Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the program located? 
We are on the Wylie campus.  
 
Do you have a Certified Veterinary Assistant program? 
Currently, Collin College is not offering this program. We are only offering the Veterinary Technology Program. Please note that a certificate is not required to work as a veterinary assistant in the state of Texas.  
 
How do I register for Veterinary Technology classes? 
This program has selective admissions. Students must complete the requirements and apply to the program. If accepted, students will be permitted to register for classes.  
 
How long is the Veterinary Technology Program? 
The program consists of five continuous semesters (including the summer), once accepted into the program. There are three pre-program required courses that may be taken in the semester preceding applying to the program, or earlier.  
 
How much does the program cost?  
Costs are based on residence and are estimated here.

CLICK HERE for Program Costs 
 
Are scholarships and Financial Aid available? 
Yes. CLICK HERE for more information. 
 
Do I have to apply to Collin College before applying to the Veterinary Technology Program? 
Yes. You must apply to Collin College and submit your official transcripts from every school that you have attended before your application will be considered. More details are located here: https://www.collin.edu/admissions/index.html.  
 
How often are students accepted into the program? 
Currently, students are only accepted to begin in the Fall semesters annually.  
 
When is the application due? 
The deadline is May 22, 2024 to start Fall 2024.  
 
Can I mail in or drop off my application? 
No. Applications are only accepted through our website: https://www.collin.edu/department/vettech/applicationprocess.html  
 
What is the difference between animal and veterinary experience? 
One of Collin College Veterinary Technology Program’s requirements is a minimum of 40 hours of supervised veterinary clinical experience. This experience may be with a veterinarian (DVM) or a licensed veterinary technician (LVT), but it has to be specifically shadowing, volunteering, or working directly with that person(s).  
 
Animal experience is any animal-related experience you may accumulate through FFA, volunteering at an animal shelter, or working with animals outside of veterinary medicine. 
 
What are the pre-program requirements? 
BIOL 1406 - Biology for Science Majors I:  Course Description
ENGL 1301 - Composition I:  Course Description
MATH 1314 - College Algebra:  Course Description
 
Can I apply to the Veterinary Technology program if I have not completed all of the pre-program required courses? 
No. To ensure student success in the program, applicants must complete all courses with a C or higher to be considered for the program. Applicants may not take pre-program requirements during the summer before classes start because grades are used to evaluate applications in May. 
 
What are the program corequisites? 
A Social/Behavioral Sciences Course is required to be taken before graduation. This course can be taken before applying to the program or while enrolled in the program.  
 
Can I take the program corequisites while waiting to apply? 
Yes. 
 
Do you accept AP credits? 
Yes. If the applicant is already a Collin student and has completed three college level courses, they must email creditbyexam@collin.edu and have the AP Scores posted to their Collin transcript before applying to the Vet Tech Program.  
This is how the scores are applied to the Vet Tech Program application: 
AP Score Grade Used for Our Application Purposes 
5 =  A 
4 =  B 
3 =  C 
AP Scores of 2 or lower are not accepted.  
 
If the student is new to Collin College, they must submit the scores with their application to Collin College and with their application to the Vet Tech Program. The student must complete three college level courses and then have the AP Scores posted by emailing creditbyexam@collin.edu. It is the responsibility of the student to have their AP Credits applied correctly to be eligible to graduate on time.  
 
For more information, go to: https://collin.oudeve.com/studentresources/testing/creditbyexam/ap.html 
 

Can Dual-Credit courses be used to satisfy pre-program required courses? 
As long as the course numbers match and the grade was a C or higher, then yes.

 

 

Are vaccinations required?

Yes. Our accreditation body and some of our clinical partners have requirements. Certain vaccinations, such as rabies and tetanus, are required to handle animals and protect oneself from zoonotic disease that may be encountered during live animal experiences. Unvaccinated students are not allowed to handle most animals in the curriculum, and thus wouldn’t be able to finish the program requirements. 

 

We will collect vaccination records or work with students to become immunized after they are formally accepted into the program. The vaccinations include:

            1. Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (within past ten years)

            2. Hepatitis B

            3. MMR (if under 22 years of age)

            4. Rabies

 

 
Do you accept transfer credits from other colleges? 

In most cases, yes. Please send your transcripts to transcripts@collin.edu or visit https://www.collin.edu/register/transcripts.html  

Courses desired for transfer between Texas colleges are evaluated here. https://www.tccns.org/

 
I completed a Certified Veterinary Assistant Program. Can my classes transfer into your program? 
In some cases, yes. The classes have to be college level and equal or exceeding the current courses taught at Collin. The best way to find out is to submit your official transcripts to Collin College.  
 
How do I submit my official transcripts? 
All official transcripts should be sent with your application to Collin College by following these instructions: https://www.collin.edu/register/transcripts.html  
 
Are international students accepted into the program? 
Yes, with some restrictions. Please visit https://collin.oudeve.com/advising/international/index.html for more information.  
 
Can someone help me find a clinic to fulfill the 40-hour observation requirement? 
Yes. Please contact Deidra Carpenter for assistance. 
 
Can a letter of recommendation be sent directly to your office? 
A member of our staff will contact your references directly for a letter of reference through the contact information the applicant provides in the application. 
 
Do you have a form I can use to document my veterinary experience hours? 
A generic form is provided here, but you are welcome to create a spreadsheet to document your veterinary experience hours in more detail. You can then transfer them to the document provided in your application packet. 
 
How many students are accepted into the program? 
16 students are accepted per cohort currently.  
 
What is the ratio of instructors to students? 
For laboratory classes, we have at least one instructor for every twelve students, but when we have animals present we use at least one instructor for every eight students.  
 
If I am not accepted into the program, do I have to reapply next year? 
Candidates who are not accepted must fill out a new application and re-submit the application packet the following year. 
 
How can I improve my application to the program? 
Ways to increase the chances of acceptance into the program include banking additional veterinary experience, completing the pre-program required courses with a high grade or repeating for a better grade if necessary, writing high-quality essays, seeking out individuals to give exceptional references, and displaying confidence and competence while communicating well during the in-person interview.  
 
Does the Veterinary Technology Program count toward veterinary school? 
Collin College Veterinary Technology Program courses do not transfer to veterinary school. However, courses will transfer to Texas A&M Kingsville and other 4-year veterinary technology programs (please see the question below). 
 
Can you transfer AAS credits to a Bachelor’s degree at another college? 
Yes, several colleges throughout the country offer Bachelor’s degrees to become a veterinary technologist. The closest is Texas A&M Kingsville University, which offers a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in veterinary technology. Please note that the AAS degree awarded at Collin College meets all the requirements to become a licensed veterinary technician and a 4-year degree is not required to begin working in this field.  
 
Can I become licensed in another state after graduating from this program and passing the national board exam? 
As an accredited program, your Collin College Veterinary Technology degree can be used to apply for licensure in any state – not just Texas. Some states have additional licensure requirements, such as background checks, additional examinations, and/or a limit on the number of times that the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) may be taken. Contact the licensing board of the state in which you are interested in for more information on its requirements. 
 
How do I make a donation to support Collin College Veterinary Technology students? 
https://www.collin.edu/foundation/give/vettech.html