About PVAS   We are located at 26100 Towne Centre Dr., Foothill Ranch, CA 92610.    Our office phone is (949) 597-0533. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm.  At Professional Veterinary Assistant School we offer 3, 12, and 16 month programs to prepare you for a career in veterinary nursing.   Veterinary Attendants, Veterinary Assistants, and Registered Veterinary Technicians play a vital role in the support services of animal hospitals.   Imagine yourself as an important member of this team making a difference in the lives of pets every day!   The 3-month Veterinary Attendant Program provides a short course for newcomers to the field of small animal veterinary nursing. Veterinary attendants work closely with animals by grooming, feeding and managing the care of their patients, and by assisting doctors and technicians with basic diagnostic tests.   The 12-month Veterinary Assistant Program will train you to work as a veterinary doctor's assistant, technician's assistant, and/or veterinary receptionist. You must be currently employed under the direction of a California-licensed veterinarian to be accepted into this program, and it is highly recommended that you have taken the Veterinary Attendant Program. Graduates of the Veterinary Assistant Program with 32 months full-time experience are eligible to take the final semester of the Alternate Route Veterinary Technician Candidate Program.   The 16-month Alternate Route Veterinary Technician Candidate Program is open only to veterinary assistants who have been working with a California-licensed veterinarian and are currently employed. These courses meet the educational requirements for the California Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) licensing exam through the alternate route. For the first 12 months of the program students will be enrolled as Veterinary Assistants. Upon graduation from the Veterinary Assistant Program, students with 32 months experience with a California-licensed veterinarian will be eligible to enter into the last 4 months of the Alternate Route Veterinary Technician Candidate Program. This is the final semester of the review and advanced nursing classes. Registered Veterinary Technicians are licensed to perform tasks in the areas of anesthesia, dentistry, and surgical assisting and have advanced skills and knowledge that qualifies them for application to one of the technician specializations.   Faculty    Your instructors will be veterinarians, Registered Veterinary Technicians and other experts in their particular field. Southern California is home to specialists in all areas of veterinary medicine; local specialists will occasionally give lectures on topics such as veterinary anesthesia, dentistry, surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and exotic animal medicine.   At Completion     At the end of each program, you will receive a certificate and job placement assistance. The Alternate route Veterinary Technician Candidate Program is open to veterinary assistants who have been employed in a California Veterinary Hospital for 32 months or more. These courses meet the educational requirement for the California Registered Technician (RVT) licensing exam through the alternate route. What You Will Learn Applied Basic Science Hospital Procedures Animal Handling Veterinary Nursing Laboratory Science Behavior and Nutrition We use lectures and interactive models to help you learn to provide excellect nursing care to animals, communicate effectively with veterinary doctors and pet owners, and to be a valuable member of the veterinary hospital team.