Small Animal Care I
Students learn how to care for and manage small animals, focusing on the connection between humans and animals, animal behavior health, nutrition, management, and reproduction. Opportunities to handle live animals may occur. Course content also includes instruction on the tools, equipment, and facilities used in the small animal care industry. Contextual instruction and student participation in co-curricular career and technical student organization (CTSO) activities will develop leadership, interpersonal, and career skills. High-quality work-based learning (HQWBL) will provide experiential learning opportunities related to students' career goals and/or interests, integrated with instruction, and performed in partnership with local businesses and organizations.
Notes
Class Size Regulation
The Virginia Administrative Code regulates the class size for this course. For additional information, see 8VAC20-120-150, "Maximum class size," or contact the Virginia Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at cte@doe.virginia.gov.
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Course Sequences
A combination of this course and those below, equivalent to two 36-week courses, is a concentration sequence. Students wishing to complete a specialization may take additional courses based on their career pathways. A program completer is a student who has met the requirements for a CTE concentration sequence and all other requirements for high school graduation or an approved alternative education program.
- Agricultural Business Fundamentals I (36 Weeks)
- Biological Applications in Agriculture (36 Weeks)
- Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture (36 Weeks)
- Biotechnology Foundations in Agricultural and Environmental Science (36 Weeks)
- Biotechnology Foundations in Health and Medical Sciences (36 Weeks)
- Equine Science (18 Weeks)
- Equine Science (36 Weeks)
- Introduction to Animal Systems (36 Weeks)
- Livestock Production Management (36 Weeks)
- Small Animal Care II (36 Weeks)
- Veterinary Science I (36 Weeks)
Virginia’s High Demand Occupations and Apprenticeable Occupations
Section § 2.2-2472 of the Code of Virginia requires the Virginia Board of Workforce Development (VBWD) to publish a list of jobs, trades, and professions for which a high demand for qualified workers exists or is projected. The Virginia Office of Education Economics (VOEE) collaborated with the VBWD and related stakeholders to develop the high demand occupations list. VOEE’s mission is to leverage data to inform educational programming, policy, and workforce partnerships across the Commonwealth. See also the Virginia 2024 High Demand Occupations Dashboard.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code, Occupation Description, and Active Apprenticeable Occupation status (Yes/No per the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry).
| SOC Code | Occupation Description | Apprenticeable Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| 292056 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | No |
| 319096 | Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | No |
Career Clusters
| Pathway | Occupation |
|---|---|
| Agribusiness Systems |
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| Animal Systems |
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| Natural Resources Systems |
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| Pathway | Occupation |
|---|---|
| Science & Mathematics |
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