Ivy Tech School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Science
Veterinary Nursing
Comprehensive Training for a Rewarding & In-Demand Career
What You'll Learn
The Ivy Tech Veterinary Nursing program provides students with a professional environment to develop their skills through hands-on externships and partnerships with top veterinary institutions. Students will gain practical experience working with animals in need while preparing for licensure, ensuring they become compassionate, skilled, and professional veterinary technicians. Key skills covered in the program include:
Animal care and nursing
Diagnostic imaging
Anesthesia and surgical assistance
Laboratory procedures
Treatment planning
Ethics and professionalism
The program also explores the impact of animal anatomy, physiology, disease, and pathology on overall health and treatment. Students will learn about psychological and emotional considerations, legal and ethical responsibilities, and veterinary practice management.
Career Options
Graduates of Ivy Tech's Veterinary Nursing program can pursue a career as licensed veterinary technicians, with opportunities to work in a variety of settings, including:
Veterinary clinics
Animal hospitals
Research laboratories
Animal shelters
Zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers
Veterinary teaching hospitals
Public health organizations
Pharmaceutical companies
Government agencies
Veterinary sales and marketing
In-home animal care services
This diverse range of career paths allows graduates to apply their skills and compassion in environments that best suit their professional goals and interests.
Degree Types Offered
Credential Type
Associate Degree
Short-Term Certificate
– known as a Certificate (CT)
You're seeking an associate degree that prepares you for compassionate, hands-on work in animal care and health.
You have a veterinary-related certificate and want to further your education and skills in the field.
You're seeking a certificate that prepares you for compassionate, hands-on work in animal care and well-being.
You want a credential that can lead to an entry-level role as a veterinary assistant and serve as a foundation for further education, such as a long-term certificate or an associate degree in veterinary nursing.
You're seeking a certificate that prepares you for compassionate, hands-on work in animal care and well-being.
You want a credential that can lead to an entry-level role as a veterinary assistant and serve as a foundation for further education, such as a long-term certificate or an associate degree in veterinary nursing.
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
Associate Degree
The Ivy Tech Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Veterinary Nursing provides comprehensive education and training for those seeking licensure as veterinary technicians. The program includes hands-on externships and partnerships with veterinary institutions, giving students practical experience in real-world settings.
The Veterinary Nursing associate degree requires 77.5 credit hours, or five semesters, to complete.
Earn a Certificate on the Way to Your Associate Degree
One path to the AAS degree in Veterinary Nursing is to complete the certificate offered in the program while working toward the degree. Certificates are designed to provide a gateway toward entry-level massage therapy careers existing in the local industry.
Short-Term Certificate
known as a Certificate (CT)
Ivy Tech's Veterinary Assistant Certificate (CT) provides training that prepares students for entry-level positions or further education in veterinary care. The program emphasizes both classroom instruction and practical experience in:
The Veterinary Assistant CT requires 28 credit hours, or three semesters, to complete.
Building on Your Certificate
If your goal is to earn a long-term certificate or associate degree in Veterinary Nursing, you can earn this short-term certificate on your way. The certificate is designed to provide a gateway into entry-level careers. That means you may be able to enter the veterinary science workforce even before you graduate, if your plan includes working while you’re in school.
Courses
The Veterinary Assistant CT includes 28 required credit hours.
VETN - 100 - Introduction to the Veterinary Profession
VETN - 105 - Veterinary Assisting Techniques
VETN - 110 - Veterinary Office Skills
VETN - 115 - Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals
VETN - 130 - Companion Animal Nursing, Behavior, and Nutrition
A career in Veterinary Nursing can be an excellent path for individuals who:
Have an entrepreneurial mindset
Are passionate about animal healthcare
Prefer hands-on, practical work
Desire a variety of work settings
Are compassionate towards animals
Are goal-oriented and dedicated to professional growth
Sound Like You?
If you identify with the traits and program details above, massage therapy may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
At Ivy Tech, we've created the Veterinary Nursing program to be as flexible as possible while ensuring students receive a variety of opportunities for hands-on learning through a student-run clinic and field trips. This program requires commitment and dedication. Please consider the following information prior to applying.
Time Commitment
Students in the associate degree program must be enrolled as full-time students, but each of the certificate programs offer students the ability to enroll part-time and still complete the program on time. Some campuses even offer evening class options for those interested. It is essential that you plan for the same amount of study time as class time per week. Veterinary Nursing course schedules and assignment due dates will not be adjusted to accommodate individual work schedules.
Attendance Verification Required
Detailed attendance verification for students, including hours attended, is a requirement of the Ivy Tech Veterinary Nursing program.
Students are expected to attend all course meetings. Attendance is necessary to maximize student-learning opportunities. Students who are absent are responsible for missed material. Clinical courses require that the student be present to effectively evaluate successful achievement of clinical course objectives and concepts, as clinical course objectives cannot be accomplished or evaluated outside the clinical setting. Regular clinical attendance is mandatory for successful clinical course and program completion.
Students will be required to provide their own transportation to and from clinical sites. Schedules vary based on campus. Please reach out to your campus of interest to learn more about meeting times and dates.
Required Screenings & More
Students will be required to complete a background screening, drug screening, physical exam, and required vaccinations (including COVID) upon acceptance into the program.
Connect with the Financial Aid team at your home campus to find out if you can receive financial aid for the program of your choice. Make sure that you have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by the established deadlines to be considered for financial aid assistance.
There are no required prerequisite courses for the Ivy Tech Veterinary Nursing program.
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Veterinary Nursing Courses
Descriptions of our veterinary nursing courses can be found in our online course catalog:
View required classes and course descriptions for:
See when specific classes will be offered by searching our class list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the class in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Class Format
Due to the nature of the Veterinary Nursing profession and the hands-on learning in the curriculum, all Ivy Tech Veterinary Nursing courses are taught in a traditional, in-person format.
Applying to Ivy Tech is Free & Easy
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out toyour local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
Dr. Melissa Newcomb is the Veterinary Nursing Program Chair at Ivy Tech Madison. She holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and has worked as a veterinarian in general practice for over 20 years. During that time, she has worked in a small animal emergency hospital, and in veterinary clinics seeing dogs, cats, exotic animals, small livestock species, and wildlife species.
Dr. Newcomb was also a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow at the University of Indianapolis, earning a Master of Arts degree in Teaching. She has taught general science, biology, veterinary science, and agriculture courses for public middle and high schools, Indiana University and Ivy Tech Community College.
Dr. Newcomb loves to work with students, ensure their understanding, and help them accomplish their goals!
Questions About the Program?
Future Students
If you’re not yet an Ivy Tech student, contact us at 1-888-489-5463 and we’ll be happy to help.
Current Students
Contact your academic advisor, who can answer any questions you have about the Veterinary Nursing program and your certificate and degree options.
Find Local Advising Contact Info
Don't see a nearby location?
Call 1-888-489-5463 and we'll get you started.
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00am-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00pm-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5:00pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12:00pm Zoom Link
Starting Oct. 28th Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other days by appointment from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. **Special Saturday December 7 @ 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.