1. Essential Requirements for Admission, Academic Advancement and Graduation
The mission of the Johnson College Veterinary Technology Program is to graduate the best future Vet Techs. It is the responsibility of the faculty to society to select applicants who are best qualified to complete the required training and who are most likely to become skilled, effective Veterinary Technicians. Applicants and students will be judged not only on their scholastic achievement and abilities, but also on their intellectual, physical, emotional and behavioral capacities to meet the essential requirements of the school’s curriculum. The Program Director exercises judgment on behalf of the program in selecting the entering class, and considers character, extracurricular achievement, and overall suitability for the profession based upon information in the application, letters of recommendation and personal interviews (if any).
In keeping with its mission and goals, and in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Johnson College promotes an environment of respect and support for persons with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations. The definition of individuals with disabilities are those who currently have, have a record of having, or are regarded as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. Major life activities include such things as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, and working.
To succeed in veterinary technology requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of skills and professional attitudes and behavior. The essential requirements presented in this document are pre-requisite for admission, academic advancement and graduation from Johnson College’s Veterinary Technology program. All courses in the curriculum, including ongoing self-directed learning, are required in order to develop essential knowledge, attitudes and skills required to become a competent veterinary technician.
Graduates of the program must have the attitudes, knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care. Johnson College acknowledges Section 504 of the 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act and PL 101-336, the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), but maintains certain minimum technical standards that must be present in the prospective candidate who seeks to complete the program and work in the field of veterinary technology.
Johnson College will consider for admission and continued academic advancement any individual who demonstrates the ability to perform, or to learn to perform, the skills referred to in this document. Deficiencies in knowledge base, judgment, integrity, character, or professional attitude or demeanor, which may jeopardize patient care, or compromise the educational process, may be grounds for possible dismissal.
2. Physical Demands
In order to fulfill the requirements of the Veterinary Technology program at Johnson College, students must be able to meet the physical demands associated with the veterinary technician profession. Examples of these requirements include but are not limited to the following:
Code: F = frequent O = occasionally n/a = not applicable
Standing1 F Stooping2 O
Walking1 F Kneeling2 F
Sitting1 O Reaching O
Lifting (up to 125 pounds)2 O Manual Dexterity3 F
Carrying (up to 50 pounds)2 F Feeling3 F
Pushing F Talking F
Pulling F Hearing F
Balancing2 F Seeing F
Climbing n/a Communicating4 F
Crawling O Crouching F
Comments:
1Very little time is spent sitting down except for writing charts.
2The ability to lift a patient from the floor to waist height, moving patients from stretchers to tables, and using good body mechanics is important.
3Posses fine motor skills and precise movement for phlebotomy, IV catheters, and diagnostic specimen collection.
4The ability to read and understand clinical instructions and apply them to patient’s charts, notes or records.
- The ability to assist in surgical areas, including patient positioning, assisting with the care of exposed tissues, operating suction/cautery instruments, assisting with anesthesia and maintaining proper operating room conduct and sepsis. Must be able to work around strong chemicals used for developing radiographs.
- The ability to maneuver on slippery floor surfaces, withstand loud working conditions (barking, constant beeping alarms)
- Should not be allergic to domestic animals to the extent that would prohibit working in a facility that has them.
3. Communication
A student must be able to speak intelligibly, to hear adequately, and to observe closely patients in order to elicit and transmit information. A student must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with persons in need of care for their animals, with faculty, clinical staff and veterinarians. Communication includes not only speech, but also reading and writing. In addition, the student must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written English with all members of the health care team. A student must possess reading skills at a level sufficient to accomplish curricular requirements and provide clinical care for patients. The student must be capable of completing appropriate medical records and documents and plans according to protocol and in a complete and timely manner. Must be able to communicate successfully with the faculty, clinical staff and veterinarians. Students should be able to hear various equipment sounds and must be able to communicate in a clear and concise manner to owner’s as well as clinicians.
4. Sensory and Motor Coordination and Function
Individuals applying for admission, progression to clinical courses, and graduation from a program in Veterinary Technology must be able to meet the physical and emotional requirements of the academic program. A student must have sufficient sensory and motor function to elicit information from animal patients by a variety of diagnostic maneuvers. A student must be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes
In addition, students admitted to the programs in Veterinary Technology must possess the following qualities:
- The emotional maturity and stability to approach highly stressful human and/or animal situations in a calm and rational manner.
- The ability to make clinical judgment using critical thinking.
- The ability to adhere to ethical standards of conduct as well as applicable state and federal laws.
- The ability to provide effective written, oral, nonverbal communication with clients and their families, colleagues, health care providers, and the public.
Because of the unique responsibilities involved in all Veterinary Technician professions, each department reserves the right to require that the student who appears to be unsuited for any program therein withdraw from the program.
An individual who poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, themselves, or animal patients may be denied admission, progression, or graduation. The College’s determination that a person poses a direct threat will be based on an individualized assessment that relies on current medical evidence or on the best available evidence to assess the nature, duration, and severity of the risk and the probability that the potential injury will actually occur.
Although it is extremely rare, an animal health care worker may become exposed to this virus through accidental transmission from an infected animal. An effective means of reducing the chance of a rabies infection is through the rabies prophylaxis vaccine. Once vaccinated, the student would be required to take a reduced amount of vaccines post viral inoculation as opposed to a student who was not protected. As a potential student who will be providing direct patient care, you will be required to obtain rabies inoculation (See Rabies Vaccine Policy).
Johnson College is committed to helping students with disabilities complete their program of study by reasonable means or accommodations. Reasonable accommodations are services provided to individuals with disabilities that remove or lessen the effect of the disability-related barrier. Individuals without documented disabilities are not eligible for accommodations.
Prospective (interested) students with disabilities, in accordance with Johnson College policy, and as defined by section 504 of 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1993, who may seek accommodations in order to meet the technical standards are encouraged to contact Counseling and Disability Services to discuss what reasonable accommodations, if any, the College could make in order for the perspective student to meet the standards. A student with a disability who requests accommodations will be required to submit this request in writing and provide pertinent supporting documentation in accordance with Johnson College policies. Perspective students are not required to disclose any information regarding technical standards to the Enrollment Department. Questions or Concerns? Please contact disability services for more information.
6. Clinical Expectations
Students will be required to operate behaviorally, emotionally, and physical as if the program was an industry clinic. Specifically, when students are required to demonstrate skills at a clinical expectation during practical examinations, AVMA tasks, and rotations. This expectation is the program prepares technicians for a fast-paced occupation, where accommodations such as extended time would not emulate a real-world clinic.
Because of the unique responsibilities involved in all veterinary technician professions, the Program Director reserves the right to require that the student who appears to be unsuited for any program therein withdraw from the program.
An individual who poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, themselves, or animal patients may be denied admission, progression, or graduation. The College’s determination that a person poses a direct threat will be based on an individualized assessment that relies on current medical evidence or on the best available evidence to assess the nature, duration, and severity of the risk and the probability that the potential injury will actually occur. Please refer to the Johnson College handbook.
Although it is extremely rare, an animal health care worker may become exposed to this virus through accidental transmission from an infected animal. An effective means of reducing the chance of a rabies infection is through the rabies prophylaxis vaccine. As a potential student who will be providing direct patient care, you will be required to obtain rabies inoculation (See Rabies Vaccine Policy).