If working with animals is a career goal, you might want to explore the possibility of becoming a veterinary assistant. Veterinary assistant school prepares animal lovers to work in a variety of veterinary hospitals, clinics or other settings involving animal medical care.
Veterinary assistants enjoy a high rate of job satisfaction; they are among the top 30% of careers, in fact.. Helping pet owners keeping their dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and other animals healthy is a rewarding career.
But what does it take to become a veterinary assistant? Is a veterinary assistant school really worth it? Learning the answers to the following questions could help you decide if working in the veterinary field is the best career path for you.
How long is vet assistant school?
Each vet assistant program has its own timeline for completion. Some career schools offer short, intense online-only courses that take less than three months to complete. Learning online at your own pace through a school like Animal Behavior College can take up to 12-18 months or sooner, working at your pace (and it has a hands-on component too!).
Do you need schooling to be a vet assistant?
Technically, there are rarely any continuing education requirements for a vet assistant. A high school diploma or G.E.D. is usually enough. However, most employers prefer to hire people who have experience working with animals and someone with an educational background in veterinary medicine.
Lots of people want to work with animals and apply for vet assistant jobs, so employers can have the pick of the crop. If you don’t have experience or education, it can be difficult to find a job.
How much schooling is needed to be a vet assistant?
While you do not have to go to school to be a vet assistant, it’s helpful to earn an education in veterinary assisting. You can do so by completing a single vet assistant course. You do not have to take multiple classes or go to school for years.
Are you confusing a vet assistant with a vet tech?
A vet tech is not the same thing as a vet assistant. A vet tech acts more as a registered nurse might in the human world. They perform more medically related tasks and command a higher salary. The trade-off is that they must have a two- or four-year college degree and pass a secondary national exam (and the expense that goes along with that).
How much is vet assistant school?
The cost of vet assistant school can vary, depending on whether you attend an in-person school or choose an online or hybrid school. In-person vocational schools generally come with a higher tuition price tag.
Tuition for online schools’ range from $2,000 to $5,000.
Pricing will also depend on whether you pay in full up front or opt for a payment plan.
At ABC, tuition covers:
- All required digital study materials, including our updated, revamped curriculum
- 46 educational videos
- In person, real world experience with a minimum of 100 hours in a veterinary facility that ABC coordinates for you
- Student support from your personally appointed Program Manager
- Pet CPR and First Aid Certification (good for 2 years)
- Lifetime approval as an ABC Veterinary Assistant (ABCVA) upon successful completion
- ABC Alumni Membership
What does the vet assistant school curriculum include?
A comprehensive vet assistant curriculum covers what will be expected of you in most veterinary settings. Since job requirements include both administrative duties and support for veterinarians and vet techs, there’s a lot to learn!
ABC’s multi-stage curriculum includes:
- Office etiquette and hospital procedures
- Animal behavior and handling
- Examination room procedures
- Pharmacy and pharmacology
- Surgical preparation and assisting
- Small animal nursing
- Laboratory procedures
- Radiology ultrasound imaging and endoscopy
- Career Building
Having this knowledge can prepare you to confidently answer veterinary assistant interview questions and hopefully fast track you landing a job!
What are the career paths available after becoming a veterinary assistant?
Veterinary assistants are not limited to working in vet clinics and hospitals. Any facility that houses or cares for captive animals will also need vet assistants to offer care, feeding, exercise and other tasks. Research labs, wildlife refuges, rehabilitation centers, humane societies, and animal shelters often hire veterinary assistants.
So if you prefer to work with wild or exotic animals, there are options, though typically, there are less employment opportunities than there are in veterinary practices. While you can find work as a veterinary assistant in a vet practice in both rural and urban areas in any state, you might have to be willing to relocate to get a job at a wildlife refuge, zoo or research lab.
Being a vet assistant can serve as a steppingstone in your veterinary career, too. If you love the work and want to pursue your vet tech degree, the familiarity with veterinary medicine gained in your job as a vet assistant will help you in your career pathway.
How much does a vet assistant make?
Vet assistant salaries vary around the country but are generally higher in urban areas. According to Zip Recruiter, the highest average salary ($40,614) was in Washington, and the lowest ($26,797) was in Florida.
The latest figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median wage for vet assistants at $36,440.
What are the most important qualities to be a successful veterinary assistant?
Vet assistants have a lot to do on any given day, and good communication skills, a positive attitude and flexibility are important assets. Vet assistants fill many roles in most practices, and they must be able to transition from administrative/front office mode to assisting with a patient exam or room prep as needed.
The job is physically demanding. It can involve restraining frightened animals and lifting pets on and off exam tables all day. Vet assistants are also on their feet a lot.
While the job comes with a lot of joy–so many adorable puppies and kittens–difficult situations arise every day, too. It’s hard to watch animals in pain; sometimes there are devastating diagnoses; assisting pet owners who are saying their final goodbyes to a beloved dog or cat can be gut-wrenching. It’s not a job for the faint of heart. Vet assistants need compassion for animals and empathy for what pet owners may be going through.
Enroll in our vet assistant school today!
If you have decided a vet assistant career is for you, it’s time to take the next step. Animal Behavior College excels at helping animal lovers launch fulfilling careers. You can enroll anytime! Just call 800-795-3294 to speak to an admissions counselor.
