A criminal background check is not required for admission to the program. However, one IS required for licensure. If you have a felony conviction, please contact the Texas Board of Veterinary Medicine to learn more about licensure.

Rabies vaccination is required for admission to the program. If you have a health condition, religious objections, or other concerns about vaccination, please contact the Veterinary Technology department.

1. College-Level Readiness
   • All Applicants must be able to demonstrate college-level readiness in Reading, Writing, and Math.
   • Any student anticipating entrance into the veterinary technology program should ensure that remediation is not required after admission examinations are completed and have been reviewed. If admission examinations indicate the student is in need of remediation in math, writing, or reading, the student must successfully complete those requirements before applying for entry into the veterinary technology program.
2. If completed prior to program admission, all general education courses in the program must be passed with a grade of 'C' or better. Additionally,
   • If completed prior to program admission, college level math coursework must have been completed within the past 5 years with a grade of 'C' or better.
   • If completed prior to program admission, BIOL 1406 - Biology I for Science Majors must have been completed within the past 5 years with a grade of 'C' or better.

The field of Veterinary Technology is both intellectually and physically challenging. The curriculum of the Lone Star College - Tomball Veterinary Technology Program seeks to provide a foundation in veterinary technology that will prepare the student to become successfully credentialed and perform a wide variety of professional roles within the veterinary field. A candidate for the profession of veterinary technology must have abilities and skills in many different areas. The Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE) has identified the following essential and technical skills and standards for all students to demonstrate with or without a reasonable accommodation, although a program may specify other skills or standards.

General Physical Requirements - Students must:

• Possess the physical ability to:
  • Tolerate walking and standing for at least ten minutes at a time, multiple times per hour.
  • Lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds from floor to waist level or higher, multiple times per day.
  • Lift objects/animals weighing up to 50 pounds to a height of one meter or higher and carry the object/animal for two meters without assistance.
  • Use hands and arms to handle, install, position, and move materials, equipment, and supplies without assistance.
  • Handle, position, and restrain live animals of small and large animal species.
  • Be able to have sustained contact with multiple species of animals and be amenable to learning the safe handling, restraining, and working with these animals. An individual should not be allergic to any species of animals to the extent that would prohibit working in a facility that has them.
• Cognitive Ability - Students must:
  • Be able to function in a structured environment within considerable time constraints and capable of making rapid decisions in urgent situations and meeting deadlines.
  • Possess a willingness to assist with and perform a wide variety of routine medical, surgical, and diagnostic procedures common to the veterinary setting, including humane euthanasia and handling of sick, injured, fractious, or aggressive animals without fear.
  • Be able to complete required tasks/functions under stressful and/or unpredictable conditions, including emergency situations.
  • Be able to access information from books, reference manuals, computers, and paper and electronic medical documents to perform duties and safely use equipment without assistance.
  • Be able to prioritize, organize, and utilize time-management skills to perform tasks.
  • Evaluate, synthesize, and communicate diagnostic information to the attending veterinarian and/or staff.
  • Be able to progress toward minimal supervision as they advance through the program.
• Communication Skills - Students must:
  • Read, write, speak, and report accurately and effectively in English.
  • Comprehend and conduct complex written and oral instructions given in English.
  • When communicating verbally with other individuals, either in person or by telephone, be able to make legible and coherent written notes, in English, within the margins and space provided on the appropriate forms.
• Professionalism and Interpersonal Skills - Students must:
  • Demonstrate professional and socially appropriate behavior, maintain cleanliness and personal grooming consistent with close human and animal contact.
  • Be able to interact appropriately with clients and all members of the veterinary healthcare team.
  • Have the ability to exercise good judgment and make appropriate professional and procedural judgment decisions under stressful and/or emergency conditions (i.e., unstable patient condition), emergent demands (i.e., stat test orders), and a distracting environment (i.e., high noise levels, complex visual stimuli, aggressive animals).
• Manual Dexterity and Mobility - Students must:
  • Be able to move his/her entire body no less than three meters within two seconds of a signal to do so and to move rapidly from danger while handling animals in confined spaces.
  • Possess fine motor movements to perform the essential functions of the profession. This includes the dexterity to manipulate small equipment, adjust resistance on equipment, hold hooves while cleaning and evaluating, manage syringes, catheters, and common surgical instruments.
  • Possess tactile ability necessary for physical assessment and to perform nursing duties in a timely manner. This includes performing palpation during physical exams, administering oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous medication, insert and remove tubes, collect organic samples from live animals, and perform wound care.
• Possess the ability to palpate and interpret findings, i.e., palpation of pulses, lymph nodes or trachea to determine proper endotracheal tube size.
  • Be able to hold surgical instruments in one hand and perform fine movements with such instruments. This includes ability to assist in holding of hemostats or other instruments while assisting in surgery; induce and monitor general anesthesia in an animal patient; and place intravenous and urinary catheters without assistance.
  • Be able to hold, manipulate, or tie materials ranging from a cloth patch to an exceptionally fine string. This includes the ability to hold and manipulate a surgical sponge, tie a 00-silk suture, perform endotracheal intubation, perform intravenous injection, catheterize animals to obtain sample of urine and/or other body fluids, and apply bandages without assistance.
• Auditory, Olfactory, and Visual Skills - Students must:
  • Have functional use of senses to assess patients, interpret, and record data safely and correctly.
  • Possess adequate visual ability, with or without correction, allowing for the determination of minute areas of detail, small variations in color and adequate depth perception (size, shape, and texture), including differentiation of details as viewed through a microscope. This includes ability to characterize and interpret the color, odor, clarity, and viscosity of body structures and fluids, observe variations in skin and mucus membrane color, integrity, pulsations, tissue swelling, etc.
  • Possess visual ability to allow for observation and assessment as necessary in nursing care both from a distance and close by to recognize physical status and non-verbal responses including behaviors.
  • Possess auditory ability necessary to monitor and assess health status, including auscultation of heart and lungs, and hear equipment alarms and warning sounds from animals, humans, and/or equipment of impending danger or injury.
  • Recognize and respond appropriately to distress sounds from animal and alarms/warning signals on animal monitoring equipment directly and through intercommunication systems to ensure patient safety.
  • Detect and respond appropriately to odors to maintain environmental safety and patient needs.
  • Be able to use a compound microscope to identify cells and organisms and be able to differentiate colors of stained objects.
  • 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. This includes ability to detect and describe a change in color of hair coat caused by licking or trauma; detect abnormal head posture in a parakeet; monitor respiratory rate during anesthesia; and ability to read anesthesia-monitoring equipment.
  • Be able to discriminate shades of black and white patterns in which the band is not more than 0.5 mm in width. This includes ability to characterize bacterial hemolysis on a blood agar plate; density patterns on a radiograph; and ability to see ECG tracing.
  • Possess adequate depth perception to allow detection of a 0.5 cm elevation, which is no more than 1cm in diameter on a slightly curved surface having a slightly irregular surface. This includes detection of tissue swelling on the hip on a smooth-haired dog and determining presence of reaction to skin testing for allergies.
  • Be able to perceive the natural or amplified human voice without lip reading to permit oral communication in a surgery room with all occupants wearing surgical masks.
  • Be able to perceive the origin of sound as needed to detect movement of large animals in a pen or corral, monitoring multiple patients in an ICU.

Applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of the application deadline.

After visiting with an advisor, the student should submit a separate application to the veterinary technology program. Transcripts are already provided for the Lone Star College general admission.

Program applications are reviewed and evaluated for fall admission starting on June 1st of each year based on the following criteria:

• Overall GPA of 2.5
• Mandatory information session
• Veterinary Technology advising form filled out and signed by an LSC advisor
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation with professional evaluation form (within 12 months of application deadline) signed by either a currently practicing LVT or DVM. LORs must be emailed directly from the evaluator’s email work account to our email. The applicant may choose to hand deliver the letter in a sealed envelope with evaluator’s signature across the envelope seal. Letters hand delivered must be hand signed and printed on letter head. Signature stamps are not permitted.
• 80 hours of observation from one location within 12 months of application deadline with proof of attendance. Observation hours MUST be obtained at a location with an LVT. Observation hours must be related to activities involving an LVT or DVM. Hours spent as kennel help will not be accepted. Volunteering at a shelter without direct supervision by a DVM or LVT will not be accepted.
• Rabies Policy reviewed and signed with rabies vaccine required prior to September 15 of first semester in the program. If requesting a waiver for Rabies Vaccine, the waiver form must be submitted on or before First Year Orientation. Waivers can be obtained from the Program Director. Waivers are only accepted for specific reasons. For more information contact the VTHT department.
• Technical Standard requirements must be reviewed and signed, and a physical exam performed by a licensed health care provider will be required if accepted.
• Essay submitted- Please explain the differences between a Licensed Veterinary Technician, a Certified Veterinary Technician, and a Veterinary Assistant. Pay attention to educational differences, examination and licensing differences, and salary differences. Include any other information you feel is significant. The essay must be a word document, between 1 and 2 pages long, single spaced, 12-point Arial font, with one-inch margins. Any deviations will result in point deductions.
• Points will be given based on GPA, courses completed taking into account the grade earned, observation hours greater than 120, essay, CVA certificates, and degree held.

All applicants will be notified of their status. Students will be notified through their Lone Star email. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all personal information on the application is current.

The veterinary technology program will have an orientation session prior to the student's first semester with our program. Students that have received admission notifications are required to attend this meeting. Essential information on rules and program requirements will be covered in detail by the program faculty and staff, and questions will be welcomed.

• Rabies vaccination is required.
• Tetanus vaccination strongly recommended.

To remain in good standing and progress within the veterinary technology curriculum, students must:

1. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
2. Earn a grade of 'C' or better in each course required in the Veterinary Assistant certificate or Veterinary Technology AAS degree plan.
3. Students who withdraw or make a D or F in any Vet Tech course will not be able to progress. Those students will need to apply for reapplication or readmission (see below).

The following are required for the program and are purchased by the student:

• Textbooks
• Uniforms
• testing fees
• clinical/lab equipment
• licensure fees

Health insurance is not required but highly encouraged that students do so.

The policy for drug and alcohol testing is found at PolicyManual20190515.pdf (lonestar.edu), section VI.D.6, which states: Students and faculty members in the health occupation, emergency services, child care programs, or any other applicable program may require drug testing.

Students are responsible for attending orientations and following all policies and procedures at any facility to which they are assigned. The annual medical requirements must be current. Professional behavior is always expected. Students are responsible for transportation to and from clinical agencies for day and evening learning experiences.

All courses transferred into the degree plan from another institution must be evaluated and approved by the Admissions Office as part of the Veterinary Technology application process. Students may transfer credit from other AVMA-accredited veterinary technology programs. The criteria used to assess transfer students’ work shall be:

• The student must provide course syllabi with objectives, course descriptions, and transcript of all Veterinary Technology courses. Only course grades of “C” or better will be considered.
• Program-specific courses must meet CVTEA standards and have been completed no more than one (1) year prior to acceptance to the Veterinary Technology program. The courses will need to align with Lone Star College – Tomball Veterinary Technology Program courses, including equivalent credit hours and completion of required essential skills associated with the courses.
• The student must obtain a letter of recommendation from the previous Program Director that states that the student is in good standing and would be accepted back into the previous program.
• The student must meet with the Program Director for individual consideration.
• The applicant must complete all first-time application requirements and will be ranked accordingly using the selection process. All college transfer requirements must also be fulfilled.

The Veterinary Technology Program Director will authorize approval of credit after reviewing transcripts, syllabi, credit hours, and course descriptions. However, additional assessments may be required in the form of Lone Star College – Tomball Veterinary Technology Program final lecture and/or laboratory practical exams in the particular VTHT courses.