Program Overview

The Laboratory and Veterinary Health Program was established on May 18, 2018 within the body of Akçadağ Vocational School, Malatya Turgut Özal University as an associate degree program. The program spans two academic years and is completed over four semesters with a total of 120 ECTS credits. The language of instruction is Turkish, and education is conducted in a formal (full-time) format. Admission to the program is based on the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) through the Basic Proficiency Test (TYT) score type.

During their education, students combine theory with practice and are required to complete a minimum of 30 working days of compulsory internship. Thus, graduates acquire a solid foundation in various fields of veterinary services and are qualified to enter the sector as skilled intermediate staff.

Career Opportunities

1. Employment in Public Institutions

Graduates can work as Veterinary Health Technicians in various public institutions such as:

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (provincial and district directorates)

• Municipal animal shelters and rehabilitation centers

• TİGEM (General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises)

• Meat and Milk Board (public production facilities)

• Public health and food control laboratories

Note: Employment in public institutions requires assignment through the Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS).

2. Employment in the Private Sector

Graduates have career opportunities in:

• Veterinary clinics and hospitals (animal examination, treatment, care, medication, laboratory procedures, etc.)

• Animal hospitals and care centers

• Private laboratories (biochemistry, microbiology, parasitology, etc.)

• Feed factories and animal nutrition companies

• Veterinary pharmaceutical and vaccine production companies

• Livestock enterprises and farms (nutrition, reproduction monitoring, artificial insemination support)

• Pet shops, breeding centers, and animal boarding facilities

3. Academic Career and Further Education

Graduates may continue their studies through the Vertical Transfer Exam (DGS) to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the following fields:

• Veterinary Medicine

• Biology

• Zootechnics

• Agricultural Biotechnology

• Molecular Biology and Genetics

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, students may continue to master’s and doctoral programs, thereby pursuing an academic career.

4. Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship

Graduates also have opportunities for entrepreneurship, such as:

• Opening their own pet shop, small farm, or animal care unit

• Providing private mobile vaccination and animal care services

• Offering consultancy in animal health, welfare, and nutrition

• Specializing through certified post-graduate training courses (e.g., artificial insemination, laboratory techniques) to become highly sought-after personnel in the private sector