Veterinary Assistant
American College of Healthcare and Technology · Riverside, CA
- Cost
- $12,995
- Length
- 36 weeks
- Working 6 months later
- 71%
Program names, program descriptions and occupation titles appear here in English, because that is the only language the federal and state records publish them in. Everything else on this page is translated.
What happened to people who took this
- People enrolled
- 387
- Finished the program
- 86%Based on 287 peopleTypical California program: 85% of 1,951 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Working 6 months later
- 71%Typical California program: 69% of 1,690 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
The jobs this trains for
This describes the jobs people do, not the classes this program teaches. It comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, which asks people already doing the work. The Department publishes it in English only, so the job names and the sentences below stay in English on this page.
Trains for more than one job. The outlook shown is the weakest of them.
Where California publishes a separate figure for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties), it appears beneath the statewide one. Statewide stays the headline: people who train here do not necessarily work here.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Job ads may call this: Veterinary Technologist · Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse) · Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech) · Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech)
Some of what people in this job do. The Department rates how important each one is, and they appear in that order.
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
What this pays in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) | $48,295 | $60,148 | $75,239 |
| Across California | $49,590 | $62,327 | $77,984 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $62,327per yearRiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: $50,003
- Projected openings
- 13,220Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: 1,200
- Projected change
- +14.8%
- Usually needs
- Associate's degree
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- None
No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.
These are the federal government's answers for the occupation, not rules this provider sets. California publishes the same two answers for every one of these jobs.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: Two-year degree — 33% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: Associate's degree. 38% of the people doing it went less far than that.
- No high school diploma
- 2%
- High school diploma
- 13%
- Started college, no degree
- 24%
- Two-year degree
- 33%
- Four-year degree
- 24%
- Master's degree
- 3%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 1%
This counts people already doing this job, across the whole United States. Every other figure on this page is California's, and the federal government publishes no state version of this one. It is what people happen to have, not a rule about who gets hired. A small row does not mean you would be turned away, and a large one is not a promise of a job.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Avian Keeper · Animal Caregiver · Animal Care Provider · Small Animal Caretaker
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
- Fill medication prescriptions.
Show 3 more things this job involves
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
- Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
What this pays in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) | $37,865 | $45,945 | $55,532 |
| Across California | $38,757 | $47,432 | $59,408 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $47,432per yearRiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: $39,461
- Projected openings
- 33,120Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: 2,370
- Projected change
- +15.2%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- Under a month
No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: Four-year degree — 34% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 4% of the people doing it went less far than that.
- No high school diploma
- 4%
- High school diploma
- 19%
- Started college, no degree
- 26%
- Two-year degree
- 15%
- Four-year degree
- 34%
- Master's degree
- 3%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 1%
Program details
This is a hybrid or blended program providing both in-person and online instruction.
A hybrid program that prepares individuals under the supervision of veterinarians laboratory animal specialists and zoological professionals to provide patient management care and clinical procedures assistance as well as owner communication. Includes instruction in animal nursing care animal health and nutrition animal handling clinical pathology radiology anesthesiology dental prophylaxis surgical assisting clinical laboratory procedures office administration skills patient and owner management and applicable standards and regulations. Students may take national certification exams to enhance employment opportunities upon graduation.
Someone else may be able to pay for this
This program was on California's Eligible Training Provider List when the state last reported it to the U.S. Department of Labor (2026-08-04). Programs on that list can be paid for through an Individual Training Account. Listings are renewed periodically and can lapse, so a program listed when the state last reported may not be listed today. Ask before you rely on it.
The place to ask is an America's Job Center of California
Rubidoux Youth Opportunity CenterAffiliate site
Phone: 951-683-9622
5656 Mission BlvdRiverside, CA 92509about 6.6 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Riverside Workforce Development Center AJCCComprehensive center
Phone: 951-955-3100
1325 Spruce StreetSuite 110Riverside, CA 92507about 9.5 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm Closed Holidays
Has a veterans' representative
West Valley America`s Job Center of CaliforniaComprehensive center
Phone: 909-941-6500
9650 9th StreetWest Valley Workforce Development Department Suite ARancho Cucamonga, CA 91730about 13 miles away
Hours: Mon - Fri. 8:00a.m -5:00p.m
Has a veterans' representative
Distances are straight-line, so the drive is longer. Call before you travel: opening hours here are as the federal directory published them, and the state notes its own staff are not present at every location.
Find a center anywhere in California, and check what is on the list today:
CareerOneStop — American Job Center Finder (U.S. DOL) · California EDD — Office Locator · California EDD — Eligible Training Provider List
How this gets paid for, and what to ask →
Whether a person can have a program paid for is decided by their local workforce development board and the America's Job Center staff who interview them — not by this site, and not by the training provider. California has 45 local workforce development areas and each sets its own policies, so the answer can differ between two people in neighboring counties. Nothing here is a promise of funding or a determination of eligibility.
The rules cited here, and the state and federal sites linked to, are published in English.
How this site gets its figures, and what they do not tell you →