Veterinary Technician Certificate
Santa Rosa Junior College · Santa Rosa, CA
- Cost
- $2,058
- Length
- 34 weeks
- Working 6 months later
- 100%
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
- 870
- Finished the program
- 9%Based on 567 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
- 100%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
- $23,354A single quarter of earnings, roughly three months, not a yearly salary. Do not compare it directly with the yearly pay shown for the occupation.Typical California program: $10,900 of 1,339 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.
The job 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.
Where California publishes a separate figure for Santa Rosa-Petaluma MSA (Sonoma County), 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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma MSA (Sonoma County)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma MSA (Sonoma County) | $47,051 | $63,674 | $76,390 |
| Across California | $49,590 | $62,327 | $77,984 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for Santa Rosa-Petaluma MSA (Sonoma County) 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 yearSanta Rosa-Petaluma MSA: $59,587
- Projected openings
- 13,220Santa Rosa-Petaluma MSA: 350
- 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.
Program details
This program provides in-person instruction only.
The Santa Rosa Junior College Veterinary Technician Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students for Veterinary Technician careers with veterinarians and other professionals in the companion animal veterinary field.Upon completion of this certificates 23-semester unit requirements, AND 24 months (4416 hours) of outside practical experience working for a California licensed veterinarian, students satisfy the requirements to sit for the RVT examination in the State of California. The requirements for both coursework and practical experience must be completed by Summer 2024 to become a Registered Veterinary Technician.The part-time academic program is designed to be completed while the student is employed in a veterinary hospital. The ideal student is already working as Veterinary Assistant when they start this program however, many students begin this program without any previous experience and find employment after completing their first few courses. Students typically complete this program over 3 or 4 semesters.Pets have become an increasingly popular component of households across the country, and they play a major role in many peoples lives. The corresponding rise in demand for pet care combined with the growing population in California has created a need for more Registered Veterinary Technicians. Additionally, Veterinary Technicians are also employed in settings such as biomedical facilities, diagnostic laboratories, wildlife facilities, humane societies, animal control facilities, drug or food manufacturing companies, and food safety inspection facilities. Furthermore, demand for these workers will stem from the desire to replace veterinary assistants with more highly skilled technicians in animal clinics in hospitals, shelters, kennels, zoos, and other settings.
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
Sonoma County Job LinkComprehensive center
Phone: 707-565-5550
2227 Capricorn WaySuite 100Santa Rosa, CA 95407about 1.9 miles away
Hours: Friday 8am--4:45pm Computer Lab hours 8:30am -4:00pm
Has a veterans' representative
North Bay Workforce ServicesAffiliate site
Phone: 707-576-2850
606 Healdsburg AvenueEmployment Development DepartmentSanta Rosa, CA 95401about 3.4 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.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 →