A Purdue Veterinary Nursing degree prepares graduates to be integral members of the veterinary healthcare team. The program encompasses the nursing care and handling of pets, livestock and exotic animals. From medical nursing of veterinary patients to laboratory procedures, and from cats to cattle, learn how to care for patients in your neighborhood and the world. The Veterinary Nursing Program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and boasts excellent pass rates on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). Students in the Program receive more than 1,200 clinical hours in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.
If your goal is to be a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), learn more about pre-vet opportunities at Purdue.
Purdue Veterinary Nursing offers multiple options for students including a traditional on-campus bachelor degree with entry in the fall semester only. There is also a distance learning (online) associate's degree offering admission three times each year. Students with an associate's degree in veterinary technology from an AVMA-accredited institution can pursue a bachelor's degree completion program at Purdue with entry in the summer semester only. For information, visit Veterinary Nursing.
NOTE: The First-Year of the Veterinary Nursing the entry point for all first time freshman students at Purdue. The Veterinary Nursing Clinical Years (2-4) allow for a maximum of 30 students. Entry into the Clinical Years, beginning in year two of the curriculum, is a competitive entry process. For detailed information, visit Veterinary Nursing.
Applying
Application Process for On-Campus Programs
- Future Freshmen (on-campus program) - Prioirty deadline for the freshman application for fall enrollment. Priority means we will continue accepting applications after this date only if space allows. As part of the Purdue questions on the application, students interested in veterinary nursing will answer questions related to experience in a veterinary setting.
- Transfer Students - The application for transfer students for fall enrollment becomes available in mid-December. February 1 is the deadline to apply.
Application Process for Distance Learning Program
- Students interested in the distance learning Associate in Applied Science may apply for any semester. For more information visit the Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning website.