Turn your passion of caring for animals into a rewarding career with the Veterinary Assistant program at College of DuPage. Our hybrid program is designed to prepare you for a career with animals in laboratories, animal hospitals and clinics while performing surgical preparation to small animal nursing under the supervision of veterinarians, scientists, and veterinary technologists and technicians.
Upcoming Classes
Classes are offered during the Fall and Spring semester. We are currently enrolling for the Fall 2025 semester. Contact healthcare@cod.edu to receive more information.
Mondays and Wednesdays, Sept. 8 to Nov. 26
6 to 7:30 p.m.
BVETA-0100-001, $1,499
Hybrid
Register Today
Sign up easily through Instant Enrollment. Be sure to provide a personal email address when registering and check your spam or junk folders regularly so you don’t miss course updates.- To participate in online or hybrid classes, you’ll need access to a computer, tablet (such as an iPad), or similar device with a camera and microphone. Classes are delivered via Zoom and/or the Blackboard learning platform.
- To ensure a smooth start, registration for online courses may close up to 48 business hours before the course begins.
Information Session
Students are required to attend this introduction before beginning the Veterinary Assistant Program. Topics covered include course logistics, expectations, as well as an overview of curriculum, mathematics used in the field, ethics and physical expectations. Register and attend the next information session.
Careers
*The median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers was $46,310 in May 2022. Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 14 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. High turnover should result in good job opportunities. Upon completion of the program you may find work in private veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, animal shelters or even zoos.
Prerequisites
- 18 years of age
- High school diploma or equivalency is required
- English proficiency
Due to the inherent requirements of the profession as a veterinary assistant, students must possess additional non-academic skills. Psychomotor skills (hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity), visual acuity (normal or corrected vision) sufficient for safe practice of veterinary assistant duties and communication skills (ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, with patients, doctors and other personnel, and the ability to follow written and verbal directions).
Tuition and Financial Options
Tuition of $1,499 excludes externship.
A payment plan is available. Payment is due at registration. Explore financial options for Continuing Education programs.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers,
at bls.gov (visited Oct. 28, 2021).
Contact Information
Continuing Education
Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 1110
(630) 942-2208
Fax: (630) 942-3785
Email: CE@cod.edu
- Request More Information
- Summer 2025 Class Schedule (all classes)
- Summer 2025 Youth Class Schedule
- Fall 2025 Class Schedule (all classes)
- Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday, closed