Do I Have What It Takes to Become a Vet Assistant?
If you are thinking about a career working with animals, you might look into how to become a veterinary assistant online. It is a rewarding career that lets you help animals and make a good living without requiring a college degree. Online programs are a great way to get a post-secondary education and prepare for a career without breaking the bank. Because ABC also provides students ample real-world experiences, upon successful completion of the program you will be confident in your ability.
The job requires more personal characteristics than just a passion for animals. Before embarking on any career, it is always a good idea to learn not only its demands but what sort of personality is best suited to succeed in it.
In the case of veterinary assistants, there are several qualities that help make it a good career fit. A veterinary assistant should have:
- Good people skills, including patience, empathy, and compassion
- A strong stomach for what you will see and what you will have to clean up
- The emotional resilience to handle exposure to pain and suffering
- The ability to understand and follow directions to the letter
- The capacity to handle pressure and stress
- Multi-tasking skills
- Physical strength and flexibility
I Check All the Boxes! Do I Need Certification?
Technically, you can be hired to work in a vet clinic without any training and learn on the job, but the likelihood is pretty low and you will have to absorb everything on the fly. Applicants who have taken a structured veterinary assistant program including office etiquette and hospital procedures, animal restraint, pharmacy and pharmacology, surgical preparation and assisting, small animal nursing and more have the advantage of an academic foundation. Add experience to this by going to a school that includes hands on as part of their program and that’s even better. Certifications like ABC’s ABCVA let potential employers know that you have taken and mastered a serious course of study.
Want to go even further? After graduation you could become an Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) through The National Association of Veterinary Technicians (NAVTA).
NAVTA, which promotes the vet tech profession, partnered with VetMedTeam to create, the AVA course. Students who complete and pass the AVA exam earn the distinction of Approved Veterinary Assistant.
Currently, only four courses of study have the approval of NAVTA, and ABC’s online veterinary assistant program is one of them. The program is available everywhere in the U.S. and in every Canadian province.
The veterinary community looks favorably on those who earn the NAVTA approved designation.
How Soon Can I Get Started?
Since ABC offers its program online, you can enroll anytime. Just contact us and set up an interview with an admissions counselor. Upon completion of the interview, suitable candidates may then apply for admission to the veterinary assistant program and, if applicable, financial aid.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Veterinary Assistant?
Students have a maximum of 18 months to complete ABC’s coursework and externship, but most finish in 12 months. After that, you have up to a year to pass the VetMedTech exam. Largely, the time it takes to complete the program depends on your discipline and determination, as well as the time you can set aside for coursework.
Will I Learn Everything I Need to Succeed?
ABC’s classes cover the career from A to Z. The stages include:
- Office etiquette and hospital procedures
- Animal restraint
- Exam room procedures
- Pharmacy and pharmacology
- Surgical preparation and assisting
- Small animal nursing
- Laboratory procedures
- Radiology and ultrasound imaging
- Career Building
In addition, after completion of coursework students complete an externship that provides 100 hours of hands-on experience. From the perspective of a future employer, that covers the bases!
I’m Definitely Interested!
To learn more about Animal Behavior College, explore our website or call us at 800-795-3294. We love putting people on the path to great careers!
