Vet tech programs in Puerto Rico

3 vet tech and veterinary assistant programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

3 schools offer these vet tech programs, and Puerto Rico has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Vet techs do medical tests that help diagnose animals' injuries and illnesses and help veterinarians with exams, care and lab work. Most have a two-year associate degree in veterinary technology, and most states require them to pass an exam. Veterinary assistants handle routine animal care; most learn on the job, and certification is optional.¹

In Puerto Rico, all 3 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

All 3 are the same kind of program: veterinary assistant course.

See the 3 programs

How much do vet tech programs cost in Puerto Rico?

$9,575 to $12,327

is what the 2 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Left out; Half of Puerto Rico's programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states
Working 6 months later: Left out; Every program that reports it reports exactly 100%
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Puerto Rico may also offer vet tech programs. How these figures are made

Are there free vet tech programs in Puerto Rico?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $9,575 to $12,327.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 3 vet tech and veterinary assistant programs in Puerto Rico approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

Veterinary assistant courseHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Asistente de Veterinario
Columbia Central University
Bayamon
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Columbia Central University, BayamonVeterinary assistant course · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$20,100
Price if you pay yourself$12,327
Program website, Asistente de Veterinario at Columbia Central University
More details about Asistente de Veterinario at Columbia Central University
Finished
Left out
Working at 6 months
Left out
Earned in a quarter
$5,030
Length
45 weeks, 27 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$741
Students counted
278
Earned a year, estimated
$20,100
Price if you pay yourself
$12,327
Program website, Asistente de Veterinario at Columbia Central University
Veterinary assistant courseSeveral formatsHigh school diploma or equivalent
Asistente Veterinario
Ppg Technical College
Caguas
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Ppg Technical College, CaguasVeterinary assistant course · Accredited schoolSeveral formats · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$9,575
More details about Asistente Veterinario at Ppg Technical College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
44 weeks, 27 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,310
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$9,575
Veterinary assistant courseSeveral formatsHigh school diploma or equivalent
Asistente Veterinario
CEM College
Humacao
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
CEM College, HumacaoVeterinary assistant course · Accredited schoolSeveral formats · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
Program website, Asistente Veterinario at CEM College
More details about Asistente Veterinario at CEM College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
60 weeks, 19 hours a week
Cost of supplies
Not reported
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
Left out
Program website, Asistente Veterinario at CEM College

How to pay for vet tech programs in Puerto Rico

WIOA funding can pay for vet tech programs in Puerto Rico

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for vet tech programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for vet tech programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Other training in Puerto Rico

How vet tech programs compare with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in Puerto Rico

Where the Puerto Rico vet tech program numbers come from

Which Puerto Rico vet tech programs are on this list?

These are the vet tech programs Puerto Rico approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Puerto Rico offers.

How the prices and results of Puerto Rico vet tech programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the Puerto Rico figures?

The US Department of Labor's own results site lists Puerto Rico among the states with "known data quality concerns".¹⁰ We leave out the share who finished for Puerto Rico: half of its programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states. We leave out the share working 6 months later for Puerto Rico: every program that reports it reports exactly 100%.

Sources for the facts about vet tech programs in Puerto Rico

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services