Veterinary Assisting Certificate
San Joaquin Valley College - Central Administration Office · Visalia, CA
- Cost
- $23,417
- Length
- 36 weeks
- Working 6 months later
- 53%
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
- 702
- Finished the program
- 65%Based on 383 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
- 53%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
- $17,810A 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 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 Visalia MSA (Tulare 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.
- Typical pay in California
- $62,327per yearVisalia MSA: $45,555
- Projected openings
- 13,220Visalia MSA: 100
- 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.
- Typical pay in California
- $47,432per yearVisalia MSA: $38,690
- Projected openings
- 33,120Visalia MSA: 150
- 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%
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Secretary · Unit Clerk · Ward Clerk · Medical Secretary
- Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.
- Transcribe recorded messages or practitioners' diagnoses or recommendations into patients' medical records.
- Compile and record medical charts, reports, or correspondence, using typewriter or personal computer.
- Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
Show 2 more things this job involves
- Complete insurance or other claim forms.
- Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
- Typical pay in California
- $55,779per yearVisalia MSA: $47,175
- Projected openings
- 128,130Visalia MSA: 1,040
- Projected change
- +12.6%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- 1 to 12 months
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: Started college, no degree — 33% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 2% of the people doing it went less far than that.
- No high school diploma
- 2%
- High school diploma
- 24%
- Started college, no degree
- 33%
- Two-year degree
- 17%
- Four-year degree
- 19%
- Master's degree
- 5%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 0.9%
Program details
This program provides in-person instruction only.
The Veterinary Assistant program is 36 weeks in length and prepares students with the skills to help animals when they need it most. This in-depth training covers animal patient care including lab tests, radiology procedures, veterinary dentistry, critical care, and surgical assisting. Curriculum also focuses on communication skills involving pet owner education, sick animal counseling, and wellness/preventative measures. Students receive hands-on training under the direct supervision of a Registered Veterinary Technician or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Externship includes various animal care environments to give students real-world experience.
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
A comprehensive center is where all the required partner programs can be reached; an affiliate site offers some of them. California's Employment Development Department directs people to CareerOneStop's finder to locate one. Contacting a center before traveling is worth it — the state notes that its own staff are not physically present at every location.
The rule: 20 CFR 678.305 — What is a comprehensive one-stop center? · 20 CFR 678.310 — What is an affiliated site? · California EDD — Office Locator
Tulare County Employment Connection - VisaliaComprehensive center
Phone: 559-713-5000
4025 West Noble AvenueEmployment Connection Suite BVisalia, CA 93277about 3.6 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am-5:00pm (Closed on Holidays)
Has a veterans' representative
Tulare County Employment Connection - TulareAffiliate site
Phone: 559-684-1987
155 N. K StreetTulare, CA 93274about 5.9 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tulare County Employment Connection - DinubaAffiliate site
Phone: 559-406-1001 or 559-591-5701
400 West Tulare StreetPrroteus Suite CDinuba, CA 93618about 17.2 miles away
Hours: Mon - Fri 8am- 5pm
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 →