Admission Process

There is a competitive admission process for being admitted into the 2nd year cohort of the Veterinary Technology Program at MCC. The Veterinary Technology program admits 20 students to the 2nd year to begin in the Fall of each year. The following are required to be eligible to have your application evaluated.

• High school graduation or G.E.D equivalency
• Cumulative college grade point average of 2.7 or higher
• Completion of required courses for Application with a "C" or better
  • VET101 Introduction to Veterinary Technology (3)
  • VET101LL Animal Care Skill I laboratory (2)
  • ENG 101 First Year Composition (3)
  • ENG 102 First Year Composition (3) OR ENG 111 Technical Writing
  • CRE 101 (3) ; Critical and Evaluative Reading
  • MAT 120 (5) OR MAT 121 (4) OR MAT 122 (3) or MAT126 (6) Intermediate Algebra or MAT150 or higher math with MA tag (3-6) (MAT141, MAT142 are not eligible for math pre-requisite)
  • CHM 130 Fundamental Chemistry (3)
  • CHM 130LL Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory (1)
  • BIO 181 General Biology (Majors) (4) Must have been taken within 5 years of application
  • FYE101 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success (1)
• Have proof of Tetanus toxoid within the last 7 years, required on application Rabies Pre-Exposure requirements apply to admitted 2nd year cohort students. Not needed to be done before the application deadline.
• Animal-related work experience (volunteer or paid) A minimum 100 hours of documented experience required. Owning animals, fostering and pet sitting do not count toward work experience. A signed letter by supervisor/manager with hours documented is required for animal care experience to be considered.
• 1 signed letter of reference- Letter should speak to your ability to succeed in working with animals and in a rigorous science-based curriculum.
  • 1 College instructor from whom you took a course (preferably science-based subject)
    • OR
  • 1 A supervisor or other responsible person representing the site animal care related experience is obtained
• Meet physical requirements of the job
  • Frequently lifting and carrying 40 pounds from the ground to waist level, and occasionally being able to lift fifty or more pounds with assistance. This is a physically demanding occupational field.
• Complete and turn in a Veterinary Technology Program Application to the Veterinary Technology Program Director--Dr. Kimberly Focht before the deadline.
• Qualified Applicants will be placed in a lottery to select the 20 students for each Fall 2nd year cohort.

Additional Information

• We do not keep a waiting list from year to year. If an applicant is unsuccessful in their admission for one year, they will need to reapply for the next open application period.
• Once a student is admitted to the 2nd and 3rd years of the Veterinary Technology program, it is expected that the curriculum is completed in sequence within two years. Exceptions may be granted by the program director on a case by case basis. Please see for Veterinary Technology Student Handbook for more information.
• To qualify for Arizona state licensure- Certified Veterinary Technology (CVT), you must have an AAS degree in Veterinary Technology from an AVMA-accredited program and pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) and State Exam. In order to receive an AAS in Veterinary Technology at Mesa Community College, all general education and graduation requirements must be met. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all curriculum courses. You can find out more information on taking the VTNE at the AAVSB website.
• Enrollment at Mesa Community College does not guarantee admission into the Veterinary Technology program. Registration for 2nd and 3rd-year Veterinary Technology program courses is not allowed until after the applicant has been notified in writing of their acceptance into the program.

Admission Criteria

High School Graduation or G.E.D equivalency. Completion of Program Prerequisites with a "C" or better and Admission to Veterinary Technology AAS 2nd year cohort. We have a competitive admissions process. Please see Program Admission Page.