Veterinary Assistant (VTA)

Veterinary assistants play an essential role in helping veterinary practices provide safe, efficient and compassionate animal care. They support veterinarians and veterinary technicians during examinations and surgical procedures, care for hospitalized animals, assist with diagnostic imaging and lab tests, educate pet owners and keep clinical facilities running smoothly.

Through hands-on laboratory instruction, classroom learning and a supervised clinical externship, Pima Medical Institute’s Veterinary Assistant program prepares students with the knowledge, technical skills and professional confidence to become valuable members of today’s veterinary healthcare teams.

Program objective. Our Veterinary Assistant certificate program is designed to prepare you for an entry-level career working alongside veterinarians in approximately nine months. Through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on lab work and a clinical externship, you will build the animal care skills and administrative knowledge needed to work confidently in a veterinary setting.

The program covers essential topics, including:

• Veterinary anatomy, physiology and terminology
• Clinical laboratory procedures
• Animal nursing and radiography
• Pharmacology
• Aseptic technique and surgical assisting
• Office procedures and client communication

Core skills you’ll develop.

• Foundations: Animal anatomy, physiology and terminology; animal handling, restraint and behavior recognition; animal nursing care, vital signs monitoring and life stages; emergency care CPR and first aid fundamentals
• Laboratory: Clinical laboratory procedures, pathology and specimen processing
• Imaging: Diagnostic medical imaging and radiography safety
• Surgical: Surgical assisting, aseptic technique and sterilization protocols
• Pharmacology: Pharmacology basics, dosage calculation and anesthesia principles
• Administrative: Veterinary office procedures and practice management software, appointment scheduling and client intake and inventory management

Continuing your education. If you’re interested in continuing your education in veterinary medicine, Pima Medical Institute offers a Veterinary Technician associate degree program. Get the skills and training needed to move up in the veterinary field by expanding your knowledge and responsibilities.

Clinical Programs

• Veterinary Technician
• Surgical Technology

Healthcare Leadership Programs

• Associate Degree in Health Care Administration

Bachelor of Science in

• Health Care Administration
• Master of Science in Organizational Leadership

About Pima Medical Institute. Pima Medical Institute started changing lives in 1972, when Richard L. Luebke, Sr., and his wife, JoAnn, opened the first campus in Tucson, Arizona. Over 175,000 graduates have since advanced their education, and many are serving their communities through meaningful health care careers. The school’s mission is to improve the quality of people’s lives by providing the best value in medical career education.

Eligibility requirements.

• Possess a high school diploma or recognized equivalency
• Additional requirements may apply by campus

High school verification. Proof of valid high school completion or equivalent must be submitted (high school diploma or transcript, GED report and certificate, or an official associate or bachelor’s degree transcript). Pima Medical Institute does not enroll ability-to-benefit students, and applicants under the legal age must have written approval of a parent or legal guardian.

Entrance exams. Applicants for non-degree programs are required to take the Wonderlic SLE and receive a minimum score of 14. The exam may be waived for applicants who submit official transcripts that document completion of an associate degree or higher.

Background check, drug testing and vaccinations. Depending on the program, a background check and/or drug screening may be required prior to enrollment, during the program, and/or prior to externship/clinical training; the cost of the background check/drug screen is an out-of-pocket expense. The cost of required vaccinations and titers is also an out-of-pocket expense, and students are required to follow all clinical experience vaccination requests and policies. Students in the Veterinary Assistant and Veterinary Technician programs are required to obtain the full series rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At a glance. Course length: 9 Months (approximate); Class hours: 316; Lab hours: 164; Externship hours: 240. Hybrid education options not available at all campuses.

Houston, San Antonio, Aurora, Chula Vista, Colorado Springs, Denver, East Valley, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Renton, San Marcos, Seattle and Tucson campuses. The 2026 tuition price list shows 29 semester credits and 720 clock hours over 30 weeks, including 5 externship credits (240 hours).

Albuquerque campus. The 2026 tuition price list shows 29 semester credits and 720 clock hours over 85 weeks, including 5 externship credits (240 hours).

Houston class times. Morning classes 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, late morning classes 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM and afternoon classes 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday; night classes 5:50 PM - 10:10 PM. Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Veterinary Assistant, Veterinary Technology and Diagnostic Medical Sonography externships are 40 hours per week.

San Antonio class times. Morning classes 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoon classes 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday; night classes 5:40 PM - 10:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. Degree program class schedules vary; refer to the schedules provided by the program.

Hybrid learning options. All courses are taught on campus to ensure you get the hands-on clinical experience this program requires. For students who need more flexibility in their schedules, hybrid learning options are available at select campuses, combining in-person instruction two days a week with online learning three days a week. Externship hours are completed fully in person.

• Certification: This program builds foundational skills in animal care, client communication and clinical support through hands-on training and an externship. Graduates may consider the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) certification through NAVTA.*
• Find out more: Entry-level roles
• Career advancement: Take on expanded clinical responsibilities as you gain experience, such as a veterinary technician/technologist, specialized vet tech, veterinary practice manager, veterinary educator/trainer, research/lab animal technician and veterinarian (DVM).

Certification and state registration requirements vary.

Careers. The Veterinary Assistant certificate program prepares students to apply for roles including:

• Veterinary assistant
• Laboratory animal caretaker
• Animal care worker
• Animal service worker
• Veterinary clinic receptionist and administrative assistant

These careers may exist in a variety of health care environments, including general small animal practices and companion animal hospitals, emergency and critical care animal hospitals, specialty veterinary centers (surgery, oncology, cardiology, dentistry), large animal and equine veterinary practices, mixed animal clinics, animal shelters, humane societies and rescue organizations, zoological parks and wildlife rehabilitation centers and diagnostic laboratories and research facilities.

Job outlook. 9% Growth — The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this occupation to grow much faster than average over the next 10 years, with a median pay of $37,320 per year. * Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers.htm (visited June 07, 2026).

Career Services. When you’re a Pima Medical Institute student, you get access to our Career Services team—here for you when you need extra help with finding the right job opportunities, building a resume, strengthening your interview skills or just looking for general guidance.

Clinical externships. At Pima Medical Institute, most programs allow students to work in their field through clinical externships—a chance to be mentored by full-time professionals and interface with real patients.

In addition to real-world experience, clinical externships offer students resume-worthy opportunities, letters of recommendation from supervisors and sometimes job placement directly after graduation.

Student Services. Our team of student service professionals are on hand to see students through the challenges they might face during their academic career. We offer guidance and resources to ultimately help build employable medical professionals.

Application process.

• Submit the form below. A few quick details so we can get to know you before we connect.
• Chat with our team. They'll ask about your goals, your background, and what's drawing you to healthcare. From there, they'll help you find the right program and campus for where you are in life right now.
• Attend your campus tour. Experience Pima Medical in person and picture yourself in a career that matters. We'll walk you through programs and what to expect.
• We help you complete your application. Our team guides you through every step, including enrollment and financial services, so nothing stands between you and getting started.