My visit to Northwest Regional College (NWRC) in Ireland was an eye-opening experience that showed me how similar veterinary nursing education can be across countries. While touring the campus and speaking with students, I noticed that their program closely mirrors the veterinary technology program at St. Petersburg College (SPC) in Florida. Both programs emphasize a strong balance between classroom instruction and hands-on clinical skills. Students at NWRC are trained in essential areas such as anesthesia monitoring, surgical assisting, and animal handling, which are also core components at SPC. Seeing these similarities firsthand reinforced how consistent veterinary education standards are, even internationally.

In addition to technical skills, both programs focus heavily on communication, critical thinking, and professionalism within the veterinary field. Students are encouraged to advocate for their patients while effectively working with clients and veterinary teams. This shared approach ensures graduates are well-prepared for the fast-paced and demanding environment of veterinary practice. My experience at NWRC gave me a deeper appreciation for the global standards of veterinary nursing education. Overall, it was inspiring to see that both NWRC and SPC share the same goal of developing skilled, compassionate veterinary professionals.

– Deja, SPC Ireland (Vet Tech) Study Abroad Program, March 2026