Veterinary Assistant Training

Animals, whether household pets or livestock, play major roles in the lives of many people. When they become ill or are in need of medical help, it is the job of trained medical staff to provide them with the necessary treatment and care. As a veterinary assistant, you can combine a love of animals, an interest in science and medicine and a desire to help animals in need.

Overview of Veterinary Assistant Training

Veterinary assistant training involves a balance of classroom education and hands-on training. A passion for and a confidence around animals, above-average academic performance in math and the sciences, good decision-making and communication skills, and the ability to work well with your hands are all characteristics of a successful veterinary assistant.

The job itself entails many duties, both administrative and clinical. Primarily, a veterinary assistant is there to provide support and assistance to veterinarians during procedures and to help facilitate the flow of animal patients through the veterinary practice. Among the other expected job responsibilities are:

• Medical record-keeping
• Laboratory test performance, such as blood, urine and fecal screenings
• Preparation of animal patients for surgery or examination
• Animal restraint
• Medication and fluid administration, as well as medication dispensing
• Animal teeth cleanings
• Maintenance of a clean and sanitary facility, including sanitizing surgical and examination tools
• Grief counseling for pet owners

Following veterinary assistant training, there are many opportunities for employment. Most often, graduates of veterinary assistant training programs seek jobs at private veterinary practices and hospitals, research laboratories or animal shelters. Other job opportunities can be found at zoos, pet shops, farms, or pharmaceutical supply companies.

Veterinary Assistant Training: Degrees and Coursework

There is more than one way to acquire veterinary assistant training and obtain a job in the field.

• Associate's Degree. These are typically two-year programs offered at a community college accredited by the American Veterinary Medicine Association. This is a good option if you're hoping to take the most efficient path to a career as a veterinary assistant.
• Bachelor's Degree. Some schools offer a four-year degree program that results in a bachelor's degree in veterinary technology. This may be a better option if you're looking for a more diverse education and desire more flexibility in your employment options.

Coursework in veterinary assistant training involves quite a bit of science and math, with a focus on clinical application. Anatomy and physiology, comparative anatomy, animal nutrition and husbandry, pharmacology, pathology, and aseptic technique courses can be expected in most veterinary assistant training programs. Hands-on work with live animals is also an integral part of the training.

If you're interested in entering a program in veterinary assistant training, you should make sure your high school curriculum includes plenty of math, biology and other sciences classes. Most programs require that you have demonstrated solid academic performance in these areas prior to admission.

Veterinary Assistant Training Career Outlook

Now is an excellent time to acquire veterinary assistant training, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment growth for veterinary technologists and technicians should be much faster than the average--about 36 percent from 2008 through 2018. Rapid turnover of currently employed veterinary assistants, an insufficient output of well-trained graduates of veterinary assistant training programs, and an expected increase in the number of pet owners utilizing veterinary services will contribute to this excellent job availability.

In May of 2009, the median annual wage earned by veterinary technologists and technicians was $29,280. The highest-paid jobs in the field paid as much as $47,020 annually. The vast majority of veterinary assistants--about 91 percent of the total number of people employed in the field--were employed by private veterinary practices and veterinary services. The highest-paying positions, however, were found in the federal executive branch and general medical and surgical hospitals.

Resources for Veterinary Assistants:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
• American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA)

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