Veterinary assistant programs and certification
Last checked November 5, 2026. Program lists and fees change; each one links to its source.
Veterinary assistant programs are short certificate courses, offered online, at community colleges and in some high schools, that teach entry-level animal care. You do not need one to get hired: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says most assistants learn on the job. A program matters if you want NAVTA's Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) designation, because only graduates of NAVTA-approved programs can take its exam.
Do you need a program to get hired?
No. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook says most people entering the job have a high school diploma or equivalent and receive short-term on-the-job training. It also says certification is not mandatory.
A program can still help. It gives you basic skills before your first shift, a supervised externship in a clinic, and a credential to show employers. Some states also regulate specific assistant tasks, such as California's permit for handling controlled substances (covered below). For the full path from first job onward, see how to become a veterinary assistant.
Vet assistant certification: NAVTA's AVA
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) calls the Approved Veterinary Assistant "a nationally recognized designation." It is a professional designation, not a state license. To take the exam, you must first graduate from a NAVTA-approved program. There is no route to the AVA exam through work experience alone.
VetMedTeam runs the exam for NAVTA. Its AVA examination page lists these terms, as listed on November 5, 2026:
| Item | What VetMedTeam and NAVTA list |
|---|
| Eligibility | Graduates of a NAVTA-approved program. Your program gives you the code you need to register. |
| Timing | The first attempt must be within 1 year of graduation. You have 30 days from enrollment to take the exam. |
| Format | 100 multiple-choice questions, 150 minutes, taken online in one sitting. Not open book, no calculators, no math questions. |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Cost | $100 per attempt, up to 5 attempts |
| Proctor | Required. VetMedTeam lists a licensed veterinarian, a credentialed veterinary technician, a college testing center or a commercial testing center. Online proctors and libraries are not allowed. You find and pay the proctor. |
| Result | A certificate right after you pass, and the right to use the AVA title |
| Renewal | Every 2 years, with at least 10 hours of veterinary continuing education (NAVTA) |
NAVTA says it has not approved or endorsed any outside AVA review course. VetMedTeam sells its own practice exam.
NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant programs
This list follows NAVTA's AVA programs page. NAVTA sorts programs into online, high school campus and adult campus programs. High school programs, marked below, serve their own students. Confirm current approval, format and start dates with each school before you enroll.
Online
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Nevada
New Jersey
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Utah
Virginia
Canada (Ontario)
State veterinary assistant credentials
Some state veterinary medical associations (VMAs) run their own assistant certification. These are voluntary association credentials, not state licenses. California is different: its permit comes from the state board and covers one specific task.
| Credential | Who issues it | What it takes, as listed |
|---|
| Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA), Levels I, II and III | Texas Veterinary Medical Association | Level I: age 16 or older, 500 hours of supervised work under a US veterinarian or licensed technician, a signed skills checklist and a 70% exam score. Levels II and III each add 1,000 hours and must be taken in order. Renewal yearly with 5 hours of continuing education. |
| Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA), Levels I, II and III | Georgia Veterinary Medical Association | 90 days of supervised work, a skills checklist signed by a licensed veterinarian or technician and a 70% exam score. Levels II and III are online through Patterson Veterinary Academy. Renewal yearly with 5 hours of continuing education. |
| Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP) | California Veterinary Medical Board | Required only for assistants who obtain or administer controlled substances. It needs a board application, Live Scan fingerprints and a supervising veterinarian on file. Not a training program. |
The Texas CVA can be earned in the clinic, through on-the-job training. TVMA also accepts students from school-based programs who have completed at least 200 hours of the program, with at least 300 of the 500 experience hours (225 with a supervisor's recommendation letter) in a clinic or shelter with a veterinarian or licensed technician. TVMA's CVA policies say it has licensed the program to other state VMAs and certifies applicants itself in states without an agreement. Rules for what assistants may do differ by state. See the state-by-state hub, the Texas guide, the Georgia guide and the California guide.
How long is vet assistant school?
Most programs take a few months to one year. Length depends on the school and on how fast you work through a self-paced course. Examples from the programs' own pages:
- Blackstone Career Institute (online): many students finish in 8 to 12 months, with up to 18 months allowed (Blackstone).
- Ross Medical Education Center: 36 weeks, including a six-week externship (Ross).
- Delgado Community College: a two-semester certificate (Delgado).
- Mesa Community College: an 18-credit Certificate of Completion (Mesa Community College).
- High school programs: TVMA describes school-based programs as running 1 to 3 academic years.
The Texas CVA Level I route through work needs 500 supervised hours, which TVMA puts at roughly 90 days of on-the-job training.
What vet assistant programs cost
Few schools publish one all-in price, and community college costs depend on residency and credits. Prices below are as listed on November 5, 2026.
| Program or credential | Listed price | What it includes |
|---|
| VetBloom (online, NAVTA approved) | $899 | Seven online modules, help finding a 120-hour clinical externship, and the $100 AVA exam fee |
| Blackstone Career Institute (online, NAVTA approved) | $1,214 or $1,336 paid in full | The school lists two program versions at these prices; we have not confirmed which version is NAVTA approved. Confirm the approved version and total cost before enrolling. Totals include a $150 registration fee; payment plans cost more. |
| AVA exam (VetMedTeam) | $100 per attempt | Exam only. Proctor fees, if any, are extra. |
| Texas CVA Level I (TVMA) | $169.95 members, $199.95 non-members | Level I training manual, which TVMA says is optional. The exam fee is not shown on that page. |
| Georgia CVA Level I (GVMA) | Manual $169 to $249; exam $139 to $199 | Price depends on GVMA membership type |
Ross Medical Education Center says it pays for the AVA exam for its graduates, who can take it on campus. Ask any school what the price covers: books, scrubs, background checks, the externship and the AVA exam fee.
Online vs in-person programs
Online programs teach the coursework at your own pace, but the approved ones still require hands-on hours in a real clinic. VetBloom requires a 120-hour clinical externship, and Blackstone requires a 40-hour clinical experience partway through plus a final externship. You may have to find the clinic yourself. The AVA exam is taken online, but in front of an approved in-person proctor.
In-person programs at community colleges and career centers build the hands-on part into the schedule. Ross also runs hybrid versions at its Michigan campuses, with online classes and on-campus labs. If you already work in a clinic, ask an online program whether your workplace can serve as your externship site. If you have never worked with animals, an in-person program gives you more supervised practice.
When to go straight to a vet tech program
A veterinary assistant program is not an AVMA-accredited vet tech program. Most states expect techs to graduate from an accredited program and pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). A few states allow other routes, which our VTNE guide covers. If you already know you want the tasks your state reserves for credentialed techs, a vet tech program is usually the more direct path.
Pay is one reason to compare. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $38,150 a year for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers, and $47,380 for veterinary technologists and technicians. See vet assistant salary and vet tech salary.
An assistant program still makes sense if you want to test the field, earn while you decide, or cannot commit two years yet. Ask any vet tech program whether it gives credit for assistant coursework before you count on it. Start with how to become a vet tech, online vet tech programs and vet tech vs vet assistant.
FAQ
Do you need a certificate to be a vet assistant?
No. BLS says most veterinary assistants train on the job and that certification is not mandatory. Some states regulate specific tasks, such as California's VACSP permit for handling controlled substances.
What is a NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant program?
It is a training program that NAVTA's AVA committee has reviewed and approved. Graduating from one is the only way to qualify for NAVTA's Approved Veterinary Assistant exam.
Can you get vet assistant certification online?
Yes, several NAVTA-approved programs are online, including VetBloom, VetMedTeam, Penn Foster and Blackstone. They still require hands-on clinic hours, and the AVA exam needs an approved in-person proctor.
What is on the certified veterinary assistant exam?
The NAVTA AVA exam has 100 multiple-choice questions, a 150-minute limit and a 75% passing score, according to VetMedTeam. Each attempt costs $100. State VMA exams, such as the Texas and Georgia CVA, have their own exams with a 70% passing score.
How long is vet assistant school?
Usually a few months to one year. Ross lists 36 weeks, Delgado Community College two semesters, and Blackstone says many online students finish in 8 to 12 months.
Is AVA the same as CVA?
No. AVA is NAVTA's national designation and requires an approved program. CVA is a state VMA credential, such as Texas's or Georgia's, that can be earned with supervised clinic work.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), Veterinary Assistants Program
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), AVA Programs
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), AVA Program Guidelines
- VetMedTeam, Approved Veterinary Assistant Examination
- Texas Veterinary Medical Association, Certified Veterinary Assistant and CVA Policies and Guidelines
- Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, Certified Veterinary Assistant Program
- California Veterinary Medical Board, Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP) FAQ
- VetBloom, Veterinary Assistant Program
- Blackstone Career Institute, Online Veterinary Assistant Training Program
- Ross Medical Education Center, Veterinary Assistant
- Delgado Community College, Veterinary Assistant Certificate
- Mesa Community College, Veterinary Assisting Certificate of Completion
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