HCC Vet Tech & Vet Assistant Programs

Just sharing the good news!

HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY VETERINARY CLINIC BECOMES FIRST VET TECH PROGRAM TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NEW ENGLAND TO EARN AAHA ACCREDITATION

The Holyoke Community College (HCC) Veterinary Technician program has been accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for more than 30 years, and the HCC Veterinary Assistant program has been approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) since its inception. These are the leading organizations that set educational standards for veterinary technician and assistant programs nationwide.

Now, the HCC Community Veterinary Clinic has reached a new milestone—becoming the first veterinary technology teaching hospital in New England to earn accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

AAHA is the only organization that accredits non-emergency veterinary hospitals and clinics in the U.S. and Canada based on a comprehensive list of standards that cover everything from pain management and patient care to staff training and hospital management.

Unlike in human healthcare, accreditation for veterinary practices is voluntary. Fewer than 5,000 veterinary practices across North America have chosen to pursue and maintain this rigorous certification. Accredited hospitals must demonstrate ongoing learning and improvement between re-evaluations, which occur every three years.

So why did our veterinary team pursue AAHA accreditation? Simply put: we believe our patients and students deserve the best. Achieving AAHA accreditation means meeting or exceeding nearly 50 mandatory standards—plus dozens of additional criteria—developed by experts and regularly updated to reflect advances in veterinary medicine.

This achievement affirms that HCC’s Community Veterinary Clinic delivers care that meets the highest professional benchmarks. It reflects our commitment to excellence in patient care, student education, and continuous improvement—raising the bar for veterinary medicine across the region.