B.S. in Veterinary Technology

Students in the Veterinary Technology Program must earn a minimum letter grade of C or better in all veterinary technology and natural science courses and a minimum letter grade of B or better in ENGL 111 Written English and Literary Studies I and in MATH 116 College Algebra. Students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative index in veterinary technology courses for admittance into clinical courses for admittance into clinical courses, a grade of C+ or better in BIOL 160/160A General Biology I Lecture/Laboratory, a minimum grade of C in all other natural science courses, VTEC 340, VETC 341, VETC 350, VETC 350A, VETC 360, VETC 375, VETC 495 and VETC 496.

Students enrolled in the undecided - veterinary technology, undecided - pre-veterinary medicine, veterinary technology major or the veterinary technology major with the pre-veterinary medicine specialization may not repeat a course required in the curriculum more than once.

Students enrolled in the undecided - veterinary technology, undecided - pre-veterinary medicine, veterinary technology major or the veterinary technology major with the pre-veterinary medicine specialization program are fully responsible for compliance with all requirements, policies and procedures contained in the Technology Program Student Handbook.

Students should anticipate taking the didactic portion of VETC 375 Principles of Large Animal Medicine course online during the spring semester followed by a one-week, hands-on portion at SUNY-Delhi in the summer. No other Veterinary Technology courses are offered in the summer semester. 

NOTE: A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to attain state licensure.

The Veterinary Technology Program is accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) located in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Graduates of the Mercy College Veterinary Technology Program are eligible to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). Successful completion of this examination is required for licensure as a veterinary technician by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Licensure information can be found at http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/vetmed/vtlic.htm.

Veterinary Technology Major Concentration Standards

1. Students must earn a minimum letter grade of C or better in all veterinary technology courses, a grade of C+ or better in BIOL 160/160A General Biology I Lecture/Laboratory, a minimum grade of C in all natural science courses, and a minum grade of B or better in ENGL 111 Written English and Literary Studies I and MATH 116 College Algebra.
2. Students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative index in veterinary technology courses in order to be admitted into clinical courses VETC 340, VETC 341, VETC 350, VETC 350A, VETC 360, VETC 375, VETC 495, and VETC 496. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is also required for graduation from the Veterinary Technology Program. 
3. Students may not repeat a course required in the curriculum more than once.
4. Any student who earns a grade less than the required minimum grade in a course required in the curriculum must repeat the course the next semester it is offered at Mercy College in order to progress to any course for which it is a Prerequisite.
5. Any student who receives less than the required minimum grade in a course required in the curriculum more than once will automatically be dismissed from the Program.
6. For any veterinary technology lecture course that has a laboratory course as a corequisite, both the lecture and laboratory courses must be taken concurrently. In the event that a student must withdraw from the lecture course, the student must also withdraw from the corequisite laboratory course. Students who wish to take the lecture or laboratory course alone will require program director authorization and may be required to participate in relevant labs or audit relevant lecture topics.
7. Veterinary Technology courses within the Veterinary Technology curriculum are not offered in the summer semester.
8. Students who receive an unsatisfactory evaluation in any category, including but not limited to professional and ethical behavior, or required skill in clinical courses VETC 340, VETC 341, VETC 350, VETC 350A, VETC 360, VETC 375, VETC 495, or VETC 496, or who are dismissed from any externship site, will receive an “F” in the course and will have their records reviewed by the Veterinary Technology Faculty. The faculty will determine if the student will be given the opportunity to repeat the experience in a future semester, and/or be placed on probation, or be dismissed by the Program.
9. If a student is dismissed from any externship site because of an inability to demonstrate content knowledge, the faculty may require the student to pass a competency exam and either retake or audit the course covering the content prior to reassignment to an externship site.
10. Any student that has been dismissed from the Veterinary Technology Program is not eligible to reapply to the Veterinary Technology Program.

Minimal Technical Standards

The following technical standards, which serve to protect the student and patient and are deemed essential for performance as a competent veterinary technologist, are required for admission, continuation and graduation from the Mercy College Veterinary Technology Program:

Essential Requirements

1. Capable of frequently lifting and/or carrying up to 50 pounds from floor to waist level.
2. Ability to tolerate walking and standing for sustained periods of time.
3. Capable of handling, positioning and restraining live animals.
4. Capable of using hands and arms to handle, install, position and move materials.
5. Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs, including auscultatory sounds, alarms, animals vocalizations, cries for help and warning sounds from animals and humans. Ability to perceive and understand the natural or amplified human voice when lips, facial expressions and/or other visual clues are not able to be seen.
6. Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and to perform nursing duties.
7. Eyesight capable of viewing small visual images and reading instrumentation.
8. Amenable to learning the safe handling and restraint of all Program-required species of domestic and exotic animals without a level of fear that interferes with satisfactory performance.
9. Capacities to read, hear, understand and quickly execute complex verbal and written instructions given in English.
10. Willingness to assist with or perform a wide variety of medical, surgical and diagnostic procedures in the veterinary setting, including humane euthanasia.
11. Ability to act in a professional and ethical manner.
12. Ability to responds promptly and appropriately in emergency situations.
13. Ability to speak English and be understood by others who speak English.
14. Ability to handle and/or be exposed to a wide variety of animal species and their environments without adverse medical consequences (e.g., allergic reaction)

Veterinary Technology Student Essential Skills

Mercy's program requires that students successfully acquire specified, essential skills in order to complete the Veterinary Technology Program. A link to these skills may be found on the program page of the Mercy College website.