About Program
2025 Information Session February 2025
Fall 2025 Cohort Application Window opens March 2025
Please see the Prospective Vet Tech Students page for additional information about the program.
CALL US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
At its November 3-6, 2022 meeting, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) granted initial accreditation to the Ventura College veterinary technology program. The accreditation is effective on August 25, 2022.
The CVTEA requires that program graduates demonstrate competency in over 300 essential skills and that programs produce practice-ready graduates. The accreditation of the Ventura College veterinary technology program is a recognition of the program's rigor. Furthermore, it will allow graduates to be able to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam.
Program Description:
The Associate in Science in Veterinary Technology prepares students for careers within the veterinary and animal healthcare industry as veterinary technicians and qualifies them to site for both national and state board exams to become a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). Through the integration of hands-on experiential learning and curriculum designed to meet all American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) standards, students will be engaged in various aspects of veterinary medicine and technology. Graduates will be prepared to enter the expanding animal healthcare industry as part of a team of individuals dedicated to the care of domestic animals, small and large. The first year of courses within the Veterinary Technology degree program can be applied towards earning a Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assistant, allowing students to seek initial, entry level employment in the field of veterinary technology while completing the Associate degree requirements. Veterinary technicians are highly skilled assistants to veterinarians and researchers, and are critical to the veterinary field.
The Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assistant prepares students for careers within the veterinary and animal healthcare industry as veterinary assistants, animal health technicians, and other allied animal health positions. Through hands-on experiential learning and curriculum designed to engage students in various aspects of veterinary assisting and technology, students will be prepared to enter the expanding animal healthcare industry as part of a team of individuals dedicated to the care of domestic animals, small and large. The Certificate in Veterinary Assistant can be applied to the first year of study towards completion of the Associate in Science degree in Veterinary Technology, allowing for graduates to sit for national and state board exams to become a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT).
Veterinary Assistants and Registered Veterinary Technicians are integral to the animal health care team that works under the supervision of veterinarians to perform various types of tasks including veterinary laboratory procedures, surgical and anesthesia assisting, digital imaging (including X-ray technology), dental procedures, medical nursing, emergency care, and veterinary office procedures. Students will be trained in highly sought-after skills critical to the veterinary assisting field.
This program is specifically for students wishing to become Registered Veterinary Technicians. It is not intended for students that wish pursue a career as a Veterinarian. For more information about undergraduate course work needed to prepare for Veterinary school, please contact the counseling department. Additional information about a career as a Veterinarian and Veterinary School can be found at https://www.aavmc.org/becoming-a-veterinarian/, https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/admissions/so-you-want-be-veterinarian and https://iwanttobeaveterinarian.org/
As of Fall 2024 the following prerequisites will be required for entry into the program: BIOL V01+V01L, CHEM V20+V20L, MATH V44, & ENG V01A
Program Purpose: Veterinary assistants and technicians are highly skilled assistants to veterinarians and researchers, and are critical to the veterinary field, with access to career opportunities that continue to experience high demand and strong growth. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), both
veterinary technician and veterinary assistant jobs are estimated to grow 16% by 2029 while the average growth rate for all occupations is 4 percent. Average salary range for an experienced licensed RVT in California ranges from approximately $38,000 – $60,000 and is highly dependent on the type of practice.
(Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on veterinary technologists and technicians)
What does a Veterinary Assistant and Registered Veterinary Technician do?
Veterinary Assistants are integral to the animal health care teams that work under the supervision of veterinarians to perform various types of tasks including:
- Performing animal restraint
- Performing laboratory procedures
- Surgical preparation and assisting
- Monitoring general anesthesia
- Assist in various digital imaging modalities (ex: x-ray acquisition, ultrasound, CT, MRI)
- Perform dental cleaning and x-rays
- Medical nursing including:
- Obtaining lab samples including blood, urine, and fecal samples
- Placing intravenous catheters
- Administering medications and preventative care such as vaccinations
- Wound care
- Performing emergency care
- Client communication and education.
Registered Veterinary Technicians routinely perform all the duties of the Veterinary Assistant but are also able to perform these additional duties under the supervision of veterinarians including:
- Induce general anesthesia
- Suture skin
- Perform dental extractions
- Placing splints and bandages
Career Opportunities
Potential career opportunities for both Veterinary Assistants and Veterinary Technicians include employment in:
- Veterinary hospitals
- Government / regulatory agencies
- Non-profit Working/Service animal programs
- Bio-medical research institutions
- Animal shelter and rescue organizations
- Wildlife rehabilitation facilities
- Agricultural livestock operations
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Zoological parks
- Animal nutrition industry
Further Opportunities for Registered Veterinary Technicians
Licensed RVTs are able to teach at an AVMA accredited school or program.
In addition, RVTs are also able to pursue certification as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in subspecialty areas of:
- Anesthesia
- Dentistry
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency and Critical Care
- Zoologic Medicine
For more information and additional specialty certifications an RVT can obtain please click on the following link:
(Information on Veterinary Technician Specialties)
For more information about Veterinary Assistants and Veterinary Technicians:
(National Association for Veterinary Technicians in America)
(California Veterinary Medical Association veterinary careers info page)
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
Degrees & Certificates Offered:
| Veterinary Technology Advisory Committee - Meeting Minutes |
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Faculty and Staff
Lead Faculty:
Dr. Mckenzie Rasmussen
mrasmussen@vcccd.edu
Ann Welton
awelton@vcccd.edu
Instructional Lab Assistant:
Karen Ashcraft
karen_ashcraft1@vcccd.edu