Veterinary Technician (A.S.T.)

Associate in Specialized Technology (A.S.T.) Degree in Erie, PA


CVTEA Accreditation LogoIMBC has received initial accreditation from CVTEA.

You love the thought of a career where you are surrounded by animals and those who love them. You want to help pet owners provide their pets with the best care possible. Assisting in various types of surgical procedures and emergencies is exciting, and never knowing what might walk through the clinic doors next is both intriguing and challenging. If this sounds like a job for you, and a little cat fur on your scrubs won’t ruin your day, then a career as a vet tech may be around the corner.

  • Program Length: 1.5 Years1
  • Format: On-Campus
  • Course Length: 6 Weeks
  • Average Class Size: 25 or Less
  • Job Outlook: 21,100 New Jobs by 2028 – Much Faster than Average2
  • Job Placement: 83%3
  • Accreditation: Initial accreditation from AVMA
  • VTNE Information: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2023
  • Number of First-time Test Takers: 40
  • 3 Year Average VTNE Pass Rate for First-time Test Takers: 57.5%

IMBC Student Stories

Zoie Barber Vet Tech

"The teachers at IMBC truly care about the students and providing the best education possible. Practicing hands-on skills in the clinic setting helped boost my confidence and skills."

Zoie Barber, Veterinary Technician (A.S.T.)

Are you looking for a veterinary technician school near you? Live near Erie? Look no further!

Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians with a wide variety of procedures and tasks, typically at veterinary hospitals and clinics. That means you’ll be supporting veterinary doctors with lab procedures, exams, and animal care. You’ll also work with pet owners and animal care providers to provide education and guidance for proper care and treatment, based upon the doctor’s instructions. Your patients might include exotic animals, birds, large animals, and household pets, such as cats and dogs. You’ll provide comfort to both the pet and the pet’s caregiver, great customer service, and help ensure a clean and safe veterinary environment.

Veterinary technicians, or vet techs for short, perform a wide variety of functions, depending on the type of practice they work within. Vet techs might administer anesthesia, perform dental prophylaxis, establish and open airways, administer resuscitative oxygen procedures, administer external cardiac resuscitation, and administer medication. You’ll provide wellness care, assist with exams, and more.

Administrative duties might include supporting, scheduling, and communicating with animal owners or care providers; charting, billing and bookkeeping; and general office management.

The IMBC vet tech program will train you to perform these administrative and clinical skills in our new 12,000 square foot facility in Erie, PA with all the labs and equipment you’ll need for success. Since this is a specialized associate degree program, you will also take general courses, such as English, math, and biology.

The ANNA West shelter is one of our many clinical sites directly on our campus. Throughout your program, you’ll interact with companion and exotic animals that are brought directly into the classroom labs.

Toward the completion of your vet tech program, all students will participate in an externship that lets you practice your new skills in a real veterinary setting with professional supervision. Before beginning an externship, you will be required to meet the following:

  • Ability to tolerate walking and standing for sustained and prolonged periods of time (85% of the workday).
  • Capable of lifting from floor to waist level and/or carrying up to fifty pounds unassisted frequently and more with assistance occasionally.
  • Ability to bend over at the waist, twist the trunk, squat, kneel, reach above the head, and have sufficient grip strength. Have the body size, conformation, and fitness to do the physical work required of a technician.
  • Ability to see, to speak in English, and to hear well enough to communicate observations about animals, and to possess arm and hand steadiness — as well as finger dexterity — to operate equipment and work with animals.
  • Obtain medical insurance prior to the start of the clinical procedures course.

Some employers and externship sites may require a criminal background check or drug test. Please speak with your admissions representative prior to enrolling in this program if this presents an obstacle for you. Additionally, graduates may need to relocate to obtain gainful employment.

Does this sound like a great program for you? Contact IMBC using the form on this page to learn more about enrolling today!

Top questions about the Veterinary Technician A.S.T. training program in Erie and career outcomes:

  1. What does a Veterinary Technician do?
    Veterinary Technicians assist veterinarians with a wide variety of procedures and tasks, typically at veterinary hospitals and clinics. Vet tech training includes learning how to support veterinary doctors with lab procedures, surgery, exams and animal care. You’ll also work with pet owners and animal care providers to provide education and guidance for proper care and treatment, based upon the doctor’s instructions. You might interact with exotic animals, birds, large animals, and typical household pets, such as cats and dogs. You’ll provide comfort to both the pet and the pet’s caregiver and great customer service and help ensure a clean and safe veterinary environment.
  2. Where do Veterinary Technicians work?
    Veterinary Technicians may work at a variety of organizations, including veterinary hospitals, zoo or wildlife facilities, boarding kennels, pharmaceutical sales, humane societies, or animal shelters.
  3. Do Vet Techs work with patients?
    Yes, in most cases you’ll work with patients, except your patients will be animals. The type of animals depends on where you work, but might include traditional house pets, such as dogs and cats, or exotic animals, or birds, etc. You’ll also help support the caregivers (owners) of the pets by providing them information about the well being and proper care of their animals.
  4. How long is the Veterinary Technician Specialized Associate (A.S.T.) Degree program?
    This is a specialized associate degree program that typically takes about a year and a half to complete. However, your actual time will vary depending on your academic progress, success, the number of courses you take, and other factors.
  5. What should I look for in a top school for Veterinary Technician training?
    Look for a vet tech school near you and check to ensure your school is accredited. IMBC has received initial accreditation from AVMA. This will mean that the program meets generally accepted academic standards. Look for a school that fits your schedule and work-life balance and can provide you the support you need such as tutoring and career services. And finally, find out if your school will prepare you for taking any necessary certifications.
  6. Are there externships at Veterinary Technician Schools like IMBC?
    Toward the completion of your program, all students will participate in an externship that lets you practice your new skills in a real veterinary setting with professional supervision. IMBC will assist you in setting up your externship.

Graduates of this program are prepared to seek entry-level employment as a Veterinary Technician in the following types of organizations:

  • Veterinary hospitals
  • Zoo or wildlife facility
  • Boarding kennels
  • Pharmaceutical sales
  • Humane societies
  • Animal shelters

Some externship and employer sites may require a criminal background check or drug testing prior to attending the externship site or gaining employment. Please speak with your admissions representative prior to enrolling in this program if a background check or drug test presents an obstacle for you. Students may need to relocate to obtain gainful employment.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Education, it is expected that 21,100 new jobs in this field will be created between 2018 and 2028. As of 2018, there were approximately 109,400 people employed in this field.2

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By submitting the information you have provided, you agree that IMBC or its authorized agents may contact you by phone, email, and text message via automated systems to provide you with information about training opportunities at the phone numbers you provided above, including any wireless number(s). You are under no obligation to consent to automated contact to enroll. Alternatively to submitting this form you may call us at 855.773.0758. Note that all calls are recorded for quality assurance.

By submitting the information you have provided, you agree that IMBC or its authorized agents may contact you by phone, email, and text message via automated systems to provide you with information about training opportunities at the phone numbers you provided above, including any wireless number(s). You are under no obligation to consent to automated contact to enroll. Alternatively to submitting this form you may call us at 855.773.0758. Note that all calls are recorded for quality assurance.

  1. This figure represents the typical length a program takes to complete. However, your actual program completion time may vary based upon your academic progress, course progression, and any breaks.
  2. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians.htm)
  3. Reported ABHES placement rates for the 2021-2022 reporting year.