Veterinary Nursing A.S.

The Veterinary Nursing program operates under the guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association's Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities, and the Florida Department of Education certification standards for Veterinary Technology.

A graduate of the Veterinary Nursing program is qualified to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). Upon successful completion of the board, the graduate is designated as a Certified Veterinary Technician in the State of Florida. Continuing education credits and renewal every two years are required to maintain the certification.  Certification in Florida is offered through both the Florida Veterinary Technician Association (FVTA) and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA).

American Veterinary Medical Association
Division of Education and Research
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360
Phone: 800-248-2862
Fax: 847-925-1329  

Review the document on live animal use in the EFSC Veterinary Nursing program.

Areas of our training that prepares students to work as veterinary technicians include:

• Administration of medication and vaccines
• Anesthesiology
• Biomedical Research
• Client Education
• Clinical Laboratory procedures
• Dental Prophylaxis
• Office/Hospital Management
• Patient History
• Physical Examination
• Radiology
• Surgical Assisting

The first job for about 85% of graduate veterinary technicians is in a private veterinary practice, with companion animal practice leading the list. However, the demand for veterinary technicians in other fields is rapidly growing. Opportunities exist in the following areas:

• Biomedical Research
• Diagnostic Laboratories
• Herd Health Managers
• Humane Societies
• Industry
• Military Service
• Teaching
• Zoo/Wildlife Medicine

The Veterinary Nursing program at Eastern Florida State College recruits and educates quality candidates who will integrate knowledge, clinical skills, problem solving/critical thinking and professional behavior to become caring, qualified and competent entry level veterinary nurses.

Veterinary nurses, also called veterinary technicians, primarily function as professional technical support to veterinarians, biomedical researchers and other scientists who must maintain high standards of animal care. To do so and to meet the technical demands of an expanding veterinary profession, a good veterinary team is required. The veterinary nurse is a very important member of this team. They are also educated to be laboratory technicians, radiography technicians, anesthetists, surgical nurses and client educators. Academic training is required to gain the competencies and skills needed to perform these duties. EFSC is one of only three such on-campus academic training programs in Florida.

Please review the essential functions for the Veterinary Nursing program.

Successful participation and completion of this program requires that applicants meet the demands of the program. Please review the performance standards.