Veterinary Technology

Veterinary technicians are graduates of programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. A national board exam and criminal background check must also be successfully passed in order to become registered in the state of Ohio.  All state requirements for veterinary technicians can be found at American Association of Veterinary State Boards. 

The Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board may refuse to issue a registration to, or revoke the registration of, a graduate technician due to a number of reasons:

1. Found to be physically or psychologically addicted to alcohol or illegal controlled substance;
2. Conviction of, or having plead "Guilty" to, any felony or crime involving illegal or prescription drugs;
3. Making available a dangerous drug to any person other than for the specific treatment of an animal patient.

People who have an affinity for science and medicine, can communicate well with medical professionals and the general public and, of course, can handle animals will excel in this field. There are many physical, sensory and mental requirements needed to succeed also. Being able to lift heavy animals, visualize small blood vessels, hear faint heart murmurs, feel internal abnormalities, sense animal temperament and remain calm and directed during medical crises are several examples of the attributes needed in the veterinary technology profession.

Performance standards are necessary in a competent veterinary health technician. These standards are necessary to protect the technician, other members of the health care team and their animal patients.  These standards are outlined here:

Physical Requirements

• Ability to tolerate walking and standing for sustained periods of time
• Capable of lifting and/or carrying up to 50 lbs. from the floor to waist level
• Capable of using hands and arms to handle, install, position and move materials
• Capable of handling, positioning and restraining live animals

Sensory Abilities

• Visual ability to see details at a close range (such as small blood vessels,) and to make observations and assessments necessary in animal care. Be able to use diagnostic equipment, i.e. microscope, thermometer, refractometer, etc.
• Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. Hear soft sounds, monitor alarms, emergency and cries for help. Hear warning sounds from animals and humans of impending danger/injury.
• Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and to perform nursing duties. Perform palpation during physical exams. Administer oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous and intravenous medication. Insert and remove tubes and perform wound care management. Collect organic samples from live animals.

Mental Abilities

• Amenable to learning the safe handling, restraining and working with any species of domestic or exotic animals without fear. These animals may be sick, injured, fractious or aggressive.
• Willingness to assist with or perform a wide variety of routine medical, surgical and diagnostic procedures common to the veterinary setting; including humane euthanasia.
• Capacities to read, hear, understand and quickly execute complex verbal and written instructions given in English.
• Possess emotional stability when performing duties in live animal life-and-death situations or other stressful situations.
• During emergencies, be able to respond promptly and appropriately.

A veterinary technician can be employed in large-animal, small-animal, equine, exotic, emergency, surgery and other specialty types of private practices. They may also work in industrial (product-making) and medical research institutions. "Vet techs" are also employed in zoos, humane associations, the military, food industries and teaching institutions. There are also opportunities for continuing education and specialty in the field of veterinary technology. At this time there are nine recognized board certifications that experienced veterinary technicians may acquire, which include emergency and critical-care medicine, dentistry, anesthesia, internal medicine, behavior, zoo medicine, equine, surgical and clinical practice. A complete list of vet tech specialties can be found at The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.  There are also several baccalaureate degree programs which graduate veterinary technologists in the field of veterinary medicine.

Current and admitted students can locate advisor contact information for veterinary technology via the advising website.

Tuition at UC Blue Ash is below the average state university tuition. Our curriculum includes information and hands-on experience covering all of the animal species required by the AVMA accrediting committee. Our graduates are well-qualified to pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), and our graduates consistently score above the state and national averages.

Our program is designed to minimize the dropout rate in the sophomore year by preparing the freshman student for the intensive curriculum of the clinical year.

Our present facilities at UC Blue Ash were completed in October 2005 and are state-of-the-art. The building is utilized solely by the VT students and animals, which fosters a sense of ownership and commitment.

Collectively, the VT faculty and staff have nearly 150 years of education and veterinary experience within a wide spectrum of facilities and species, ranging from laboratory animals to farm animals. Our only mission is directed to the education of veterinary technician students. The low student-to-faculty/staff ratio allows special attention to be given to each student.

Job placement is 100 percent each year. Currently, a new graduate working in private practice can expect to receive between $31,000-$36,000 per year. In the research arena, the starting salaries are about $33,000-$36,000 per year.

The faculty and staff of the VT program are the leaders and members of local, state and national veterinary associations. With this in mind, we encourage and assist our students in becoming involved with multiple organizations while still in school. We place students into outside facility practicums and preceptorships during the fall and spring semesters. Our faculty, staff and students go on field trips over the entire scholastic year to humane centers, spay-neuter clinics and farms in order to experience and contribute to real-life situations.

The students are members of a student chapter of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, through which they coordinate multiple fundraising events for animal-related charities each year. They also volunteer their time and talents to local veterinary associations and humane societies, in events helping the service dogs of the blind, animals of the indigent and dogs used in law enforcement. All of these events contribute to societal needs and strengthen the human-animal bond.

Through these efforts, students are offered scholarship money from various industrial and professional organizations.

College credits obtained from accredited colleges and universities outside the UC system will be transferred into the University of Cincinnati. To achieve this process, a formal application must be completed by the student, and a transfer credit evaluation will be produced by the college. Using this information, the student is encouraged to meet with the vet tech program academic advisor to inquire about their status in the program and to confirm which freshman-year requirements must be completed before entrance into the sophomore year of the program. All entrance requirements listed above, including the minimum grading criteria, must be met.  If a student has non-vet tech required course work that is contributing to a GPA lower than a 2.75, the student is encouraged to contact the vet tech advisor to discuss their individual situation.  It may be possible to apply for a waiver to limit the effect of previous, non-required course work on the student's overall GPA.

Students with previous UC college credits may transfer into the vet tech program after the completion of a Change of Major form, which can be filled out at any of the One Stop Student Service Centers within the university. Students ae also ancouraged to inform the vet tech program academic advisor of their desire to transfer and determine which freshman-year requirements must be met before admission to the sophomore year of the program.  All entrance requirements listed above, including the minimum grading criteria, must be met.  If a student has non-vet tech required course work that is contributing to a GPA lower than a 2.75, the student is encouraged to contact the vet tech advisor to discuss their individual situation.  It may be possible to apply for a waiver to limit the effect of previous, non-required course work on the student's overall GPA.

The UC Blue Ash College veterinary technology program is fully accredited with the American Veterinary Medical Association. Written reports and site visits, which take place every six years by the accrediting committee, are part of the process. The VT program is also in compliance with the rules, regulations and policies of the USDA, NIH, University of Cincinnati IACUC and the University of Cincinnati Laboratory Animal Medical Services.