Nicknamed "Tri-C" and founded in 1964, Cuyahoga Community College is the oldest and largest community college in Ohio. Its associate degree program in veterinary technology can be completed with at least 71 credits, with courses that include avian and exotic animal medicine, veterinary office applications, veterinary diagnostic imaging, and large and small animal health and disease. Students need to have a grade of C or better in the school's English, math and biology or chemistry courses among other requirements to start taking courses in its vet tech program.
Cuyahoga Community College
2900 Community College Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-987-4000
tri-c.edu
Stautzenberger College--with its main campus at Maumee, Ohio--has another campus in Brecksville, which is located about 16 miles away from Cleveland. Stautzenberger's vet tech program consists of 96 credits. Students are required to take three out of five general education electives in the subject areas of psychology, civics, sociology, economics and written communication. The program's core courses include husbandry and disease of large animals, animal hospital principles, laboratory animal procedures, animal medical techniques and applied veterinary anesthesia and surgery.
Stautzenberger College
Brecksville Campus
8001 Katherine Blvd.
Brecksville, OH 44141
440-838-1999
sctoday.edu
Upon graduation from Cuyahoga Community College or Stautzenberger College-Brecksville, aspiring vet techs can expect most likely expect employment in veterinarians' offices. Other major employers include hospitals, laboratories, educational institutions, and the federal government sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, vet techs made an average annual salary of around $31,000 in 2009. The BLS expects a 36 percent boost in employment between 2008 and 2018, which it estimates as one of the fastest job growth rates in the U.S. workforce.