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Term Effective:
Fall 2025
The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.
Description:
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 certificate’s 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 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 people’s 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.
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Be qualified to sit for the RVT exam in the State of California through the “Alternate Route” so long as students also complete their state mandated clinical experience hours;
- Demonstrate competency in the necessary knowledge required for common job tasks in a small animal veterinary hospital context; and
- Understand the directions from a veterinarian and discuss information to clients regarding common diseases, protocols and procedures in a small animal veterinary hospital context.
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