California RVT study plan

Build a one-page drug-class map covering the 12 classes most tested on the RVT exam (antibiotics, NSAIDs, opioids, anesthetics, antiparasitics, antifungals, antiemetics, GI protectants, hormones, cardiac drugs, anticonvulsants, emergency drugs), listing prototype drug, mechanism, and key monitoring parameter for each

Calculate 25 drug doses by hand and with a calculator, converting between mg/kg, mg/mL, percent solutions, and units/kg, and check every answer against a worked solution

Rehearse the six rights of drug administration and list three species-specific exceptions to each right (for example, oral dosing limits in rabbits and ferrets)

Label a diagram-free table of common drug interactions and contraindications, including NSAID-plus-corticosteroid GI risk and xylazine use in patients with cardiac disease

Explain the difference between extra-label use and approved labeling, and state the record-keeping the veterinarian and technician must complete

Recite drug classifications and reversal agents for the four anesthetic/analgesic families (alpha-2 agonists, benzodiazepines, opioids, dissociatives) from memory

Compute dilution problems: reconstituting a lyophilized vial, preparing a 2% lidocaine solution from stock, and making a 1:1000 epinephrine dilution

Describe the legal requirements for controlled-substance handling, including DEA forms, log entries, witnessed waste, and storage requirements in a veterinary practice

Identify the top 10 emergency drugs by indication and route, and state the dose range for each from a current formulary

Explain how hepatic and renal impairment change dosing intervals, using at least two drug examples

Assemble a complete surgical pack and list the items needed for a standard ovariohysterectomy, including instrument count and suture selection

Sequence the four phases of wound healing and identify which suture material and pattern suits each tissue layer

Demonstrate sterile gowning and gloving steps in writing, and list five common breaks in sterile technique and how to correct each

Compare three methods of surgical hand preparation and state contact times and approved agents for each

Outline aseptic preparation of the surgical site, including clipping margins, skin scrubs, and patient positioning for three common procedures

Describe the three phases of general anesthesia and the monitoring parameters the technician tracks in each

Explain the function of the anesthetic machine components and perform a written leak and pressure check in the correct order

Identify normal values for heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature, and SpO2 in dogs and cats, and state the intervention threshold for each

List five causes of anesthetic complications (hypotension, bradycardia, hypothermia, apnea, malignant hyperthermia) and the first response for each

Compare injectable induction protocols across species and state one advantage and one risk of each

Differentiate preemptive, multimodal, and rescue analgesia, and build a sample pain-management plan for a surgical patient

Use two validated pain-scoring tools (one for dogs, one for cats) and justify a treatment decision from a written case description

Explain the mechanism and monitoring requirements for local and regional blocks, including toxic-dose limits for lidocaine and bupivacaine

Identify the signs, causes, and treatment steps for hypothermia, hypotension, and prolonged recovery in the post-anesthetic patient

Describe the differences between constant-rate infusion and intermittent bolus analgesia, with one clinical indication for each

Name and describe the instruments in a basic dental kit and state the use of each

Explain the correct sequence for a complete oral examination and dental charting, including periodontal probing and chart notation

Describe the two-stage process of dental scaling and polishing, and explain why polishing follows scaling

Identify the anesthetic and monitoring considerations unique to dental procedures, including the need for a cuffed endotracheal tube and throat pack

List the dental radiography views and the structures each view best demonstrates

Explain the rationale for dental extractions and the technician's role in surgical extraction setup and aftercare

Describe home dental care options and the evidence supporting each, and write client instructions for one

Review the drug classes used in dentistry, including local anesthetics, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and sedatives, and state one caution for each

Identify common dental emergencies (tooth fracture, abscess, jaw fracture, avulsion) and the immediate response for each

Revisit the drug-class sheet from week 1 and update it with dentistry-relevant entries

Complete a timed 100-question mixed practice exam covering all four domains and score each domain separately

Review every missed item by domain and write the underlying fact that was missed, not just the correct letter

Rehearse the dose-calculation and machine-checkout procedures from memory under time pressure

Summarize the five most frequently confused concepts across all domains and write a one-sentence clarification for each