SANFORD — Graduates of Central Carolina Community College’s Veterinary Medical Technology program in 2009 outperformed graduates of other VMT programs in both the United States and Canada on the Veterinary Technician National Exam.

Results of the June National Board results have been received and, of the 29 CCCC graduates, 28 passed the exam on the first try, for a 97 percent passing rate. The average passing rate was just 74 percent for the approximately 3,000 first-time test takers at other VMT programs in the United States and Canada.

The average score for Central Carolina’s VMT graduates was 598. That compares to 501 for all first-time test takers, 483 for all U.S. VMT graduates, and 548 for Canadian graduates. 

“For the past few years that we have been charting this, our grads consistently outperform the other candidates on the June VTNE,” said Dr. Paul Porterfield, chairman of the college’s VMT program. “These high scores really speak volumes about the teaching and learning in our program.”

The VTNE tests graduates on knowledge in seven areas: pharmacy and pharmacology, surgical preparation and assisting, dentistry, lab procedures, animal care and nursing, diagnostic imaging, and anesthesia and analgesia. The Central Carolina C.C. VMT graduates scored an average of 53 to 144 points higher in the various areas.

According to Porterfield, there is a shortage of VMTs, both in the state and nationwide. Veterinary practices and hospitals always show up at the college’s career fairs, hoping to attract graduating VMTs. 

 

The college has been offering VMT training since 1964, when it was the first community college in North Carolina to do so. The program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Graduates of CCCC’s VMT program in 2009 are Christina Wagner of Chapel Hill; Kim Wanovich and Amy Montoya of Fayetteville; Christen Strader of Greensboro; Jenny Tomkinson of Lillington; Holly Kidd of Bennett; Elizabeth Deal of Angier; Toni Ellis of Staley; Bernadette LaJoie of Raleigh; Katie Nixon, Christian Marsini and Corrie Church of Cary; Amber Allred of Robbins; Julie Verrault of Apex; Rachel Weast of Concord; Sara Bristol of Pittsboro; Brittney Holland of New Hill; Kim Schwartz of Clayton; Jennifer Barefoot of Benson; Sarah Flowers of Durham; Rebekah Boan and Tina Mullins Wilkinson of Cameron; Megan Payne of Dobson; Jessica Norris, Susan Thomas and Karen Pogmore of Sanford; and Ryan Carroll of Willow Spring. 

For more information about the two-year associate degree program in Veterinary Medical Technology, go online to https://www.cccc.edu/curriculum/majors/veterinarymedical/ or call the VMT program at the Lee County Campus, (919) 718-7221.