How to Become A Veterinary Technician in California
California employs approximately 11,310 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,630 1. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,300 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a veterinary technician in California, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Veterinary Technician in California
How do I become a veterinary technician in California? California requires credentials such as Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, Veterinary Premises Permit, Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP). The licensing authority is the Emergency Medical Services Authority - Paramedic Program 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in California? Yes. California has licensing or registration requirements for veterinary technicians. The Emergency Medical Services Authority - Paramedic Program oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do veterinary technicians earn in California? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in California is $60,630 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,240 and experienced professionals can earn $75,860 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Emergency Medical Services Authority - Paramedic Program
- Median wage (California): $60,630 per year 1
- Exam requirement: Third-party exam required
Veterinary Technician License Requirements in California
The Emergency Medical Services Authority - Paramedic Program oversees veterinary technician licensing in California 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | |
| Veterinary Premises Permit | Facility or mobile unit where veterinary medicine is practiced. Fees: Application - $500 Renewal - $525 (Annual) Average Time to Process Application: 2 days Experience Requirement: N/A Authority:… |
| Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP) | Basic assistants who can administer and handle medication under the supervision of a veterinarian. |
| Veterinarian | Fees: Application: $350 Examination: Veterinary Law Exam $100 Initial License: $500 Examination Frequency: The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) - administered during testing win… |
| Designated Representative License - Vet Food-Animal Drug Retailer | A designated representative is an individual who performs clerical, inventory control, housekeeping, delivery, maintenance, or similar functions related to the distribution or dispensing of dangerous… |
| University Veterinarian | Veterinarian who can only practice while employed by the University of California, Davis or Western University at one of their facilities. |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: Third-party exam required
- Experience: No experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in California
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), veterinary technologists and technicians wages in California vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 3,640 | $60,670 | $61,420 | $48,400 | $76,390 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 1,330 | $60,280 | $60,480 | $49,240 | $74,620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 1,220 | $71,090 | $68,210 | $54,080 | $79,930 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 1,010 | $60,970 | $62,090 | $49,370 | $75,930 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 910 | $58,510 | $57,020 | $46,980 | $73,190 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 470 | $67,280 | $68,370 | $52,720 | $78,430 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | 390 | $60,410 | $59,970 | $47,550 | $75,260 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | 250 | $61,940 | $62,770 | $45,770 | $74,310 |
| Fresno | 220 | $58,080 | $56,870 | $45,640 | $72,280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | 160 | $58,490 | $57,030 | $48,790 | $71,110 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | 150 | $62,810 | $62,780 | $49,650 | $75,120 |
| Modesto | 140 | $59,360 | $57,210 | $46,830 | $74,010 |
| Stockton-Lodi | 140 | $56,010 | $55,510 | $47,170 | $62,230 |
| Salinas | 130 | $61,330 | $61,000 | $49,620 | $75,890 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | 120 | $55,730 | $54,460 | $41,450 | $61,360 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | 120 | $58,690 | $56,690 | $48,480 | $62,570 |
| Vallejo | 110 | $61,230 | $60,800 | $43,020 | $78,150 |
| Chico | 70 | $59,300 | $58,040 | $48,260 | $72,030 |
| Redding | 60 | $51,410 | $55,180 | $44,900 | $73,310 |
| Visalia | 60 | $47,350 | $50,580 | $41,170 | $59,730 |
| Merced | 40 | $50,420 | $50,480 | $38,610 | $60,840 |
| Yuba City | 40 | $58,310 | $55,710 | $47,290 | $61,860 |
| Napa | 30 | $60,410 | $59,580 | $45,890 | $73,520 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Top Metros for Veterinary technicians in California
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest veterinary technician employment within California according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 3,640 | $60,670 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 1,330 | $60,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 1,220 | $71,090 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 1,010 | $60,970 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 910 | $58,510 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in California? California currently employs approximately 11,310 veterinary technicians 1. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a veterinary technician in California with an out-of-state license? Contact the Emergency Medical Services Authority - Paramedic Program for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in California.
How much do veterinary technicians earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in California is $60,630, which is $14,650 above the national median of $45,980 according to BLS data 1.
Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Emergency Medical Services Authority - Paramedic Program - Licensing Information: https://emsa.ca.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |