Is a Veterinary Assistant Career Right for You?

Why You Should Become a Veterinary Assistant

Do your friends call you the crazy cat lady? Do you have more framed portraits in your house of your dog than your nieces and nephews? Do you love animals more than you love most people? Would your dream job involve working with animals daily? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you’re the perfect candidate for the numerous animal jobs out there.

It’s eternally fulfilling to spend your days working in a field you love. Fortunately for animal lovers, there are many animal care jobs available to us, such as animal trainer and groomer, veterinary technician, and zookeeper assistant. Some require minimal schooling while others call for a degree, such as a bachelor’s in Animal Science.

Demand for Vet Assistants on the Rise

In this article, we discuss becoming a veterinary assistant, as the demand for professionals in this field has risen considerably. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for veterinary assistants will rise more than 10 percent by the year 2022 and the requirements are few.

Veterinary assistants have many responsibilities, including assisting in examinations, laboratory testing, X-ray and ultrasound imaging, assisting with front office procedures, administering vaccinations, drawing blood, obtaining urine and fecal samples for testing, assisting and answering questions for clients, exercising dogs on their daily walks and much more.

Veterinary Assistant Job Requirements

Certification is Not Necessary, But it Can Help

Becoming a veterinary assistant doesn’t necessarily require any certification or degree from a veterinary assistant school. Although it is recommended. A vet assistant, in comparison to a veterinary technician who must achieve at least a two-year associate’s degree, is usually trained on-the-job for all of the procedures she will be responsible for.

Veterinarians Prefer Certified Vet Assistants

However, when Animal Behavior College (ABC) polled veterinarians across the United States, they found that over 96 percent of all veterinarians surveyed stated they would prefer to employ an assistant who pursued and achieved certification over those who did not. Thus, certification from one of the more well-respected veterinary assistant programs is highly recommended.

While some certification programs will simply suffice, you will be much better off becoming certified by a professional veterinary assistant school that includes hands-on training as part of their curriculum, such as ABC’s online veterinary assistant program.

Hands-On Training is Important

Extensive research of veterinarians nationwide indicates that 88 percent of veterinarians prefer to hire certified graduates from veterinary assistant schools where the curriculum included a hands-on training module in a veterinary setting. The best part about receiving hands-on training is the valuable experience it provides vet assistant students. They can apply their knowledge and skills in a real setting, giving them an advantage when applying for jobs.

Do Your Research

Once you’ve decided whether you’ll seek a veterinary assistant certification prior to attempting a career as a vet assistant, make sure to choose the right school that covers all the necessary topics. If you have any questions about what you need to learn, ask the veterinarian at your local veterinary clinic or hospital. Your veterinarian should be able to tell you what she requires of her assistants. Then, compare that information to the courses offered by your choice of school to ensure everything is covered.

Learning how to do all of this before applying for a job at a veterinary hospital or clinic will put you far ahead of the competition.