How to Become a Veterinary Assistant

By: Joey Bryant, DVM

Last Updated: Dec 14, 2018

For those who love animals, there are few jobs more rewarding than that of veterinary assistant. The compassionate presence of these professionals eases the experience of a visit to the vet for pets and pet owners alike. Veterinary assistants assist veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians with every aspect of animal care, as well as manage pet owners’ questions and concerns. Veterinary assistants play a vital role in the daily activities of a veterinary hospital.

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Examples of some of the responsibilities of veterinary assistants include:

• Attend to the daily caretaking needs of the animals under their care, such as feeding, walking and providing water and clean bedding
• Clean and disinfect animal cages, exam rooms, and treatment areas
• Maintain surgical equipment, sterilize surgical instruments, and assist the veterinarian and licensed veterinary technician as needed in surgery (such as patient preparation and monitoring)
• Administer medications to patients
• Properly restrain patients for blood/urine collection and tissue sampling for testing
• Perform laboratory tests such as urinalysis setup, operation of automated blood machines, fecal exams, and bedside “SNAP” tests (heartworm, feline leukemia/FIV, etc)
• Maintain patient charts that document daily care

In addition to the animal care they provide, veterinary assistants also fulfill a vital role for the pet owners. They are often the first point of contact for clients, and as such, set the tone for the overall veterinary hospital experience. Veterinary assistants must be comfortable with people and possess good communication skills. They facilitate and expand on client education about various diseases, medications and their proper administration, and general pet care. The assistants also answer any questions and concerns of the client.

According to the latest survey in 2012 by the American Veterinary Medical Association, pets are important members of the family in more than 71% of households in the United States today – and each of these households has an average of 2-3 pets! As integral members of the veterinary care team, veterinary assistants have the reward and satisfaction of assisting these beloved companion animals and their owners.

Workplace Details

The majority of veterinary assistants work in veterinary clinics and animal hospitals. However, other career opportunities will be found in animal/biomedical research laboratories, research/teaching institutions, shelter medicine, and zoo/wildlife medicine. Veterinary assistants may work full or part time, and often have the option of flexible hours. Assistants who work in 24-hour facilities such as emergency animal hospitals have the opportunity to work evenings, nights, weekends or holidays.

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According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for veterinary assistants is $24,360, with a range extending from around $18,060 to around $36,690 (the median incomes of bottom 10% and top 10% of wage earners, respectively). According to the 2015 Firstline Career Path Survey on veterinary team pay, the average hourly wage for veterinary assistants is $14.23, with a range of $13.61/hr to $16.12/hr depending on the number of doctors in the practice and the type of practice (general vs. specialty). Research facilities usually pay higher salaries than clinical or hospital settings. Veterinary assistants with more years of experience will also earn higher salaries.

The veterinary industry continues to grow as pet ownership continues to increase in the US. Animal safety efforts and emphasis on responsible pet ownership have also increased the demand for veterinary assistants. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for veterinary assistants is expected to grow at a rate of 9% from 2014 to 2024, faster than the overall average rate of job growth.

Some choose to earn a certificate through a non-degree program (either at a college or online), but certification is not required. Given the choice, employers generally prefer to hire veterinary assistants who have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in animal science or similar field (biomedical technology, agriscience, etc).

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Although some certificate programs provide hands-on training, most training occurs on the job. Colleagues in the workplace train veterinary assistants in animal care, laboratory skills, and front desk administrative tasks. Basic animal care will include:

• Feeding
• Watering
• Patient restraint
• Monitoring animals for issues
• Cleaning and disinfecting cages and work areas
• Sterilizing laboratory equipment and surgical instruments
• Providing post-operative care
• Administering oral and topical medications
• Preparing specimens for lab examination

Front desk training may include:

• Assisting customers over the phone
• Interacting with clients when they visit the clinic
• Utilization of practice management software to manage client and patient records

Certification is not required, but is sometimes preferred by employers. Optional certification can be obtained through state veterinary societies and private organizations. Requirements vary by program, but generally consist of relevant educational coursework, hands-on training with veterinarians and veterinary technicians, and a final written examination.

Veterinary assistants advance their careers in animal welfare by obtaining further education and/or certification. Some veterinary assistants choose to go back to school to complete either an associate’s degree or a veterinary technician program to become veterinary technicians. Others choose to complete a bachelor’s degree with pre-veterinary requirements, allowing them to apply to veterinary school. Acceptance to veterinary school is highly competitive, making experience working as a veterinary assistant a distinct advantage for admission.

Many veterinary assistants train on the job at clinics and hospitals. Most employers require assistants to hold a high school degree or GED.

High school students can prepare for this career by taking classes in office operations, communications, and life and physical sciences and by gaining volunteer experience with animals. Many high school career centers offer training and even certificate programs in veterinary assisting.

Some employers, particularly larger and specialty practices, prefer to hire veterinary assistants who are certified by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). To get certified, you’ll need to complete a NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant program. NAVTA currently approves 29 on-campus and 3-distance programs.

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Another option is to obtain a certificate through a program that isn’t NAVTA-accredited. This pathway won’t lead to certification, but could provide you with some useful skills and training. To decide if this pathway makes sense for you, check with veterinarians in your area.

Universities, community colleges, technical colleges, career schools, high schools, and veterinary hospitals all offer vet assistant certificate programs. Students complete a series of courses covering:

Students also complete an internship at a veterinary clinic in order to practice handling, restraint, surgical prep, lab techniques, and office operations.

Vet assistant certification by NAVTA is optional but preferred by some employers. To become credentialed as an Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA), you must graduate from a NAVTA-approved training program and pass an exam.