The Veterinary Technician possesses both administrative, clinical, and technical skills necessary to assist the veterinarian in all phases of medicine and surgery for small, large, exotic, and lab animals. Technicians typically conduct clinical work in a private practice under the supervision of a veterinarian often performing various clinical medical tests (urinalysis, parasitology, radiology) along with treating medical conditions and diseases in animals. Veterinary Technicians care for a wide variety of animals, such as cats, dogs, mice, rats, sheep, pigs, cattle, horses, birds, fish, and reptiles. They function as animal radiology, dental, surgery, and anesthesiology technicians. The Veterinary Technician plays an important role in client education, grief counseling, and public relations.

The Veterinary Technology major in Applied Science is offered at the community colleges through the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market (SICCM). Students are admitted from each college (John A. Logan, Rend Lake, Kaskaskia, Southeastern Illinois, and Shawnee Community College). Students take general education courses on their own campuses and VET courses together in a central classroom on the SICCM campus.

The SICCM Vet Tech Program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). Grades of the SICCM Vet Tech Program will qualify to sit for the State and Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) for certification in Veterinary Technology. Upon successful completion of program coursework and passing score on the VTNE, students will obtain licensure as a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT).

Students must have two years of high school biology with a grade of "C" or better or a basic college biology course or higher level with a grade of "C" or better for entrance into this program.

Students any apply to only one community college for entrance into the program.