Guidelines for Admission to the Veterinary Technology Program

Admission to the Veterinary Technology program at Mildred Elley is on a selective basis and is not guaranteed. The Veterinary Technology program provides students with a broad theoretical background and excellent technical skills essential for careers as veterinary technicians and/or laboratory animal technicians. The program is designed to be completed in two years, but the curriculum may be modified based on the academic preparedness or desires of the applicant.

Students accepted into the Veterinary Technology program will begin per the established enrollment schedule, provided that the minimum requirements are met:

• Be a high school graduate or hold a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), and
• Be at least 18 years of age as of the first day of scheduled classes, and
• Be a United States Citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, and
• Complete the Mildred Elley application, and
• Proficiency in Math and Science, as demonstrated by:
  • Earning a grade of “B-” or above in high school Math A (or Algebra) – Math credits must be earned at the tenth-grade level or higher;
  • Earning a grade of “B-” or above in high school laboratory Science – more than two years high school laboratory science required – Biology AND Chemistry preferred;
  • Receiving passing scores in Mathematics and Science on the GED examination; or
  • Earning a grade of “C+” or above in college-level Mathematics and/or Biology coursework; or
• Achieve a minimum of 80% on the HESI Admission Assessment Exam.

Due to the inherent risk of personal injury and exposure to zoonotic diseases and other health hazards; it is required that the student have a physical examination and personal health insurance prior to any participation in courses with live animals.

Vaccination against Tetanus and the pre-exposure to Rabies series is required for all Vet Tech Students prior to handling animals.

*New York State Public Health Law requires that individuals born after January 1, 1957, provide evidence of immunization against mumps, rubella, and two series of measles, and submit documentation demonstrating awareness and compliance with Public Health Law Section 2167 concerning meningococcal disease. Compliance forms are provided with admissions materials and must be provided within the time frames established by the New York State Department of Public Health. Additional information about immunizations may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and the Office of the Registrar.

The New York State Education Department Office of the Professions requires persons applying for licensure to be “…of good moral character,” and answer questions related to a conviction of a crime or professional misconduct. Therefore, your application for licensure may be denied, even though your education completeness and passing of the licensure exam. In addition, some veterinary clinical sites may require drug testing, and failure to provide a negative drug testing sample may prevent the student from completing the required externship rotation and clinical instruction.

Please be advised: students enrolled in the Veterinary Technology program are expected to have daytime hours available during the week to complete the necessary Clinical Externship Rotation requirement. The veterinary clinic sites are unable to take on student externs in the evening or weekend hours.

The applicants with the highest HESI A2 scores and who have completed an in-person interview with the Program Director will be asked to submit a job shadow or work experience form [will be provided] to finish their vet tech application and be considered for admission into the program.

Technical Standard Requirements for Veterinary Technology

The technical standards set forth in this document are the minimum standards that allow an individual to perform at the lowest acceptable level in the required training activity within this program. The list of technical standards is for you to use to become aware and informed of the skills required in the performance of duties of a veterinary technician and to assess your ability to complete such duties. These technical standards reflect performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to successfully complete the requirements of the Veterinary Technology program at Mildred Elley, and be a competent Licensed Veterinary Technician, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Body Senses:
  • A. Vision
    • An individual must be able to observe movement at a distance ranging from 30-45 centimeters to 15-20 meters at a discrimination level that permits detection of subtle differences in movement of the limbs in animals. Application: Detect and describe a change in color of hair coat caused by licking or trauma; detect abnormal head posture in a parakeet; monitoring respiratory rate during anesthesia; ability to read anesthesia monitoring equipment.
    • An individual must be able to discriminate shades of black and white patterns in which the band is not more than 0.5 mm in width. Application: Bacterial hemolysis on a blood agar plate; density patterns on a radiograph; ability to see ECG tracing.
    • Depth perception must allow detection of a 0.5 cm elevation which is no more than 1 cm in diameter on a slightly curved surface having a slightly irregular surface. Application: Detection of tissue swelling on the hip on a smooth-haired dog; determining 12 presence of reaction to skin testing for allergies.
  • B. Hearing
    • An individual must be able to perceive the natural or amplified human voice without lip reading. Application: Oral communication in a surgery room with all occupants wearing surgical masks.
    • An individual must be able to perceive the origin of sound. Application: Movement of large animals in a pen or corral; monitoring multiple patients in an ICU.
  • C. Proprioception
    • An individual must be able to determine the position of one hand extended from the body within +/-10 degrees when the arm is extended in any direction, the eyes are closed, and the individual is standing. Application: endotracheal intubation; intravenous injection.
    • An individual must be able to differentiate between four round semisolid objects having diameters of 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 cm and judge the shape and consistency of objects when the arm is extended and the eyes are closed. Application: assisting in surgery; lymph node palpation; palpation of trachea to determine proper endotracheal tube size.
• • Body function:
    • A. Speech
      • An individual must be able to speak English and be understood by others who cannot see the lips or facial expressions of the individual. Application: Oral communications in a surgery room where all occupants are wearing surgical masks; managing a patient with cardiac arrest.
    • B. Coordinated movement.
      • An individual must be able, when communicating with other individuals by speech, either in person or by telephone, to make legible written notes in English within the margins and space provided on the appropriate forms. Application: Completing medical records and charts; anesthesia records.
      • An individual must be able to hold surgical instruments in one hand and perform fine movements with such instruments. Application: assist in holding of hemostats or other instruments while assisting in surgery; induce and monitor general anesthesia in an animal patient; place intravenous catheters.
      • An individual must be able to hold, manipulate, or tie materials ranging from a cloth patch to a very fine string. Application: Hold and manipulate a surgical sponge; tie a 00 silk suture; endotracheal intubation; intravenous injection; catheterize animals to obtain a sample of urine; apply bandages.
      • An individual must be able to move his/her entire body a distance of no less than three meters within two seconds of a signal to do so. Application: Movement from danger while handling animals in confined spaces.
    • C. Physical Stamina.
      • An individual must be able to tolerate walking and standing for sustained and prolonged periods of time (85% of the workday).
      • An individual must be able to lift objects and/or animals weighing up to 50 lbs. unassisted.
      • An individual must be able to bend over at the waist, twist the trunk, squat, kneel, reach about the head, and have sufficient grip strength. Have the body size, conformation, and fitness to do the physical work required of a technician. Application: Placing a dog on a surgery table; lifting and carrying a bag weighing approximately 35 pounds of food, equipment, and supplies from an ambulatory service vehicle to an animal patient in a nearby barn or lot; restrain a small animal patient for a medical procedure; restrain horses and cattle by halter, twitch, nose tongs and other techniques; administer oral medication to ruminants by balling gun or dose syringe.
    • D. Allergy and/or fear
      • An individual must be able to have sustained contact with multiple species of animals and the environments in which they are housed and treated. During such contact, the individual must be able to carry out routine medical care on such animals.
      • Students who are allergic to cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, horses, cows, sheep or hay must have written permission from their physician regarding their physical ability to interact safely with the allergens that these present.
      • Students who have a phobia of certain species must acknowledge that they will be required to interact with all species of animals.

      *Students who reside in a state other than the licensure program they are enrolled in should be advised that the institution does not imply or guarantee that the requirements for the licensure program the student is enrolled in will meet the requirements for licensure in the student’s home state of residence.  The Mildred Elley, Veterinary Technology degree program prepares students for licensure in New York State.