program
Time Period	January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2024
Number of first-time candidates that have taken the VTNE	71
Three-year VTNE pass percentage	83.1%
National Average	68.7%

More Program Details and Resources

Accreditations

The Veterinary Technology Program has been accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) since 1980.

Credits and
Transfer Info

Credit for Prior Learning

Credit for prior learning (CPL) generally refers to the process of granting college credit for learning gained in nontraditional ways, including but not limited to: certifications, AP or IB exams, military training, or life experience.

Transferring

VET courses are content-specific and are designed for the completion of the A.A.S. Degree in Veterinary Technology at NOVA. While some universities offer a B.A. in Veterinary Technology, NOVA VET courses do not transfer to vet schools or most four-year universities. Students interested in transferring should contact an advisor or counselor to further discuss their plans.

Transfer Information