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DEVTP Program Overview

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Admissions Requirements

  • DEVTP is open to anyone interested in pursuing an associate's degree in veterinary technology
  • You must be a high school graduate or hold a GED
  • For levels 2, 3 and 4 you must currently be working in a veterinary clinic at least 10 hours per week. Level 1 classes are exempt from having preceptors and working at a veterinary hospital.
  • Upon enrolling in your first DEVTP course, you are expected to complete and submit the following documentation. These documents will be emailed to you after you have enrolled in your first course:
    • DEVTP application
    • Dallas County Community College District application
      (Application to the DCCCD requires that students submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended, if applicable)
    • Liability waiver
    • Health risk acknowledgement
    • A selection of required General Education courses
  • Levels 2, 3 and 4 courses require an additional Off-Campus Clinical Instruction Agreements form and hospital approval prior to enrollment

Receptionist Certificate

  • Can be completed in three semesters. This certificate includes the following courses: General Hospital and Clinic Information 1, 2 and 3.

Veterinary Assistant Certificate

  • Can be completed in one to two years (estimation of time that depends on how many courses you can take during one semester)
  • This certificate includes the following courses: General Hospital and Clinic Information 1, Examination Procedures and Clinical Techniques 1, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 1, Surgical Preparation and Assistance 1, Animal Nursing 1, Radiology and Ultrasound 1, Laboratory Procedures 1, General Education courses: Math, Biology and your choice of English or Speech

Associate of Applied Science Degree

  • Can be completed in two to four years, maybe longer, again, depending on the number of courses you can take. This includes Levels 1-3 courses, Level 4 courses and General Education courses. This degree allows you to sit for State and National Boards to become licensed.

Levels 1-3 are considered non-credit but they become credit once a student completes Level 3. This means that for these 21 courses, financial aid doesn't apply and the courses cannot transfer until the Level 3 courses are completed and become credit courses. Financial aid can be used for the General Education courses and Level 4 courses.

Program Completion

  • The time to complete the program will vary greatly, depending on how many classes you take per term, and how many terms you enroll in per year
  • If you have completed all of your prerequisite and general studies requirements, you could complete the curriculum and receive you A.A.S. in two to four years
  • We offer three terms per year, January, May, and September. Each term for DEVTP courses is 12 weeks long
  • All 27 DEVTP courses are offered each term, and each class is guaranteed to “make” regardless of how few students are enrolled, and each class is guaranteed to have room for all enrollees regardless of how many may already be enrolled in it. You can always be assured that if you want or need a class, that it will be offered, and that there will be space for you in it.
  • If you wish to take a semester off, you can do so without any problems and then re-enroll when you are ready to return to classes
  • It is strongly recommended that students take only one or at most two courses the first semester they are enrolled in the program. This is a very, very, different way of going to school, and it takes new students a while to get the routine and logistics down. After that you may take as many classes as you want each term.
  • Courses are not self-paced and students are expected to complete work following the course schedule

Becoming a Credentialed Technician

Credentialing requirements vary by state or province. For specific information on the requirements in your location, contact your state veterinary medical organization or go to the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) website. In the public section of the AAVSB website, you can access the requirements for credentialing in your jurisdiction.

DEVTP Courses

Courses within the major of the DEVTP include the following:

  • General Hospital and Clinic Information 1, 2 and 3
  • Examination Procedures and Clinical Techniques 1, 2 and 3
  • Pharmacy and Pharmacology 1, 2 and 3
  • Surgical Preparation and Assistance 1, 2 and 3
  • Animal Nursing 1, 2 and 3
  • Laboratory Procedures 1, 2 and 3
  • Radiology and Ultrasound 1, 2 and 3
  • Advanced Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology
  • Food Animal Clinical Management
  • Equine Clinical Management
  • Lab Animal Clinical Management
  • Large Animal Assisting Techniques
  • Cooperative Education (practicum)

General Education Requirements

Additional General Education requirements in English, math, speech and communication, biology, fine arts or humanities, and social or behavioral sciences are also required for the associate's degree.

Preceptors: Required for Levels 2, 3 and 4

Each hospital with a student in DEVTP levels 2, 3 and 4 of the program is required to provide a designated preceptor who acts as an in-house mentor to assist, tutor and provide feedback to the student. Preceptors must be veterinarians, graduates of an AVMA-accredited program of veterinary technology or credentialed technicians designated as RVT, LVT or CVT. Preceptors spend one to two hours per week assisting DEVTP students with course work.

Preceptor Guidelines

  1. Preceptors must possess one of the following credentials:

    • A DVM/VMD degree from an AVMA accredited institution
    • Be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in their state
    • Be a graduate of an AVMA/CVTEA accredited program of veterinary technology
    • Be credentialed in their state of residence as an R.V.T or its equivalent
    • All foreign credentials will be considered on a case-by-case basis
    • In general, individuals possessing a degree from an AVMA-listed school will qualify as a preceptor
  1. All potential preceptors must submit a Preceptor Application and be approved by the course instructor as soon as possible before the first day of the course. Please note:

    • If there is doubt as to the preceptor's qualifications, the course instructor should be contacted as quickly as possible for clarification
    • Preceptors will not receive confirmation of their acceptance as a preceptor, but any non-acceptable or questionable preceptor applicants, will be contacted immediately by the program

Preceptor Reponsibilities

All assignments and preceptor responsibilities SHOULD be monitored by the preceptor. These responsibilities may not normally be delegated or assigned to other individuals except with the specific pre-approval of the instructor. Preceptors are encouraged to obtain feedback from all practice personnel as to the student's progress and performance during the course, but only preceptors should directly evaluate students, administer practical exams, and sign the weekly preceptor task list.

  • In most clinical assignments, both the preceptor and the student must sign on the assignment form to indicate that the assignment has been monitored by the preceptor and that the student and the preceptor have shared in the evaluation of the assignment
  • Assignments must be signed by both the preceptor and the student for the student to receive credit for that portion of the class
  • Preceptors should never submit evaluations of assignments without first discussing the evaluation with the student and allowing them to comment on the evaluation

The preceptor should periodically monitor the student to ensure that the student is on schedule and completing assignments and exams at the required time intervals.

  • Assignments will start as soon as the course begins and the student should make every effort stay on schedule to receive credit for the course
  • Preceptors should familiarize themselves with the syllabus and course requirements as rapidly as possible to prevent any delay in the progress of the student through the course assignments. A course syllabus with program contact numbers and e-mail addresses, should questions or concerns arise is available

Preceptors are responsible for maintaining the strictest standards of academic honesty and integrity.

  • Any practical exams and clinical assignments must be personally monitored by preceptors. Many of these assignments will require immediate personal supervision of the student, while others will only require direct or general supervision.
  • Many assignments are based on video or text reading assignments. Preceptors should feel free to assist students in these activities. Preceptors can help clarify the material, answer specific questions, or offer personal insights into the functions of a veterinary practice.
  • Preceptors should not do the assignment for the student
  • Any incidence of student academic dishonesty will result in the loss of grade by the student, and perhaps the loss of credit for the course

Preceptors will supervise the clinical assignments that are required for credit in the course.

  • Preceptors should take their clinical supervision responsibilities seriously
  • In most courses, the clinical assignments are integral to the completion of the course. It is through these assignments, with the help and tutelage of the preceptor, that the student learns and improves in their clinical and technical abilities. In these assignments, the preceptor should think of themselves as an adjunct faculty member in the course.
  • The level of supervision required by individual students will vary. Because of this, preceptors are expected to exercise sound judgment on the level of supervision required for a given student after consulting the course schedule for the required level of supervision.
  • The schedule will explain the degree of supervision required by the preceptor for each assignment. Immediate supervision requires the preceptor to be in constant and complete proximity to the student, paying total attention to the task or assignment.
    • Direct supervision requires the preceptor to be in immediate vocal proximity to the student
    • General supervision requires the preceptor to be on the premises and available to answer questions or provide assistance
    • Even during general supervision of activities, the preceptor will be responsible for the evaluation of the assignment, so periodically the preceptor should take time to monitor the student's progress and abilities during that period

Preceptors must be willing to dedicate the time required to accomplish their responsibilities to help ensure the success of the student.

  • Evaluations and assessments of students should be informative, positive and constructive.
  • Words of praise should be given more often than criticism
  • If conflicts arise between the student and preceptor(s), the parties involved should first try to resolve the situation in a positive and constructive manner. If the problem persists or cannot be resolved the instructor should be contacted to assist in the matter and bring about a successful resolution.
  • The preceptor, like the instructor, is there to facilitate learning, answer questions, encourage, constructively evaluate, and make the class a worthwhile learning experience for all parties

Preceptors are encouraged to contact the instructor if they have any questions or concerns, and to facilitate good communication.

  • During the course the instructor may contact the preceptor to monitor the progress of the student and the course
  • The preceptor may also be contacted at the end of the course, in addition to the course evaluation, to determine the student's success in the class
  • Preceptors are encouraged to contact the instructor anytime there is a problem, concern or question

It is extremely important that preceptors make clear to students what is, and what is not, class time.

  • Most students will be working many hours in the practice that is their training site. These hours will usually far exceed the time for clinical assignments. For actual assignments, it should be made very clear to the student that regular employment hours are over, and that class is in session.
  • Preceptors may certainly observe and evaluate on a continuous basis, but for the clinical assignments to have the maximum value and learning potential, time must be scheduled, and specifically designated, as "course time"
  • If course time is interrupted by an emergency, or by another unavoidable circumstance, the class time must be rescheduled and the assignment completed

Preceptor Course Assignments

During each course, preceptors are expected to:

  • Assist with video assignments as needed
  • Assist with text assignments as needed
  • Assist with course assignments and tasks as indicated
  • Provide supervision for clinical assignments at the level indicated in the course schedule
  • Participate in the course and assignment evaluations

eCampus: Your DEVTP Connection
DEVTP students stay connected through our innovative eCampus, which allows you to communicate with instructors through a user-friendly website. All students are given free access to eCampus, which includes:

  • Your own private and secure webpage
  • The ability to check your grades online
  • A calendar of activities

Course Materials
Courses require instructional textbooks and videos and other references that can be purchased separately. The electronic workbook provides the outline of assignments to be completed each week. The workbooks are available online, students are responsible for ordering other course materials.

Course Assignments
Assignments in our distance learning program will take a variety of forms, such as:

  • Reading selected chapters in the text and taking a written test
  • Viewing a video and completing a video-based assignment
  • Practicing skills and having a senior staff member (preceptor) confirm proficiency by observing and signing a skills checklist
  • Writing assignments — multiple choice, true/false, short answer and essay questions
  • Internet-based assignments
  • Making a videotape of the student performing a skill or task and then submitting it for evaluation by DEVTP staff
  • Submitting work products, such as radiographs, for evaluation by DEVTP staff

All testing and assignments will be submitted online through "Blackboard," an interactive Web-based program. Assignments must be submitted by the designated deadlines, and students must receive a score of 70 percent or higher to pass.

Tuition
AAHA Member tuition is $319 per course. Nonmember tuition is $389 per course. For only $50 per year, students can join AAHA and be eligible for a $70 discount per course. Please contact AAHA’s Member Service Center for more information at 800/883-6301.

Late Enrollment Fees
A $20 late enrollment fee will be assessed when you enroll during the late enrollment periods.

Add/Drop/Change Fees
Students may add, drop or change a course with no additional fee during open enrollment. There will be a $20 fee for adding or dropping a course or changing registrations during the late enrollment periods.

Tuition Payment
Payment for all courses must be received by the first day of classes for each semester or the student will be dropped from the course(s). If dropped from the course, a $50 processing fee will be charged.

Refund Policy
Written withdrawal notification must be received by AAHA for Level 1, 2 and 3 courses, and by Cedar Valley College for Level 4 courses prior to the first day of class for a full refund of enrollment fees. Written notice must be received within one week after the course start date for a 70 percent refund, and within three weeks after the course start date for a 25 percent refund. No refund will be issued for withdrawal requests received 22 or more days after the course start date. Students withdrawing prior to the third week of class will receive a grade of W.

Financial Aid
Federal financial aid is available for 36 of the 72 credit hour AAS degree plan. Scholarships are also available to veterinary technology students through The American Kennel Club and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).

Non-certified loans, those that the school is not associated with, are accepted as well. For additional information, please visit www.devtp.org

How to Register
Open enrollment for the Fall Semester 2008 begins July 7, 2008. Please check back for further information on how to register.

Returning Students

  1. Complete the online form for Cedar Valley College
  2. Update all personal information, including email addresses on econnect

Students will need to have the following information to complete the online form for Cedar Valley College to complete the registration process:

  • Veterinary Clinic Information: Complete Name, Address, Phone Number, Fax Number, Email Address
  • Preceptor Information: First and Last Name, Email Address, Title (DVM, RVT, CVT, VT, etc.)
  • Student Information: First and Last Name, Social Security Number, Address, Phone Number, Date of Birth, Email Address

Level 1 Course Withdrawal

In order to withdraw from Level 1 classes, students are required to contact both AAHA and DEVTP in writing.

  • Download the withdrawal form
  • Print, complete and sign
  • Fax one copy of this form to the American Animal Hospital Association at 303/986-1700
  • Fax one copy to the DEVTP program at 972/860-8057
  • Signed copies must be received at both locations for the withdrawal to be official. Signatures must be on forms, no exceptions. Emailed or phone withdrawals are not accepted.
  • Students or preceptors should verify the receipt of the fax by phone with both AAHA and DEVTP to ensure the form was received
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