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If you’d like to learn more about the Veterinary Assistant program, we’d love to talk with you.
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Program Overview
The Veterinary Assistant program at Madison College will prepare you to care for animals in a variety of professions.
Great veterinary assistants love animals, are compassionate, detail-oriented and good communicators. As a vet assistant, your job is to support the veterinarian and vet tech with tasks. Typical duties include cleaning enclosures, feeding, weighing, bathing, taking temperatures, restraining animals during treatment and giving medications.
The Veterinary Assistant program at Madison College helps students gain confidence through hands-on learning. While in the Vet Assistant program you will learn:
- Veterinary medical terminology
- Disease causes and symptoms.
- Animal anatomy and physiology
- Safe animal handling
- How to give medications
- How to collect blood from a variety of species
- How to prepare and aid in surgeries
- Office duties such as record-keeping
- How to educate and support clients
In addition to classes and lab time, you’ll get real-world experience working in a clinic where you will practice your skills in animal care, nursing techniques and procedures..
Program Details
Veterinary Assistant students are required to take classes full-time.
Classes are offered at the Madison College Truax campus.
While in the Veterinary Assistant program, you must demonstrate the ability to perform essential functions as defined by the Board of Veterinary Medicine.
Careers
Veterinary Assistants work alongside Veterinary Technicians and Veterinarians to help care for and nurse animals. You can find employment in a variety of settings such as a:
- Veterinary clinic
- Animal shelter
- Pet store
- Doggy daycare
- Boarding facilities
With one more year of study, you can go on to become a Veterinary Technician.
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
Pre-ProgramFirst SemesterSecond Semester -
Admission
Apply Now – Secure Your Spot in Pre-Program!
This program operates on a petition process. To be eligible to enroll in program classes, students must first complete petition requirements and go through the petition process.
Before submitting an application, be sure to:
- Review the Petition section.
- Review the admission requirements for deadlines, materials, and requirements.
- Estimated Wait Time: No current estimated wait time between acceptance into pre-program and the start of core classes. The estimated time to enter the core program is subject to change based on the variable number of students ready to petition each semester.
- Make sure you can meet the program’s essential functions safely, reliably and efficiently within the scope of practice. If you need accommodations, contact our Disability Resource Services office.
Additional Notes
Students are required to meet the current admission requirements, petition requirements, and complete the petition process. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.
Beginning Fall 2026 – Secure Your Spot on the Waiting List!
This program operates on a waiting list. To be eligible to enroll in program classes, students must first complete academic preparedness requirements and go through the declaration process.
Before submitting an application, be sure to:
- Review the Waiting List section.
- Review the admission requirements for deadlines, materials, and requirements.
- Estimated Wait Time: No current estimated wait time between when students are core ready and when they become eligible to enroll in program classes. This timeline may vary depending on how many students complete the declaration process each semester.
- Program Capacity: 18 spots each Fall semester.
- Make sure you can meet the program’s essential functions safely, reliably and efficiently within the scope of practice. If you need accommodations, contact our Disability Resource Services office.
Need help? Learn more about the Madison College experience and get support with your application.
Start your application today and take the next step toward your career goals!
Additional Notes
Students are required to meet the current admission requirements, academic preparedness requirements, and complete the declaration process. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Veterinary Assistant career.
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Waiting List
Beginning Fall 2026
This program uses a waiting list to manage program admission due to capacity limitations and program demand. This means there are typically more applicants than there are open seats in the program. A waiting list helps us manage applications in a way that is fair and transparent.
This program has academic preparedness requirements that must be completed before beginning core classes. When you’ve completed all academic preparedness requirements, you will complete the declaration process.
Pre-core students can run their Degree Progress Report to confirm which academic preparedness requirements are satisfied/not satisfied and view specific ways to satisfy requirements.
Mandatory workshop in Brightspace
Prerequisites:
- Algebra (testing, college coursework or bachelor’s degree in a related biological science)
- English and Reading (testing, college coursework or bachelor’s degree)
Course Requirement:
- Principles of Animal Biology
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
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Petition
This program uses a petition process to manage program admission due to capacity limitations and program demand. This means there are typically more applicants than there are open seats in the program. A petition process helps us manage applications in a way that is fair and transparent.
This program has petition requirements that must be completed before beginning core classes. When you’ve completed all petition requirements, you will complete the petition process.
Pre-program students can run their Degree Progress Report to confirm which petition requirements are satisfied/not satisfied and view specific ways to satisfy requirements.
Mandatory workshop in Brightspace
Prerequisites:
- Algebra (testing, college coursework or bachelor’s degree in a related biological science)
- English and Reading (testing, college coursework or bachelor’s degree)
Course Requirement:
- Principles of Animal Biology
Petitioning
Review the Petition Process for details on how and when to petition.
After Petitioning
If awarded a seat, you will receive instructions regarding the below required items. If you do not complete the required items, it may result in losing your seat and starting the application process from the beginning.
- Complete the Veterinary Sciences Job Shadow Form.
- Consult your physician:
- It is recommended that Veterinary Assistant students get a physical exam before starting the program.
- It is required for all students to receive the 2-dose pre-exposure rabies vaccinations prior to entering the Veterinary Assistant or Veterinary Technician programs. Additional information: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/hcp/veterinarians/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/pre-exposure_vaccinations.html
- Attend a mandatory Advising and Registration session. Students awarded a seat in the core program will receive additional information on these sessions.
- Enroll in core program courses. Students who are awarded a seat are expected to start the core program courses for the awarded term. Students who choose not to begin the core program courses or are not able to begin core program courses may be discontinued from pre-program status.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
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Career Outcomes
Graduates of the Veterinary Assistant Program gain the knowledge, skills and abilities to advance employment in the veterinary health care industry. Students in the VA Program can decide to continue their degree into the Veterinary Technician 2 year (4 semester) Program. Students that complete the 2-year associates degree are able to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) and become a Certified Veterinary Technician.
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2023 2024 Number of Program Graduates 34 31 Number of Surveys Sent 34 31 Number of Surveys Returned 34 31 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 7 8 Percent Available for Employment 20.6% 25.8% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 79.4% 74.2% Available for Employment
2023 2024 Graduates Employed 7 8 Percent of Graduates Employed 100.0% 100.0% Employed in Related Occupation 7 7 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 100.0% 87.5% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0 1 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0.0% 12.5% Employed - No Response 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 0 0 Percent Seeking Employment 0.0% 0.0% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2023 2024 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.2 3.4 Number of Satisfaction Responses 21 12 Very Satisfied (4) 5 5 Percent Very Satisfied 23.8% 41.7% Satisfied (3) 15 7 Percent Satisfied 71.4% 58.3% Unsatisfied (2) 1 0 Percent Unsatisfied 4.8% 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2023 2024 Number of Primary Reason Responses 34 31 Preparation for Getting a Job Percent Preparation for Getting a Job Career Change Percent Career Change Improvement of Existing Skills Percent Improvement of Existing Skills Preparation for Further Education Percent Preparation for Further Education Personal Interest Percent Personal Interest Other Percent Other 0.0% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2023 2024 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 7 8 Before Enrollment 3 2 Percent Before Enrollment 42.9% 25.0% While Attending the College 4 3 Percent While Attending the College 57.1% 37.5% After Training at the College 0 3 Percent After Training at the College 0.0% 37.5% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2023 2024 Number of Employment Location Responses 7 8 In College District 3 5 Percent In College District 42.9% 62.5% In Wisconsin, Not in District 4 1 Percent of In Wisconsin 57.1% 12.5% Outside of Wisconsin 0 2 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% 25.0% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 0.0% Salary Trend 2023 2024 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 3 5 Average Monthly Wage $2,612 $3,535 Average Hourly Wage $15.19 $20.55 Average Work Hours per Week 38.3 40.2 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 4 2 Average Hourly Wage $19.52 $20.75 Average Work Hours per Week 21.5 4.5 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2024 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Aurora Veterinary Care Veterinary Technician Waunakee Baraboo Valley Veterinary Clinic Certified Veterinary Technician Baraboo Farm & Home Veterinary Services Veterinary Technician Ainsworth IA Healthy Pet Veterinary Clinic Veterinary Technician Integrative Veterinary Hospital Veterinary Technician Las Vegas NV Truesdell Animal Care Hospital Certified Veterinary Technician UW - Madison School of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Technician * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu
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