Best institutions to study Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of veterinarians, laboratory animal specialists, and zoological professionals, to provide patient management, care, and clinical procedures assistance as well as owner communication.
263 U.S. institutions graduated 8,874 Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.8301, a specialization of Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (CIP 01.83), and leads most directly to the Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers occupation (BLS SOC 31-9096).
About Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant programs
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of veterinarians, laboratory animal specialists, and zoological professionals, to provide patient management, care, and clinical procedures assistance as well as owner communication. Includes instruction in animal nursing care, animal health and nutrition, animal handling, clinical pathology, radiology, anesthesiology, dental prophylaxis, surgical assisting, clinical laboratory procedures, office administration skills, patient and owner management, and applicable standards and regulations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant program prepares individuals to support veterinarians and other animal care professionals in managing and caring for animals. This program is ideal for those passionate about animal health and welfare, providing essential skills for various roles in veterinary settings, laboratories, and animal facilities.
Students will acquire knowledge in animal nursing care, health and nutrition, clinical procedures, and owner communication. Coursework includes training in animal handling, radiology, anesthesiology, and clinical laboratory procedures, equipping graduates with the skills necessary for effective patient management.
Credentials awarded
What Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree4,093 graduates / yr · 179 institutions46%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2,698 graduates / yr · 74 institutions30%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1,525 graduates / yr · 48 institutions17%
- Bachelor's degree506 graduates / yr · 26 institutions5.7%
- Award of less than 12 weeks41 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.5%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years11 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 8,264 |
| 2021 | 8,642 |
| 2022 | 8,928 |
| 2023 | 8,248 |
| 2024 | 9,025 |
| 2025 | 8,874 |
Top 50 institutions for Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Platt College - Los Angeles Alhambra, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 250 | 63% | $29,163 | — |
| 2 | Dallas College Dallas, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 249 | 32% | — | $35,011 |
| 3 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 198 | 40% | — | $39,510 |
| 4 | Southern Technical College Orlando, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 175 | 63% | $25,852 | — |
| 5 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez - Gurabo Campus Gurabo, PRPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 159 | 31% | $9,370 | $16,727 |
| 6 | Pima Medical Institute - Chula Vista Chula Vista, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 157 | 62% | $22,240 | $25,638 |
| 7 | Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos San Marcos, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 142 | 71% | $31,880 | $25,638 |
| 8 | NUC University Bayamon, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 140 | 54% | $9,377 | — |
| 9 | Pima Medical Institute - Phoenix Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 138 | 65% | $6,964 | $28,808 |
| 10 | Pima Medical Institute - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NVPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 135 | 57% | $23,982 | $25,638 |
| 11 | San Juan College Farmington, NMPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 129 | 37% | — | $43,730 |
| 12 | Vet Tech Institute of Houston Houston, TXPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 127 | 55% | $16,708 | $30,665 |
| 13 | High Desert Medical College Lancaster, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 117 | 68% | $28,838 | — |
| 14 | Vet Tech Institute Pittsburgh, PAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 116 | 74% | $18,650 | $30,990 |
| 15 | Pima Medical Institute - Seattle Seattle, WAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 115 | 68% | $28,800 | $25,638 |
| 16 | Pima Medical Institute - Houston Houston, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 115 | 71% | $20,583 | $25,638 |
| 17 | Pima Medical Institute - San Antonio San Antonio, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 115 | 57% | $23,301 | $25,638 |
| 18 | Pima Medical Institute - East Valley Mesa, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 110 | 76% | $6,667 | $25,638 |
| 19 | Advantage Technical College - Aguadilla Aguadilla, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 107 | 91% | $2,235 | — |
| 20 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FLPublicAssociate'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 102 | 38% | — | $38,422 |
| 21 | Advantage Technical College Manati, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 101 | 60% | $2,650 | — |
| 22 | San Joaquin Valley College - Fresno Fresno, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 97 | 62% | $24,542 | $29,721 |
| 23 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NYPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 95 | 45% | — | $37,771 |
| 24 | Pima Medical Institute - Renton Renton, WAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 90 | 69% | $31,697 | $25,638 |
| 25 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 89 | 83% | — | $43,747 |
| 26 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 88 | 30% | — | — |
| 27 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 83 | 29% | — | $34,698 |
| 28 | Pima Medical Institute - Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, COPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 83 | 68% | $25,466 | $25,638 |
| 29 | PPG Technical College Caguas, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 82 | 64% | $7,344 | $9,095 |
| 30 | Fox College Tinley Park, ILPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 79 | 71% | $14,407 | $36,853 |
| 31 | Pima Medical Institute - Tucson Tucson, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 78 | 72% | — | $25,638 |
| 32 | Vet Tech Institute of Indiana Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 78 | 64% | $17,074 | $30,508 |
| 33 | Baker College Owosso, MIPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 78 | 36% | $15,493 | $35,142 |
| 34 | Advantage Technical College San Juan, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 78 | 59% | $3,345 | — |
| 35 | Carrington College - Phoenix North Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 77 | 62% | — | $25,735 |
| 36 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, ILPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 71 | 21% | — | $36,988 |
| 37 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 70 | 32% | — | — |
| 38 | Pima Medical Institute - Aurora Aurora, COPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 65 | 72% | $20,506 | $28,808 |
| 39 | Palo Alto College San Antonio, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 62 | 33% | — | — |
| 40 | San Joaquin Valley College - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 57 | 58% | $24,205 | $29,721 |
| 41 | Windward Community College Kaneohe, HIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 56 | 31% | — | $38,109 |
| 42 | Central Coast College Salinas, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 54 | 67% | $27,488 | $27,112 |
| 43 | San Joaquin Valley College - Ontario Ontario, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 54 | 64% | $26,900 | — |
| 44 | Milwaukee Career College Milwaukee, WIPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 53 | 44% | $24,225 | $25,886 |
| 45 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NYPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 52 | 38% | — | $38,064 |
| 46 | Gaston College Dallas, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 51 | 63% | — | $35,658 |
| 47 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OHPublicAssociate's | 51 | 28% | — | — |
| 48 | Bridgerland Technical College Logan, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 50 | 75% | — | $21,361 |
| 49 | Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus Pleasant Hill, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 49 | 59% | $32,161 | $36,236 |
| 50 | Bel - Rea Institute of Animal Technology Denver, COPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 48 | 27% | $26,262 | $38,899 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 01.83) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 50 states & territories
Where Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant graduates come from. Each state links to all Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-9096, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Veterinary Assistants, Veterinary Technologists, and Health Specialties Teachers. The job outlook is much faster than average, with an annual growth rate of 8.7% and approximately 22,200 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $37,320, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.8301
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakersprimary SOC 31-9096 | $38,150 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~22,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians SOC 29-2056 | $47,380 | +9.1% Much faster than average | ~14,300 | Associate's degree |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Fill medication prescriptions.
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Other Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 1 other 6-digit CIP codes under Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (CIP 01.83).
Common questions
What types of degrees are offered in this program?+
The program offers an Associate's degree, awards of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, awards of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, and a Bachelor's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 263 colleges offering the Veterinary/Animal Health Technology program across the United States.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Students will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, animal handling, and communication, among others.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 8.7% and around 22,200 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant?+
Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant is CIP 01.8301 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (CIP 01.83). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of veterinarians, laboratory animal specialists, and zoological professionals, to provide patient management, care, and clinical procedures assistance as well as owner communication. Includes instruction in animal nursing care, animal health and nutrition, animal handling, clinical pathology, radiology, anesthesiology, dental prophylaxis, surgical assisting, clinical laboratory procedures, office administration skills, patient and owner management, and applicable standards and regulations.
How many institutions offer Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant programs?+
263 U.S. institutions reported Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 50 states & territories, awarding 8,874 credentials in the year. That is 99.5% of all Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers occupation, which Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant most directly leads to, pays a median of $38,150 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $33,738 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates, so its figures match the Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program page.
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