A Career in Veterinary Nursing

Do you enjoy working with animals as well as people? Do you see yourself working in a fast-paced career as a member of the veterinary health care team?  Do you enjoy science and health care related classes?  If so, a career as a veterinary nurse may be right for you. Colby Community College offers two ways to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Nursing: on-campus and online.

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Which program is best for you? 

The On-Campus Veterinary Nursing Program 

The On-Campus Veterinary Nursing Program at Colby Community College is one of the oldest in the nation. It was established in 1969.

Students receive training on many advanced technologies in veterinary medicine such as direct digital radiology, class IV laser therapy, and color Doppler ultrasound.  In addition, the program has a full line of veterinary laboratory equipment that students use as part of their education.

Students in the On-Campus Veterinary Nursing Program receive hands-on training throughout the two year program with a variety of college-owned animals including dogs, cats, cattle, horses, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, and birds. In addition to the main 57-acre campus in Colby, the college operates a 60-acre agricultural center east of the city. Students in the On-Campus Veterinary Nursing Program utilize the college farm as a hands-on laboratory for their large animal coursework.

On-Campus Veterinary Nursing Program students attend classes full-time at Colby Community College and have met the selective admissions criteria.  

To request more information, fill out our interest form!

The Distance Learning Veterinary Nursing Program

Students in the Distance Learning Veterinary Nursing Program gain hands-on experience by working with animals such as dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep/goats, rabbits, rodents, and birds in veterinary hospitals. Traditional classroom coursework for the program is completed online. Students are not required to visit the campus for any reason. However, on-campus weekend mentorships are offered during the fall and spring semesters for the large animal mentorship, laboratory animal/ exotic pet mentorship, and microbiology mentorship courses as a convenience for students who do not have those species in their area.

Distance Learning Veterinary Nursing Program students must be computer literate, well-organized, highly motivated, have excellent time management skills, be able to meet deadlines, be capable of reading and comprehending written materials, and take responsibility for their actions.

Starting with the second term courses, distance learning students are required to work with veterinary hospitals to complete the hands-on skills required by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Distance learning students are required to have a computer with a web cam, a headset with a microphone, and have reliable, high speed Internet access. Starting with the second term of the program, students must also have a veterinary hospital in which the mentorships and veterinary clinical experiences courses can be completed.

Mentorship courses will require access to a video camcorder or a smartphone (must be less than four years old with an excellent quality camera capable of clear video and close-up zoom capabilities and excellent sound quality) and tripod for use when recording hands-on AVMA essential skills.
To request more information, fill out our interest form! 

Accreditation

Hamster CheckupColby Community College is coordinated by the Kansas Board of Regents and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The Colby Community College On-Campus and Distance Learning Veterinary Nursing Programs are accredited by the AVMA CVTEA as programs for educating veterinary technicians.

Being a graduate of an AVMA-accredited veterinary nursing program is required by most state regulatory boards and state credentialing agencies in order to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and other applicable state examinations. Interested individuals should check with their state’s licensing agency for information on specific credentialing requirements. Some states do not offer credentialing for veterinary technicians.


MISSION

Challenge veterinary nursing students to adapt to a diverse society.  Create opportunities for veterinary nursing student growth.  Connect veterinary nursing student learning with professional experiences.

CCC Veterinary Nursing

1255 South Range Ave

Colby, Kansas 67701

(785) 460-5466

jennifer.martin@colbycc.edu