Veterinary Technician Certificate Agriculture & Natural Resources Total Units: 23.0

Term Effective: Fall 2008

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.

Term Inactive: Fall 2010

Previous Versions:

Veterinary Technician - effective Fall 2007

Description:

The Veterinary Technician Certificate curriculum provides students the academic knowledge and semester units necessary to pursue the Category 5 (Alternate Route Category) to becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). Upon completion of this certificate's 23-semester unit requirement and 36 months (4680 hours) of outside practical experience working for a California licensed veterinarian, students are prepared to satisfy the requirements to sit for the RVT examination in the State of California. All coursework and practical experience must be completed within five years prior to the examination application date for registration as a Registered Veterinary Technician.

Pets have become an increasingly popular addition to numerous 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 in the North Bay Area, and Santa Rosa Junior College's Veterinary Technician Certificate Program will help meet this demand. Additionally, Biomedical facilities, diagnostic laboratories, wildlife facilities, humane societies, animal control facilities, drug or food manufacturing companies, and food safety inspection facilities will provide more jobs for veterinary technicians. Furthermore, demand for these workers will stem from the desire to replace veterinary assistants with more highly skilled technicians in animal clinics and hospitals, shelters, kennels, and humane societies. A 1999 survey done by the American Veterinary Medical Association indicated that there were approximately eight job openings for every one graduate.

The Santa Rosa Junior College Veterinary Technician Certificate program is designed to prepare students for Veterinary Technician careers with veterinarians and other professionals in the animal health care services. The two-year long program equips students with the procedures and skills necessary in the veterinary industry today and prepares them to take the Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) state exam. In addition, students who complete only SRJC's certificate program are qualified for employment as Veterinary Assistants.

For more information, see the Agriculture and Natural Resources website.

Program Requirements:

The requirements for the Veterinary Technician program are:

  • Complete 23.0 units from
    • Veterinary Technician Requirements

Veterinary Technician Requirements - complete 23.00 units
BIO 10Introduction to Principles of Biology4.00
ANHLT 51Veterinary Laboratory and Pharmacy Procedures3.00
ANHLT 52Small Animal Disease Recognition and Transmission Control3.00
ANHLT 110Intro to Vet Medical Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology3.00
ANHLT 120Small Animal Veterinary Assistance and Nursing3.00
ANHLT 121Anatomy for Surgical and Dental Assistance3.00
ANHLT 160Veterinary Medical Office Procedures3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 0.50 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
ANHLT 2Veterinary Practice3.00
ANHLT 123Small Animal Veterinary Emergencies2.00
ANHLT 126Veterinary Technician Proficiency2.00
ANHLT 130Canine Basics1.00
ANHLT 131Canine Good Citizen Program A.K.C. Certification0.50
ANHLT 132Introduction to Canine Acupressure and Massage1.00
ANHLT 150Care and Maintenance of Small Animals1.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 0.50 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
ANHLT 122Animal Nursing Field Practicum1.00
AGRI 98Independent Study in Agriculture1.00-3.00
AGRI 99Agriculture Occupational Work Experience0.50-8.00

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

Contact
Information
Phone Email Website
(707) 527-4408
srjccertificate003321@santarosa.edu