SAN ANTONIO — Alamo Colleges' Palo Alto College’s veterinary technology program was the only school in Texas to be named to the Top 50 Veterinary Technician Programs for 2018.
- Program launched in 1995
- 1 of only 5 programs fully accredited in the state of Texas
The rankings* come from TheBestColleges.org and are based on key performance indicators like admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate and the percent of students enrolled in online classes.
The program, which launched in 1995, has been accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities of the American Veterinary Medical Association since 1998 and is one of only five programs fully accredited in the state of Texas.
Students completing their Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology are eligible to take the Texas state LVT exam and the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become a credentialed LVT. Veterinary technicians can conduct clinical procedures on animals under the supervision of a veterinarian in private clinics, laboratories, animal hospitals, zoos, and other facilities.
According to a press release from Palo Alton College, the number of veterinary technicians is projected to grow 19 percent between 2014 and 2024, and the median pay for a vet tech is about $32,490 per year or $15.62 per hour.
“This recognition is a testament to the quality of our program and the high standards that we require of our students,” said Laurie Pawelek, Director of Veterinary Technology at Palo Alto College. “We as faculty and staff work hard to prepare our students and this is a great reward to all that hard work.”
*All data points are sourced from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.