STCC to Offer Veterinary Assistant Training Program

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will offer veterinary assistant training beginning Feb. 10. The course runs through August, with classes meeting Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

The training marks the first step toward getting a start in a field where professionals are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinary-assistant jobs are expected to grow 19% between 2018 and 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.

“This is a dream job for many animal lovers,” said Elliot Levy, senior director of the Workforce Development Center at STCC. “Caring for animals provides both a meaningful and rewarding career as well as skilled work that leads to a stable income. We are excited to offer this workforce-development opportunity.”

The training prepares students to keep animals healthy, care for them when they are ill, and assist veterinarians in their offices.

The veterinary assistant works directly under the supervision of veterinarians and the veterinary technician as they perform procedures, examinations, and treatments. The veterinary assistant provides basic care for animals, such as feeding and exercising the animals, while learning how to recognize signs of illness and disease, performing laboratory procedures, interacting with clients, and performing general office procedures. Veterinary assistants work in animal hospitals and clinics, animal shelters, laboratories, zoos, and animal parks.

For more information and to enroll online, visit stcc.edu/wdc/descriptions/veterinary-assistant. To contact the Workforce Development Center Office, call (413) 755-4225.