Program Policies

Vaccination and Animal Care Policy Overview

• COVID Vaccine and Booster Policy*

• Download the Animal Care and Use Campus Policy

• Download the IACUC Incident Policy

• Download the IACUC Incident Report Form

*As of May 12, 2023, North Shore Community College’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate will be lifted. After the conclusion of final exams on May 12, students and employees will no longer need to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of entry, participation, or enrollment. However certain groups of students and employees may continue to have COVID-19 vaccination requirements as a condition of their clinical or external placements. 

---

Health and Immunization Requirements

To ensure the health and safety of all students and patients in the Veterinary Technology program, students must submit proof of the required immunizations before enrolling. These include:

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella (Chickenpox)
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)
• Meningococcal (for students under 21)

For more details, refer to our Admissions Immunization Policies page.

The college uses an external vendor, Sentry MD (https://www.sentrymd.com/), to track immunization and health compliance. All Veterinary Technology students must create and activate a Sentry MD account. Health requirements must be completed by August 1 prior to the start of the program. Students should submit their immunization records to Sentry MD for approval.

Rabies Vaccination Requirement
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) requires students to provide proof of a pre-exposure Rabies vaccination or a Rabies titer (showing immunity) within two years of the initial vaccination, or a Rabies vaccine booster.

• Students with personal health insurance must submit their Rabies vaccination documentation by August 1 before the start of their first year.
• Students who choose the college's school insurance must submit documentation by October 18 of their first fall semester.

Tuberculosis Testing
Students must complete Tuberculosis (TB) testing before their Large Animal and Equine Science class, which occurs during the second semester of the second year. Documentation of the TB test must be submitted before participating in this class.

Exemptions
As per Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 76, Section 15C, students may be exempt from immunization requirements for medical or religious reasons. If you qualify for an exemption, you must submit documentation, and if it meets the criteria, your exemption will be granted.

For questions about the health requirements or to get started with Sentry MD, please contact the Admissions office or refer to the Admissions Immunization Policies page for more details.

---

Animal Use and Care Campus Policy

The Animal Science Department at North Shore Community College utilizes animals in the instruction of students in both the Veterinary Technology and Animal Care Specialist Programs. The purpose of animal utilization is to provide primary educational experiences for the students. In order to ensure that the animals are safe and humanely treated, and that students are safe and experience a maximal educational benefit from live animal use, the Animal Science Department has developed the following policies

Download the Animal Care and Use Campus Policy

---

Institution Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

There is an Institution Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at North Shore Community College. IACUC, guided by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), is responsible for ensuring that all animals used at this institution, for educational purposes, always be handled, housed, treated, cared for, and transported in a humane and ethical manner in accordance with all federal, state, and local regulations, as well as institutional policies. An animal may not be used for teaching, testing, or research unless its use is approved in writing by IACUC.

Download the IACUC Incident Policy
Download the IACUC Incident Report Form

---

Accreditation

North Shore Community College is an accredited public institute of higher education where all are welcome and each is challenged. NSCC is accredited by NECHE, the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Accreditation American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA - CVTEA)

The Veterinary Technology Program at North Shore Community College is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA - CVTEA).