Southern Indiana Business Report
VINCENNES – In response to growing demand for veterinary technicians, Vincennes University, in partnership with Indiana’s Next Level Jobs program, is offering a tuition-free certificate in Pre-Veterinary Technology.
The certificate will give students a leg up on advanced training for an in-demand field without financial barriers. The one-year Pre-Vet Technology certificate also meets Purdue University’s requirements for applying to its veterinary nursing bachelor’s degree program.
A Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant covers full tuition and regularly assessed fees for eligible Hoosiers pursuing a certificate in one of Indiana’s high-growth sectors, including Health & Life Sciences, which includes Pre-Veterinary Technology.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in this field to grow 21% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations, driven by rising numbers of households with pets and increased spending on pet care.
Brenna Edmiston, a 2014 VU graduate, said VU’s Pre-Vet Technology program provided her with a solid foundation that propelled her into becoming a registered veterinary technician.
“The VU Science Department helped me the most in my knowledge and skills when it came to transferring to my Veterinary Technology program at Harrison College. My VU chemistry and biology teachers made learning fun and that was not something that I experienced in high school,” Edmiston said. “I also took an animal agriculture class while at VU, and that helped me a lot going into tech school by learning some medical terminology.”
Veterinary technicians work under the supervision of licensed veterinarians. They receive education in animal care, normal and abnormal life processes, and lab and clinical procedures. They are needed in private practices, biomedical research, diagnostic laboratories, zoos, wildlife facilities, food safety inspection, veterinary supply sales, and drug and feed manufacturing.
“This one-year certificate meets Purdue University’s requirements to apply to their Veterinary Nursing bachelor’s degree program. It makes a lot of sense to complete the first year at VU and have that first year’s tuition completely covered.” said Curt Coffman, dean of the VU College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The VU Pre-Veterinary Technology certificate provides the first-year courses necessary to apply to a Veterinary Technology clinical program. However, the application process is competitive, and completing these prerequisites does not guarantee acceptance.
To qualify for a Workforce Ready Grant, an individual must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Must be an Indiana resident and a U.S. Citizen (or eligible resident)
- Must possess a high school diploma (or equivalent)
- Must not possess a college degree
- Maintain SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
- Must file a free application for FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) for your desired academic year [Only for Credit Bearing Programs]
- Must enroll in one of the approved grant-qualifying programs