Becoming a new Vet Tech isn’t easy, it takes time and effort on your part but it will be worth it when you get to the end. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best Vet Tech schools in California and what you need to become a Vet Tech. If you’re interested about pursuing a career as a Vet Technician in California, then this information will be crucial to your future success.
Vet techs are in the spotlight. Pop culture paints them as cool, stylish, and trendy. But the reality is, behind all the glamor is a lot of hard work. A vet tech’s responsibilities run from making sure that an animal feels safe to executing intricate medical procedures.
How To Become A Vet Tech In California
In addition to abundant sunshine and diverse ecosystems, California is also the home to plenty of animals who may find themselves in need of veterinary care. A livestock-producing powerhouse, California is home to 16.9 million cows, goats, sheep, hogs, and turkeys. A state that would be the 59th largest country on earth in terms of landmass, is also the home to 12 zoos, nine aquariums, and four wildlife preserves with large, exotic, and aquatic creatures in abundance.
With a human population of 39.6 million, there are also hundreds of animal rescue facilities, humane societies, and ASPCAs that serve the millions of cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals in California.
As nurses of the animal world, veterinary technicians are an essential part of the web of caretakers that keep these animals healthy and thriving. The array of high-quality and accredited veterinary technician schools in California are as diverse and abundant as the animal population there. Vet tech schools in California that are accredited by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)—the arm of the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) responsible for quality in vet tech education—will ensure that emerging vet techs have all the skills they need to become an integral part of a vet med team.
Veterinary technician schools in California prepare vet techs to perform all the veterinarian-assisting work that is needed in clinical, laboratory, agricultural, and/or zoological settings. Accredited vet tech schools ensure that graduates leave their training with the capacity to assist veterinarians with common diagnostic, surgical, and dental procedures. California vet tech schools also prepare vet techs to maintain clinical cleanliness, work with anesthesia, take inventory, provide basic hands-on care, skillfully operate diagnostic equipment, take and analyze lab samples, educate animal owners, manage offices, and more.
In addition to stellar training opportunities to help the abundant animal population, vet techs in California will also find professional support. The California Registered Veterinary Technician’s Association (CaRVTA) provides vet techs in California with useful career help like networking, conference discounts, industry news, academic articles, industry and product discounts, and information regarding how the vet tech role is progressing in both industry and public awareness.
Aspiring vet techs living – or hoping to live – in the Golden State can keep reading to learn how to become a veterinary technician in California, what to expect from veterinary technician schools in California, and the job outlook and salaries for vet techs in the state.
| SCHOOL WEBSITE | MAIN ADDRESS | ONLINE PROGRAM | AVMA ACCREDITED |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, California, 91768 | No | Yes |
| Carrington College California-Citrus Heights | 7301 Greenback Lane, Ste A, Citrus Heights, California, 95621 | No | Yes |
| Carrington College California-Pleasant Hill | 380 Civic Dr., Ste. 300, Pleasant Hill, California, 94523 | No | Yes |
| Carrington College California-Pomona | 901 Corporate Center Dr. Suite 300, Pomona, California, 91768 | No | No |
| Carrington College California-Sacramento | 8909 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, California, 95826 | No | Yes |
| Carrington College California-San Jose | 5883 Rue Ferrari, Suite 125, San Jose, California, 95138 | No | Yes |
| Carrington College California-San Leandro | 15555 E. 14th Street, Suite 500, San Leandro, California, 94578-1977 | No | Yes |
| Carrington College California-Stockton | 1313 W. Robinhood Drive, Suite B, Stockton, California, 95207 | No | Yes |
| Carrington College-Ontario | 4580 Ontario Mills Pkwy, Ontario, California, 91764 | No | Yes |
| Central Coast College | 480 S. Main St, Salinas, California, 93901 | No | Yes |
| Cosumnes River College | 8401 Center Parkway, Sacramento, California, 95823-5799 | No | Yes |
| Foothill College | 12345 El Monte Rd, Los Altos Hills, California, 94022 | No | Yes |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | 6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills, California, 91371-0002 | No | Yes |
| Modesto Junior College | 435 College Ave, Modesto, California, 95350-5800 | No | No |
| Mt. San Antonio College | 1100 N Grand Ave, Walnut, California, 91789-1399 | No | Yes |
| Pima Medical Institute – San Marcos | 111 Campus Way, Suite 100 San Marcos, California, 92078 | No | Yes |
| Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista | 780 Bay Blvd Suite101, Chula Vista, California, 91910 | No | Yes |
| Platt College-Alhambra | 1000 S Fremont Ave, Bldg A10, Alhambra, California, 91803 | Yes | Yes |
| Platt College-Anaheim | 1551 Douglass Road, Anaheim, California, 92806 | Yes | Yes |
| Platt College-Ontario | 3700 Inland Empire Blvd, Ontario, California, 91764 | Yes | Yes |
| Platt College-Riverside | 6465 Sycamore Canyon Blvd, Riverside, California, 92507 | Yes | Yes |
| San Diego Mesa College | 7250 Mesa College Dr, San Diego, California, 92111-4998 | No | Yes |
| San Joaquin Valley College | 295 East Sierra Ave, Fresno, California, 93710 | No | Yes |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | 1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, California, 95401-4395 | No | No |
| Stanbridge University | 2041 Business Center Drive, Suite 107, Irvine, California, 92612 | No | Yes |
| Yuba College | 2088 N Beale Rd, Marysville, California, 95901 | No | Yes |
AVMA-ACCREDITED VET TECH SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA
Fortunately for aspiring vet techs, there are 26 veterinary technician programs offered in California schools. 23 of those programs are CVTEA-accredited. Following is a breakdown of the CVTEA-accredited vet tech programs that prepare students for the national and state exams. Note that certain institutions offer programs at multiple campuses, therefore some programs will be grouped together below.
California State Polytechnic University – Pomona, located in Los Angeles County, offers a four-year bachelor of science (BS) program for aspiring vet techs through the Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture. A bachelor’s in animal science can offer graduates ample knowledge and experience in the field, which can lead to a better-paying job and more responsibilities as a veterinary technologist.
One of the outstanding features of this program is the number of real-world empirical experiences offered to its students. For example, this Cal State school works with JustFoodForDogs, a specialty dog food supplier, in order to create research-backed nutrition for canines.
Courses for this program include parasitology and animal diseases; fundamentals of animal nutrition; mammalian endocrinology and physiology of reproduction and lactation; biotechnology applications in animal science; and more. The three-year pass rate for first-time VTNE test-takers was 94 percent between 2017 and 2020.
Carrington College California offers an associate of science (AS) in veterinary technology degree that can be completed in two years. This program is 63.5 semester-credit-hours and is offered at the following campuses in CA: Citrus Heights, Pleasant Hill, Pomona, Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro, and Stockton.
Through work with live animals in clinical externships as well as animal patient simulations, this program gives students a solid foundation for careers in animal healthcare. Courses include an introduction to the veterinary hospital; an introduction to the applied sciences; an introduction to anesthesia and surgical assisting; surgical nursing theory and practice; and more. General education courses are offered online.
First-time pass rates on the VTNE for Carrington College graduates between 2017 and 2020 are as follows: Citrus Heights (78 percent), Ontario (63), Pleasant Hill (58), Sacramento (51), San Jose (62), San Leandro (64), Stockton (41).
Central Coast College located in Salinas, CA, offers an associate of applied sciences (AAS) degree in veterinary technology that can be completed in two years. Courses include anatomy and physiology; veterinary management, medical records, ethics, and jurisprudence; anesthesiology and surgery; veterinary dentistry; veterinary pathology and parasitology; and more.
Program objectives include preparing students to become employees who hold to a high standard of integrity, work ethic, and personal responsibility, preparing students to take the VTNE certification exam, and preparing students for successful employment in their community. From 2016 to 2019, none of the 12 students who took the VTNE passed on the first attempt. From 2019 to 2020, this improved to a 57.1 percent first-time pass rate.
Cosumnes River College, located in Sacramento, CA, offers a two-year associate of science (AS) veterinary technology degree. CRC also offers a one-year certificate of achievement in veterinary technology for students with three years of full-time experience working as an unregistered veterinary assistant. This is a daytime program and students may begin in the fall only.
Courses include pharmacology and anesthesiology for the veterinary technician; advanced veterinary technology; large animal nursing; introduction to diagnostic imaging; large animal disease: pathology; and more. Thirty-seven to 40 credits are required to complete the program, and most courses include two to six hours per week caring for animals.
Shifts may be scheduled during weekends, holidays, and semester breaks. Students must complete a minimum of 300 hours of internship or work experience. Cosumnes River College boasts a three-year, first-time pass rate among its graduates on the VTNE of 94 percent between 2017 and 2020.
Foothill College in Los Altos of the San Francisco Bay Area provides a rigorous, two-year veterinary technology program. It consists of 90 units, including courses such as animal management and clinical skills; comparative veterinary anatomy and physiology for the veterinary technician; animal care skills; clinical pathology methods; and more.
Core values of the program include creating compassionate vet techs who are able to provide excellent care to veterinary patients, as well as carry on compassionate relationships with owners, co-workers, and the community, and who are dedicated to lifelong learning.
In addition to rigorous coursework, Foothill College has collected a list of tongue-in-cheek “You Might Be a Vet Tech If…” statements such as:
- …when you go out to a club and the black light comes on, you check yourself and others for ringworm.
- …pets are more recognizable than their owners.
The three-year, first-time pass rate among Foothill graduates on the VTNE is an impressive 94 percent between 2017 and 2020.
Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA, offers an associate of science (AS) degree in veterinary technology. This flexible program has multiple entry points throughout the year and provides many of its more popular general education classes at night or during the summer.
Courses include anatomy and physiology of animals; microbiology; animal health and disease control; principles of animal science; small animal nursing; large animal nursing; lab animal care; and more. The three-year, first-time pass rate among its graduates on the VTNE is above average at 81.5 percent between 2017 and 2020.
Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA, offers an associate of science (AS) degree in registered veterinary technology. This rigorous program combines lectures with active labs that take place in the 26,000-sq.-ft. agriculture building that includes an animal hospital, as well as on the college’s 150-acre working farm.
The program can be completed in two years and coursework transfers to Cal Poly universities and other four-year universities. Courses include medical nursing and animal care; surgical nursing; clinical pathology; animal sanitation and disease control; animal nutrition; veterinary radiography; and more. The degree consists of 88 units and the college had an 89 percent first-time pass rate for the VTNE between 2017 and 2020.
Pima Medical Institute at Chula Vista and San Marcos offer an associate of applied science degree (AAS). The first set of courses is taught using a hybrid learning system that combines both online and on-campus coursework. Courses include food and fiber animals; laboratory procedures for veterinary technicians; diagnostic imaging for veterinary technicians; small animal nursing for veterinary technicians; laboratory animal science; and more.
The program consists of 78.5 credits and includes one externship. The degree takes 18 months to complete and includes 1,775 hours. The VTNE first-time pass rate between 2016 to 2020 for the Chula Vista campus was 67.7 percent. Newly accredited, the VTNE first-time pass rate for the San Marco campus between 2019 and 2020 was 50 percent.
Platt College has four campuses offering an associate degree in veterinary technology. Currently, the AVMA recognizes programs at Platt College campuses in Alhambra, Anaheim, Ontario, and Riverside. In addition, they offer an online program, which will be outlined below.
Courses include veterinary nursing procedures; parasitology; client communications and customer service; veterinary anatomy and physiology; anesthesia; surgical assistance; diagnostic imaging; and more. Students must also participate in a clinical externship. VTNE pass rates follow from 2017 to 2020: Alhambra (59.1 percent); Anaheim (70 percent); Ontario (61.3 percent); Riverside (74.6 percent).
San Joaquin Valley College, located in Fresno, CA, offers a veterinary assistant to veterinary technology bridge program. Designed for students who have already completed a veterinary assistant program, graduates of SJVC’s program will be awarded an associate of science (AS) degree in veterinary technology.
Students participating in SJVC’s program will learn topics including advanced animal patient care, anatomy and physiology, exotic and large animal skills, surgical assisting, and pharmacology. Students train under doctors of veterinary medicine (DVMs) and will be expected to complete an externship in order to cultivate real-world experience. The three-year first-time VTNE pass rate for graduates of SJVC’s program was 30.4 percent between 2017 and 2020.
Stanbridge University located in Irvine, CA, offers an associate of science (AS) degree in veterinary technology. Students work directly with animals in hands-on training, as well as with state-of-the-art surgical simulators. The program consists of 115.5 quarter-credit-hours and time to completion ranges from 23 to 24 months.
Courses include small animal handling and husbandry; anatomy and physiology of animals; veterinary microbiology; diagnostic imaging; small animal medicine; large animal and equine procedures and public health; veterinary pharmacology; and more. Students also complete a preceptorship. The first-time VTNE pass rate between 2017 and 2020 for Stanbridge graduates was 86 percent.
Yuba College located in Marysville, CA, offers a two-year associate of science degree in veterinary technology. The Yuba College AS degree offers students a range of program options including business management, dental, large animal, public health, shelter medicine, exotic animal/wildlife, small animal emergency and critical care, laboratory animal, and laboratory diagnostics options.
Students begin their experience with a half-day orientation experience to explore the requirements of becoming a veterinary technician, and what they can expect throughout the program. Courses include veterinary physiology and anatomy; pharmacology for veterinary technicians; clinical laboratory techniques; veterinary workplace safety; large animal medicine and nursing; exotic and wildlife medicine; veterinary emergency and critical care; and more.
In addition, students complete three off-campus internship experiences in veterinary facilities supervised by licensed veterinarians or veterinary technicians. Yuba College boasts a 56 percent VTNE first-time pass rate between 2017 and 2020.
OTHER VET TECH SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA
In order to become a registered veterinary technician in CA without attending an AVMA-accredited program, students must complete “20 semester units, or 30 quarter units or 300 hours of specific education and 4,416 hours of directed clinical practice experience” with specific time-frames (California Veterinary Medical Association).
The following programs including clinical practice experience qualify students to take the registered veterinary technician (RVT) exam:
Modesto Junior College located in Modesto, CA, offers a veterinary technician program as an AS degree or certificate. The associate degree consists of 30 units and students can choose from a small animal science or large animal science option.
Courses include an introduction to animal science; veterinary laboratory procedures; veterinary anatomy, physiology, and terminology; preparation for veterinary surgical and dental assistance; and more. Program outcomes include the demonstration of common surgical, dental, and restraint techniques; the ability to identify the role of a veterinary technician in the field; and the knowledge of proper sanitation and disease prevention techniques, among others. The MJC catalog provides more detailed information about the veterinary technology AS degree.
San Diego Mesa College offers an associate of science (AS) degree in animal health technology. Students completing this program are eligible to become registered veterinary technicians through the state of California. Courses include animal care and management; fundamentals of animal health technology; veterinary office procedures; veterinary clinical pathology; veterinary pharmacology; diseases of domestic animals; animal nursing techniques and anesthesiology; and more. The program is approved by the California Department of Consumer Affairs and the Veterinary Medical Board.
Santa Rosa Junior College, located in Santa Rosa, CA, offers a two-year veterinary technician program that can lead to students becoming registered veterinary technicians in the state of California. The program is offered through SRJC’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. Most classes are scheduled in the evenings to facilitate those who work and need to meet the demands of a family.
Courses cover veterinary laboratory and pharmacy procedures; surgical and dental anatomy and assistance; veterinary anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology; small animal disease recognition and transmission control; and more. Students who complete this program and the required number of practical experience hours can take the RVT board exam.
ONLINE VET TECH PROGRAMS FOR CALIFORNIA STUDENTS
Fortunately for California students and others who are not able to attend campus regularly, Platt College offers a distance-based associate degree in veterinary technology. Students can earn this degree in as little as 18 months. Students should check with Platt College to make sure the online program is also accredited by the AVMA since this program is not listed as a distance-based program on the AVMA site.
Courses include an introduction to veterinary technology; veterinary medical terminology; clinical pathology; parasitology; veterinary economics; anesthesia; animal nutrition; exotic animal care; and more. There are no VTNE first-time pass rates for the online program at this time.
For other distance-based education programs for vet techs, visit our online veterinary technician schools page.
HOW TO BECOME A VET TECH IN CALIFORNIA
Before enrolling in veterinary technician school in California, aspiring vet techs should ensure that their school is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Here is one common path to becoming a registered veterinary technician (RVT) in California:
- Step 1: Graduate from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program. There are currently 23 fully accredited programs in the Golden State. These can range from two to four years. The four-year degree may qualify a candidate to become a veterinary technologist (as opposed to a technician), which involves more advanced training, increased responsibilities, and possibly higher pay.
- Step 2: Pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). This computer-based exam is offered during three one-month testing windows annually.
- Step 3: Pass the California Registered Veterinary Technician Exam. According to the California Veterinary Medical Board (CAVMB). This must be passed within 60 months of passing the VTNE and is offered three times per year.
- Step 4: Apply for licensure as an RVT and renew every two years with 20 hours of continued education (CE) credits.
STRONG OUTLOOK FOR VET TECH JOBS IN CALIFORNIA
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2021), there will be approximately 18,300 new jobs for veterinary technicians across the country between 2019 and 2029. This predicted growth rate clocks in at 16 percent, which is four times faster than the anticipated growth rate for all occupations during that time period (4 percent).
According to CareerOneStop (2021)—a US Department of Labor data site—the vet tech role is anticipated to be the 6th fastest growing occupation for professionals with an associate degree in that same period. At 21 percent, CareerOneStop also predicts that the occupational growth rate for vet techs in California will be slightly faster than the national average.
In addition to a promising job outlook, there are a number of resources and organizations for these professionals within the state as well. The California Registered Veterinary Technicians Association (CaRVTA) offers an online career center, a mentor program, continued education opportunities, and informative articles. They also host a job board with opportunities at places like Monterey Peninsula Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center, THRIVE Affordable Vet Care, Pet Emergency & Specialty Center East County, and Guide Dogs for the Blind.
The CaRVTA also holds a number of conferences and events, including an annual seminar for veterinary techs and assistants every summer. This three-day event includes programs from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. There are also smaller, regional meetings—including those in Southern California and Silicon Valley—that can provide localized professional networking as well. Membership in CaRVTA plus graduation from an accredited veterinary technician school in California can open many doors to a successful career in the field.
VET TECH SALARIES CALIFORNIA
The 109,490 vet techs working across the United States in 2020 made, on average, $37,860 per year. According to the BLS (May 2020), here is how California vet tech salaries compare to vet tech salaries across the United States:
| UNITED STATES | CALIFORNIA | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of vet techs employed | 109,490 | 8,950 |
| Average annual salary | $37,860 | $47,580 |
| 10th percentile | $25,520 | $32,070 |
| 25th percentile | $30,030 | $37,490 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $36,260 | $46,370 |
| 75th percentile | $43,890 | $56,520 |
| 90th percentile | $52,410 | $64,610 |
With vet tech salaries in California clocking in at much higher than the national average, aspiring vet techs may also want to consider the cost of living. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC,2020), California is the fourth most expensive region in the United States. Everything in California is more expensive than most other places in the nation, with particularly high costs of housing.
