JJC Vet Assistant Program

09/15/2026

Drum roll please 🥁

🐾 Say hello to the JJC Veterinary Assistant programs new logo! 🐾

The change may seem minor but our program is removing the word “technician” from its title as we move towards approval and to move forward efforts for title protection in veterinary medicine.

Veterinary assistant and Certified veterinary technicians both play a very important role in veterinary medicine. However using the title “technician” for individuals who have not gone through an associate degree program and then has passed the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Exam) can create confusion about job roles and responsibilities. In the Veterinary Assistant program at JJC we focus on learning skills related to the requirements of a Veterinary assistant and working alongside Certified Veterinary Technicians and recognizing both roles for the irreplaceable skills they bring to the field.

We are excited for our “big” change and if you are interested in knowing more about title protection please visit https://navta.net

03/16/2026

All of our faces when we saw snow on the ground this morning ☃️, take us back to a few weeks ago when we had warmer weather and were feeding sheep at our Weitendorf field trip! 🐑

11/05/2025

Although this page is dedicated to the Veterinary Assistant program, we wanted to take some time to talk about some differences between what is a Veterinary Assistant and a Certified Veterinary Technician. JJC has programs for both career paths and both teams will be at Discover JJC this Saturday 11/8 from 9am to 12pm in the B Building, so please stop by and ask us any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you!

10/17/2025

10/06/2025

Sheep, puppies, and field trips oh my! This past week was a very eventful one for our VTA 101 class. They took their field trip to the shelter to practice their grooming skills and then also to JJC agriculture center to learn more about large animal medicine. This is always a busy week but boy is it a fun one! Thank you to Hopeful Tails Animal Rescue and our Ag department head, Brad Angus for allowing our students this opportunity to learn.
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09/29/2025

Muzzles are not a bad thing! I know it’s is easy to see muzzles as bad or scary but in some cases it can help relieve patient stress. Especially in our cat patients who prefer to not watch 🙈
Our students not only practice how to place muzzles during our demo labs on stuffed animals, but also get to practice on our lovely animal volunteers. Don’t worry Kit I’m sure was rewarded for her good behavior 🐱🐾

09/05/2025

🎙️ Season 2 of the JJC Alumni Podcast kicks off TODAY!

In this emotional episode, we sit down with Abby Panozzo, JJC alum and Associate Professor in Joliet Junior College Veterinary Medical Technology Program to explore the mental health challenges facing vet tech professionals and the urgent need for advocacy in the field.

🐾 Abby also shares the inspiring story of Vinny, a beloved 4-legged JJC alum whose legacy lives on through a brand new scholarship in his name. Plus, get an inside look at the incredible work being done by our Vet Tech department!

💜 This episode is a must-listen for animal lovers, alumni, and anyone passionate about mental health and education.

🎧 Subscribe and listen TODAY at jjc.edu/alumnipodcast or on your favorite podcast platform!

06/18/2025