Week 1
Lesson 1
Basic Biology and Cell Biology 
Learners will gain a basic overview of basic biology principles and cell structure and function.
Lesson 2
Anatomy and Physiology 1 
Learners will gain a basic understanding of dog/cat body systems including bone morphology, muscles, heart, cardiac cycle, blood, blood flow, respiration, and digestion, to ensure they understand the disease processes and injuries encountered in a clinical practice. Skeletal, muscular, cardiopulmonary, urinary, digestive, integumentary systems 
 Week 2
Lesson 3
Anatomy and Physiology 2 
Learners will gain a basic understanding of dog/cat body systems including bone morphology, muscles, heart, cardiac cycle, blood, blood flow, respiration, and digestion, to ensure they understand the disease processes and injuries encountered in a clinical practice. Skeletal, muscular, cardiopulmonary, urinary, digestive, integumentary systems 
Lesson 4
Common Diseases and Medical Conditions 1 
Learners will gain an overview of a variety of diseases and medical conditions commonly seen in a general veterinary practice. 

Learners will present on a common disease they have chosen to the class between lessons 5-7. 
 Week 3
Lesson 5
Common Diseases and Medical Conditions 2 
Learners will gain an overview of a variety of diseases and medical conditions commonly seen in a general veterinary practice. 

Learners will present on a common disease they have chosen to the class between lessons 5-7. 
Lesson 6
Common Diseases and Medical Conditions 3 
Learners will gain an overview of a variety of diseases and medical conditions commonly seen in a general veterinary practice. 

Learners will present on a common disease they have chosen to the class between lessons 5-7. 
 Week 4
Lesson 7
Common Diseases and Medical Conditions 4 
Learners will gain an overview of a variety of diseases and medical conditions commonly seen in a general veterinary practice. 

Learners will present on a common disease they have chosen to the class between lessons 5-7. 
Lesson 8
Nursing Skills 1 
Learners  will be introduced to the assistant’s role catheter setting and maintenance, fluid pumps and IV & SQ Fluids, admitting patients and handling patients that are contagious including PPE.
 Week 5
Lesson 9
Nursing Skills 2 
Learners will be introduced to the assistant’s role in administering medications, trimming nails, determining gender of kittens, and other nursing skills needed. 
Lesson 10
Nutrition Basics/Understanding Nutrients
Learners will gain a basic understanding of nutrients vs. ingredients, feeding assessment, understanding of pet food labels, and packaging, and life-stage feeding guidelines.
 Week 6
Lesson 11
Special Diets and Feeding Pets in the Hospital
Learners will be introduced to some options that are available for special diets and their benefits, based on a patient’s nutritional needs due to a variety of diseases or medical conditions. Approaches to feeding hospitalized patients will also be discussed
Lesson 12
Lab Assistance - Lab Safety, Internal and External Parasites 1
Learners will develop an understanding of some of the safety protocols that required within the veterinary lab. They will also gain experience in the use of a microscope to view specimens. Students will learn about collection methods for fecal samples and how to perform a fecal flotation to look for internal parasite eggs. 
 Week 7
Lesson 13
Lab Assistance - Internal and External Parasites 2
Learners will be introduced to common internal and external parasites among dogs and cats. A basic overview of the parasite life cycle will be discussed along with patient and environment treatment as
indicated by the veterinarian. Client communication for over-the-counter flea/tick prevention will be discussed
Lesson 14
Lab Procedures - Urine and Blood Sample Analysis 1
Learners will gain an understanding the veterinary assistant’s role in the collection and set up of a variety of blood samples and tests including how the veterinary lab functions, result recording, and ways to assist the technician or doctor. Review of restraint for blood collection will be done.
 Week 8
Lesson 15
Lab Procedures - Urine and Blood Sample Analysis 2 
Learners will gain an understanding the veterinary assistant’s role in the collection and set up of a variety of urine samples and tests including how the veterinary lab functions, result recording, and ways to assist the technician or doctor. Review of restraint for urine collection will be done. Ear cytology will also be discussed. 
Lesson 16
Care of the Hospitalized Patient 1
Learners will gain an understanding of the importance of excellent patient care. The emphasis will be on the assistant’s role in patient observation and methods of communicating accurate information to the technicians and doctors. The importance of planning for the best environment for each specific patient will be discussed. 
 Week 9
Lesson 17
Care of the Hospitalized Patient 2
Learners will gain an understanding of the importance of excellent patient care. The emphasis will be on the assistant’s role in patient observation and methods of communicating accurate information to the technicians and doctors. Housing, cleaning/sanitation, feeding, walking, housekeeping, and psychological considerations for pets will be discussed. Special needs for certain pets will be discussed.
Lesson 18
Recognizing Pain/ Pain Management (the assistant's role) 
In this lesson learners  will develop an understanding of the importance of recognizing pain in patients. Pain scale, pain recognition and steps the vet assistant can take to help the vet in pain assessment will be discussed.
 Week 10
Lesson 19
Diagnostic Imaging 
Learners will gain an understanding of radiology safety, restraint, and positioning (including terminology), proper handling, storage and processing of film, digital radiology, dental radiology, and care of equipment. Hands-free restraint will be stressed. Practice with models will be used in class to demonstrate restraint positioning. Information on other imaging options such as ultrasound will also be shared.
Lesson 20
Zoonotic Diseases 
Learners will become familiar with what zoonotic diseases are and the importance of using proper PPE and handling methods with patients who have, or may have a zoonotic disease. Isolation protocols will also be discussed and how that helps to prevent any disease spread.
 Week 11
Lesson 21
Surgical Prep & Assisting 1
Learners will be introduced to the assistant’s role in anesthesia administration and surgical prep, equipment, supplies, and instruments found in a clinical practice. Aseptic technique and surgical suite set up be discussed. Learners will have an opportunity to practice with identification of surgical instruments. 
Lesson 22
Surgical Prep & Assisting 2 
Learners will begin to become familiar with the protocols used and the assistant’s role in patient prep and surgeon prep.  Aseptic technique including surgical gloving will be discussed. Learners  will have an opportunity to practice gloving and preparing a "patient" for surgery. .
 Week 12
Lesson 23
 Surgical Procedures 
Learners  will be given an overview of a variety of “routine” surgical procedures and other types of surgical procedures commonly seen in general clinical practice. Surgery videos will be shown. 
Lesson 24
Surgical Post Op Care and Clean Up. 1
Learners will be introduced to the basic concepts in patient anesthetic monitoring and recovery.
 Week 13
Lesson 25
Surgical Post Op Care and Clean Up. 2
Surgical instruments cleaning and wrapping, aseptic technique, folding and wrapping of drapes and record keeping will be practiced. Discussion will include an overview of autoclave and gas sterilization use. 
Lesson 26
Review for Final Exam and COURSE END PARTY! 
This time will be used for any questions and discussion on topics that will be covered on the final exam, to relax and to share take aways and feedback from the course!