Cal Poly Pomona Veterinary Technology Program Receives Accreditation From National Association

Cal Poly Pomona's animal and veterinary sciences department has been notified that its animal health science option (veterinary technology) has been named the nation's newest fully accredited program by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

"We're very pleased to have achieved this recognition of our hard work from the veterinarians national association," says Jerry Hackett, DVM MS, the veterinary technology program coordinator at Cal Poly Pomona. "This national accreditation brings with it automatic recognition by the state veterinary medical board, allowing graduates to sit for the state licensing exam for Registered Veterinary Technicians. There is a substantial shortage of licensed technicians here in California."

The program, part of the university's College of Agriculture, was provisionally accredited in 1996. Since then enrollment has grown to nearly 80 students, and more than 35 graduates are currently working as licensed veterinary technologists in California and nationwide. A substantial federal grant, won jointly with Mt SAC, provided equipment and staffing that helped make full accreditation possible.

In all there are 89 AVMA accredited programs nationally, 14 of which offer a Bachelor of Science degree. Veterinary technologists are graduates of four-year programs and work in the veterinary profession as anesthetists, laboratory and radiology technicians, surgical assistants, dental hygienists, critical care specialists, and medical care providers. They work in support of the veterinarian and administer veterinarian prescribed treatments and medications, and collect appropriate samples for diagnostic testing in public and private veterinary clinics and hospitals. Many veterinary technologists work for governmental agencies involved with animal or human health issues or in biomedical research facilities as research associates or laboratory animal care specialists. With heightened awareness of food safety issues and bioterrorism veterinary technicians are being sought after by concerned federal agencies.

The Cal Poly Pomona program is closely allied with the three-year veterinary technician program at neighboring Mt. San Antonio College, which awards an associate in science degree. In addition to efforts to make their own baccalaureate program a new major, Cal Poly Pomona is working to establish arrangements with all six AVMA accredited veterinary technician programs based at California Community Colleges.

Prospective students should contact recruiting officer Rhonda Ostrowski at (909) 869-3718 or at rlostrowski@csupomona.edu.