Search | Menu 
Ready to Learn More?
If you’d like to learn more about the Veterinary Technician program, we’d love to talk with you.
We’re here to answer any questions and guide you through our application process step-by-step.
Send us your contact information, and we’ll help you get started right away!
Financial Aid Available
Program Transfers
$11,317.30
-
Program Overview
Get the skills and learn procedures to improve the health and well-being of veterinary patients.
Madison College offers two paths to becoming a Veterinary Technician. Students working as veterinary assistants can learn semi-remotely as "Satellite" students.
Satellite students are employed as veterinary assistants working an average of 20 hours per week in a veterinary clinic. Hands-on skills are completed during select face-to-face labs, while theory is completed 100% online. For more details contact the Program Director or the School of Health Sciences.
Madison College's Veterinary Technician Program has been accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) since 1974. Visit the AVMA's website to learn more about essential veterinary technician skills students learn in our program.
Common Veterinary Technician Duties
- Collect samples and perform diagnostic laboratory tests
- Administer and monitor anesthesia
- Apply and maintain bandages
- Place intravenous catheters
- Client education and communication
- Perform dental procedures and oral radiographs
- Radiography, EKG and other diagnostic tests
- Perform physical examinations, gather medical histories, draw blood and take vital signs
- Provide emergency first aid
- Prepare and assist with surgery
- Animal pharmaceutical training
- Animal nursing care
After graduation, pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become a certified veterinary technician.
Program Requirements
You must demonstrate the ability to meet the essential functions of the Veterinary Technician program.
Transfer Credit
The Veterinary Technician program only accepts transfer credit for the 091 courses from other AVMA accredited programs/schools. Course syllabi and AVMA Essential Skills covered in those courses need to be provided to the Veterinary Technician Program Director for evaluation and consideration of transferability.
Following successful completion of this associates degree, students may complete a Bachelors of Animal Science at either UW River Falls or UW Platteville in two additional years.
Program Details
12 credits of core program courses available each semester.
Veterinary Technician classes are offered at the Madison College Truax campus.
Careers
Earning your Associate Degree in Applied Science program at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for valuable work as a Veterinary Technician or Laboratory Animal Technician.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians are some of the fastest growing occupations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16% job growth from 2019 to 2029.
Technicians are usually employed by:
- Small/companion services
- Large animal/equine facilities
- Mixed animal or exotic animal practices
- Humane societies
- Research environments
With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find employment as:
- Hospital Managers
- Facility Managers
- Pet Food Company Representative
- Drug Company Representative
Learn about other veterinary technician opportunities.
Resources
Accreditation
Madison College's veterinary technician program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities.
-
Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2023-2024 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-Program CoursesFirst SemesterSecond SemesterThird SemesterFourth Semester -
Admission
To Apply
Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program. Before submitting an application, it’s important to review the Petition Process webpage which also includes estimated wait times for each program.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
- There is 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.
Learn more about the Madison College experience and get help with the admissions process
After Acceptance
Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Petition Requirements. See the Petition information in the next section.
Additional Notes
Students will be required to meet the current admission and petition requirements. Requirements must be amended any time accreditation requirements are updated or changed. Requirements may also be amended based on Madison College programmatic 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 Technician career.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
-
Petition
After Acceptance
After you have been admitted into a pre-program status, complete all of the Petition Requirements for your program. Login to your student account and run a Degree Progress Report to review the Petition Requirements and see which requirements you have completed and which need to be satisfied.
Requirements vary by program, and may include some or all of the following:
- Prerequisites (examples: Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, English and Reading): This varies by program
- Course Requirements (examples: Anatomy and Physiology, Intro to Psychology, etc.): This varies by program
- Testing Requirement (examples: ACT, HESI, TEAS): This varies by program
- Petition Workshop: This is done online and can be found in Blackboard after you have been admitted in a pre-program status
You can view the Petition Requirements for this program using the links below.
After completing the petition requirements, students are then selected for entry into core program courses through the Petition Process.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
-
Transfer Opportunities
UW System Schools
The terms of the Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete an associates of applied science degree and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis of the Leadership and Organizational Studies at UW O. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. The terms of the Human Services Leadership agreement are limited to students who have complete an associates of applied science degree and have been admitted to the Human Services Leadership degree at UW O. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.Students who complete the Veterinary Technician Associate Degree can apply to UW-Platteville and transfer up to 48 credits from their Associate Degree. Additional coursework may be transferable to satisfy UW-Platteville general education or breadth requirements.This program is open to students who may be admitted to the Madison College veterinary tech program OR students who are admitted to the UW River Falls (UW-RF) Animal Science - Veterinary Technology emphasis. For Madison College students who complete the veterinary technician program are able to transfer to UW-RF for the Animal Science - Veterinary Technician emphasis major. Upon final completion of this articulation agreement students will have earned two degrees- an A.A.S. Veterinary Technician from Madison College and a BS in Animal Science- Vet Tech emphasis from UW-RF.Wisconsin Private Schools
A student who completes an associate of arts, associate of science or associates of applied science is considered part of the ‘advanced core‘. The Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 64 credits of transfer. If students transfer prior to completion or with less than 64 credits they will be considered part of the standard core and credits will be evaluated on a course by course basis.Students will be granted admission to a bachelors degree program upon completion of an approved transfer program at Madison College. Students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater while at Madison College. Regardless of the number of credits transferred students must complete at least 25% of their baccalaureate degree credits at Herzing University University.Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.Any Madison College student who has successfully completed an associate degree in applied science after 2015, and meets admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Technical Sales at MSOE by successfully completing the AAS to BBA Technical Sales Transfer Track in the Business Administration program. --- In particular, any Madison College student who successfully completes all technical courses and general education courses in their AAS program with a grade of C or better (not C-) in each course; successfully completes all other specified courses, as defined in this transfer agreement, with a grade of C or better (not C-) in each course; and meets the MSOE admission requirements for transfer students into the BBA Program at MSOE, minimum 2.75/4.0 cumulative GPA from the last regionally accredited school will be admitted into the AAS to BBA Technical Sales Transfer Track in the Bachelor of Business Administration program at MSOE.Out-of-State Schools
Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement. This applies to students who are pursuing a bachelors of arts, bachelors of science or bachelors of fine arts at Bellevue University.Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring. Articulation agreement is for students who graduate from appropriate program and wish to pursue one of the following degrees at Capella: Bachelor of Science in Business specializations, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Public Safety specializations, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (must hold a valid RN license) and Bachelor of Science in Psychology.Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of all Madison College graduates with an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science or Associate of Applied Science. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer additional credits (up to a maximum of 94) toward their baccalaureate degree.Students who complete an Associate in Applied Science-Veterinary Technician program, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, hold a current license as RVT/CVT/LVT/LVMT. There is no maximum number of credits that can be transferred to Missouri University, but 30 of the last 36 credit hours must be completed with Missouri University authored courses to be applied to the Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology. Transfer students from Madison College VT, meeting the above listed criteria, will be accepted into the VT/BSVT option at Missouri University, College of Veterinary Medicine. -
Career Outcomes
Madison College Veterinary Technician Program prepares graduates for entry level veterinary technician positions. Our mission is to provide accessible, high-quality, learning experiences in the field of Veterinary Medicine to improve animal and human health.
- Participate in facility management utilizing traditional and electronic media and appropriate Veterinary Medical Terminology and abbreviations.
- Communicate in a professional manner in all formats, written, oral, nonverbal and electronic.
- Read and follow protocols and procedures accurately and within time constraints.
- Work as a team member demonstrating initiative, and applying time and stress management techniques.
- Identify and manage stressful and emotional work situations.
- Follow and uphold applicable laws and the veterinary technology profession’s ethical code to provide high quality care to patients.
- Safely and effectively administer prescribed drugs to patients, and accurately dispense and explain drugs to clients.
- Demonstrate and perform patient assessment techniques, husbandry, nutrition, therapeutic and dentistry techniques in a variety of animal species (including laboratory animal species, companion animals and food animals).
- Safely and effectively manage patients in all phases of anesthetic procedures, as well as safely and effectively select, utilize and maintain anesthetic delivery and monitoring instruments and equipment.
- Demonstrate and integrate all aspects of patient management for common surgical procedures in a variety of animal species.
- Properly package, handle and store specimens for laboratory analysis, properly carry out analysis of laboratory specimens. (Blood, urine, feces, tissues, skin scrapes, discharge, body fluids)
- Safely and effectively produce diagnostic images.
Veterinary Technician National Exam Scores
July 2019 - June 2022
- The three-year pass rate (based on a July 1 to June 30 reporting year) on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE): 71% pass rate for first time test takers (National average is 72%).
- The number of first-time candidates that have taken the VTNE, for the corresponding time frame as the reported VTNE pass rate: 150 first time test takers.
-
Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2020 2021 2022 Number of Program Graduates 55 54 29 Number of Surveys Sent 55 54 29 Number of Surveys Returned 35 37 14 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 34 34 14 Percent Available for Employment 97.10% 91.90% 100.00% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 2.90% 8.10% 0.00% Available for Employment
2020 2021 2022 Graduates Employed 31 32 14 Percent of Graduates Employed 91.20% 94.10% 100.00% Employed in Related Occupation 29 31 12 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 93.50% 96.90% 85.70% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 2 1 2 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 6.50% 3.10% 14.30% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Seeking Employment 3 2 0 Percent Seeking Employment 8.80% 5.90% 0.00% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.4 3.2 3.2 Number of Satisfaction Responses 35 37 14 Very Satisfied (4) 16 8 4 Percent Very Satisfied 45.70% 21.60% 28.60% Satisfied (3) 17 27 9 Percent Satisfied 48.60% 73.00% 64.30% Unsatisfied (2) 1 2 1 Percent Unsatisfied 2.90% 5.40% 7.10% Very Unsatisfed (1) 1 0 0 Percent Very Unsatisfied 2.90% 0.00% 0.00% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Number of Primary Reason Responses 35 37 14 Preparation for Getting a Job 26 20 6 Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 74.30% 54.10% 42.90% Career Change 4 6 3 Percent Career Change 11.40% 16.20% 21.40% Improvement of Existing Skills 3 4 4 Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 8.60% 10.80% 28.60% Preparation for Further Education 2 4 0 Percent Preparation for Further Education 5.70% 10.80% 0.00% Personal Interest 0 3 1 Percent Personal Interest 0.00% 8.10% 7.10% Other 0 0 0 Percent Other 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% When Employment was Obtained
2020 2021 2022 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 31 32 14 Before Enrollment 6 7 4 Percent Before Enrollment 19.40% 21.90% 28.60% While Attending the College 16 16 5 Percent While Attending the College 51.60% 50.00% 35.70% After Training at the College 9 9 5 Percent After Training at the College 29.00% 28.10% 35.70% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2020 2021 2022 Number of Employment Location Responses 20 18 11 In College District 19 13 10 Percent In College District 95.00% 72.20% 90.90% In Wisconsin, Not in District 0 0 0 Percent of In Wisconsin 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Outside of Wisconsin 0 5 1 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.00% 27.80% 9.10% Employer Location Unknown 1 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 5.00% 0.00% 0.00% Salary Trend 2020 2021 2022 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 23 29 9 Average Monthly Wage $2,510 $2,830 $3,140 Average Hourly Wage $14.59 $16.46 $18.26 Average Work Hours per Week 40 39.7 39.6 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 4 2 1 Average Hourly Wage $13.34 $18.00 $19.00 Average Work Hours per Week 20 28 29 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2022 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions City Dog Vet & Grooming Certified Veterinary Technician Healthy Pet Veterinary Clinic Certified Veterinary Technician Heritage Animal Hospital Certified Veterinary Technician Greenville Mazomanie Animal Hospital Certified Veterinary Technician Mazomanie Nature's Preserve Pet Care Certified Veterinary Technician Sun Prairie Pewaukee Veterinary Service Veterinary Assistant Pewaukee Pine River Veterinary Clinic Veterinary Technician Richland Center Sauk Point Veterinary Clinic Certified Veterinary Technician Spring Harbor Animal Hospital Veterinary Assistant Token Creek Veterinary Clinic Certified Veterinary Technician Sun Prairie * - 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