Fox College - Bedford Park, IL
Veterinary Technology

A Career That Loves You Back. 

Veterinary technicians, or vet techs, are the first line of care for animals recovering from surgeries and illnesses. They also provide routine care so animals can stay healthy. Loving animals is an important part of being a veterinary technician, but there is a lot more to the job.  

Vet techs need to have a love for animals, strong abilities in math and science, and good communication skills. As part of their day-to-day activities, they will perform medical and laboratory procedures, assist veterinarians in surgery, and of course communicate with pet owners. 

The 18-month veterinary technology program at the Vet Tech Institute was designed so you can learn the skills that vet techs need, including:

  • Safe administration of medicine to patients
  • Perform analysis of laboratory specimens
  • Conduct patient assessments
  • Operate radiographic equipment, including x-rays and ultrasounds
  • Provide surgical assistance
  • Administration of anesthesia delivery and monitoring equipment, including pulse oximeters, oxygen sources, and defibrillators

See the full list of CVTEA Essential and Recommended Skills List.

By attending an AVMA-accredited program like the one at the Vet Tech Institute at Fox College, graduates are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam, which is required to become a licensed veterinary technician.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

At Fox College, our Veterinary Technology faculty are all animal lovers and have real-world experience. Our classes provide plenty of hands-on instruction. You will also spend 8 weeks in an externship where you will practice what you've learned and make industry contacts! 

Throughout the program, you will be learning in a simulated veterinary office, which contains industry standard veterinary equipment. Our facilities feature a kennel, which houses dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, and more! You will also learn about large animal care. 

The Veterinary Technology program contains all elements required by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)

With our Veterinary Technology program, you will learn to:

  • Provide first aid and nursing care to animals 
  • Assist in surgery and monitor animals in recovery
  • Collect specimens and run various laboratory tests 
  • Perform routine procedures like dental cleanings and immunizations
  • Fill and administer medications
  • Perform radiography 

 

 

Veterinary Technicians perform medical tests under the supervision of a veterinarian to help diagnose the illnesses and injuries in animals.  

 

CURRICULUM

Vet Tech Institute at Fox College offers an 18-month Associate of Applied Science degree program for students seeking the core skills that will help them start their careers.

Most classes are specific to preparing students for successful veterinary technician careers. Veterinary technology students will be required to perform kennel duty on a regular basis. 

To read course descriptions, download our school catalog

To see the essential functions you will need to perform in the program, please see the Essential Functions in The AVTE Disabilities Task Force Report. 

 

 

 

 

CONCENTRATION COURSES

  • Clinical Medicine
  • Animal Technology 
  • Veterinary Terminology
  • Animal Anatomy and Physiology
  • Clinical Laboratory 
  • Veterinary Pharmacology
  • Anesthesia
  • Large Animal Theory & Skills
  • Veterinary Office Procedures
  • Radiography
  • Surgical Nursing
  • VTNE Preparation 
  • Veterinary Externship
 

CAREERS 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow 21 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations " 4. Employment is expected to grow as veterinarians continue to utilize technicians and technologists to do general care and lab work on household pets.  In addition, growth is resulting from increasing numbers of households with pets and increasing spending on pets. 

As part of our commitment to helping you find a job after graduation, Fox College career services assistance will help you find the right job!

 

Fox graduates work for:

  • Private veterinary offices
  • Animal hospitals 
  • Research 
  • Boarding facilities 
  • Pharmaceutical companies 
  • Military 
 

PRICES 

As long as you stay enrolled full-time at International Business College, tuition rates will be frozen for you and will never go up from year to year. There are a variety of financial aid programs available for those who qualify. 

 
Associate Degree Program
TUITION/ADMISSIONS FEES (for students entering January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024)
Tuition Per Semester (Semesters 1-4)
$7,920
Tuition Semester 5
$2,600
Application Fee
$50
Tuition Deposit**
$50
Confirmation Deposit**
$50
Estimated Books and Supplies (for completing the program)
$1,935
Lab Fees Per Semester (Semesters 1-4 only)
$930
Vet Tech Rabies Vaccination Fee***
$860
* Associate Degree Program is 4.5 Semesters
** Deposit is credited towards tuition when the student begins classes. It is not refundable after the due date.
** *This fee is charged one time in the first semester of the program. Current price is subject to change.

COST OF ATTENDANCE BUDGETS

When students use federal financial aid to help cover their educational costs, the federal Department of Education requires schools to use a formula to determine what types of financial aid the student is eligible to receive.    

Part of this formula is using a cost of attendance budget to determine the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive each academic year.    This budget includes direct school costs like tuition, fees and books.  It also includes indirect costs that the student may have while they attend school.   This includes things like housing and transportation.   The school develops a standard cost of attendance budget for these purposes using actual tuition and fees each year and average estimated amounts for the indirect costs.   

The specific components included in our COA (Cost of Attendance) budgets include: 

·      Tuition and fees 

·      Books, course materials, supplies and equipment 

·      Federal Direct Loan Program origination fees and insurance costs* 

·      Living expenses (housing and food)

·      Transportation 

·      Personal expenses

·      Other miscellaneous costs such as professional licensing fees when applicable

*These costs are excluded if the student does not borrow any funds from the student loan programs.  

Note that the amounts in the budget can vary depending on the student’s enrollment status, program of study, and dependency status.   If you have questions about this or you would like to see the COA budget for a specific program of study that would apply to you,  please contact the Financial Aid department. 

 

Program Info 

Animal Care Duty 

Fox College maintains an on-site kennel housing dogs, cats, and rodents. An important part of the education provided by the Veterinary Technology program is learning the duties and responsibilities of animal care and sanitation. Therefore, animal care duty is a vital part of that learning experience, and all veterinary technology students are assigned mandatory kennel duty. Animal care duties are performed before and after classes and on weekends. The number of shifts each student is assigned animal-care duty depends on the number of in-house veterinary technology students.

 

 

VTNE Information 

July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023

Number of First-Time Test Takers   229
3 Year Average VTNE Pass Rate For First-Time Test Takers   60.3%