Do you love learning about and caring for animals? Learn more about animals, animal welfare, and how to become a veterinarian through 4-H club activities. Then, if you are interested in becoming a veterinary assistant, you can go through a veterinary assistant preparatory training to prepare for a future career in veterinary medicine.
If you are interested in a career as a veterinarian, veterinary professional or animal sciences, start with your veterinary assistant certificate! To receive your veterinary assistant certificate through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Veterinary Medicine, you must complete 100 lessons and 225 hours of apprenticeship. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the industry-based certification exam for veterinary assistant certification now offered by TAMU Agrilife Extension Veterinary Science Certificate Program.
A few things you will learn and do in this project are: Animal nutrition, handling and restraining animals, helping with animal examinations and treatments, infectious diseases of animals, non-infectious diseases and assisting with surgery.
Resources
- Project Information Sheet
- Veterinary Science Camps
- Youth Veterinarian Science Camp Video
- Veterinary Science: Preparatory Training for the Veterinary Assistant
- One Health Science & Technology
- Laboratory Science & Technology
Contests
Extension Veterinary Medicine – 4-H Program
This program provides the training and experience needed to receive a veterinary assistant certification. Students who finish the program are eligible to take the industry-based certification exam from Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Veterinary Science Certificate Program. If you are interested in getting a degree in veterinary science, this program is a great start. There are several program tracks, ranging from clinical to laboratory. Once you have finished the core 100 lessons you may begin studying in your chosen track. The course culminates with a apprenticeship. View the Extension Veterinary Medicine Website to learn more.
Veterinary Science Skill-A-Thon
This contest tests your veterinary knowledge and skills you have learned throughout the project. In order to apply you need to be involved with a Texas 4-H club and enrolled in a structured veterinary science program. Visit the State Roundup webpage to learn more.