Veterinary Technician Certificate Agriculture & Natural Resources Total Units: 23.0

Term Effective: Fall 2020

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 2021

Previous Versions:

Veterinary Technician - effective Fall 2018
Veterinary Technician - effective Spring 2017
Veterinary Technician - effective Fall 2015
Veterinary Technician - effective Fall 2014
Veterinary Technician - effective Spring 2012
Veterinary Technician - effective Fall 2011
Veterinary Technician - effective Fall 2010
Veterinary Technician - effective Fall 2008
Veterinary Technician - effective Fall 2007

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 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 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.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  1. 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;
  2. Demonstrate competency in the necessary knowledge required for common job tasks in a small animal veterinary hospital context; and
  3. Understand the directions from a veterinarian and discuss information to clients regarding common diseases, protocols and procedures in a small animal veterinary hospital context.

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
ANHLT 50Veterinary Anatomy and Terminology3.00
ANHLT 52Small Animal Disease Recognition and Transmission Control3.00
ANHLT 120Small Animal Veterinary Assistance and Nursing3.00
ANHLT 121Veterinary Surgical and Dental Assistance3.00
ANHLT 141Small Animal Veterinary Anesthesia1.50
ANHLT 142Veterinary Pharmacology and Medical Calculations1.50
ANHLT 151Veterinary Laboratory and Imaging Procedures2.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
BIO 10Introduction to Principles of Biology4.00
BIO 100Basic Biology Skills3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
AGRI 98Independent Study in Agriculture1.00-3.00
AGRI 99Agriculture Occupational Work Experience0.50-8.00
ANHLT 101Introduction to Veterinary Careers1.50
ANHLT 109Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine2.00
ANHLT 123Small Animal Veterinary Emergencies2.00
ANHLT 122Animal Nursing Field Seminar0.75
ANHLT 122LAnimal Nursing Field Practicum0.25
ANHLT 126Veterinary Technician Review and Board Exam Preparation2.00
ANHLT 128Exotic Animal Medicine2.00
ANHLT 161Veterinary Medical Office Procedures2.00
CI 51Community Engagement0.50-3.00

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
info-agnr@santarosa.edu