The Foothill College Veterinary Technology program is an academically challenging two-year, AVMA-accredited course of training that prepares the student for employment as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). The program focuses on building competency in essential skills through hands-on training and personal attention to students. Graduates receive an Associate in Science Degree in Veterinary Technology and are then eligible to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Examination to become licensed. The program is not a pre-veterinary medicine or a veterinary medicine curriculum. General program information, admission criteria, and the application for admission can be found on the Veterinary Technology program website.

The Veterinary Technology department also offers an online Veterinary Assisting program. This program results in a Certificate of Achievement and starts each fall. Details can be found on the Veterinary Assisting program website.

Program Learning Outcomes

- Graduates will demonstrate entry-level competency in the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the practice of veterinary technology in a wide range of practice settings.

- Graduates will demonstrate entry-level clinical skills competency in accordance with accreditation requirements.

- Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in critical skills including collaboration, professionalism, communication, and critical thinking.

- Graduates will have a firm understanding of "One Health," the veterinary nurse's role in the health of animals, humans, and the planet. They will also have an understanding and tools to support their own mental, physical and emotional health through self-care and support systems.

Career Opportunities

The demand for Registered Veterinary Technicians is high nationwide. There is a very high demand for RVTs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Graduates can find employment in many sectors including small and large animal practice, specialty practice, clinical laboratories, education, government, research, and the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. Starting salaries for entry-level licensed technicians in the Bay Area range from $22.00-$27.00/hr plus benefits, with some practices offering signing bonuses. A Registered Veterinary Technician with 3-5 years of experience generally earns $27.00-$32.00/hr in the Bay Area. Highly skilled and licensed RVTs with advanced specialization training, management ability or those employed in large specialist hospitals, the biomedical industry, or as educators commonly earn in excess of $32.00/hr. Benefits vary widely, with larger veterinary practices and corporations providing the most attractive packages.

The Veterinary Assisting courses are separate from the Veterinary Technology program courses and are not accredited by the AVMA. Veterinary Assisting offers entry-level courses for those students interested in starting a career in the veterinary field and for those students who are currently working in the field and want to upgrade their knowledge and skills. The Veterinary Assisting courses are offered online along with a preceptorship component. Students are expected to find their own preceptorship locations. Students who complete all three Veterinary Assisting courses earn a certificate, which appears on their college transcript.