Are you contemplating the pros and cons, demands and challenges of becoming a veterinary assistant? Does working with animals appeal to you and you're looking to make a career out of this passion? It's not actually as difficult as you may think to break into the field of animal care, but it helps to be informed before making that decision to know what you can expect on the job. A professional veterinary assistant has many career paths to choose from and a variety of duties to manage, so the best way to calm your worries and be sure of your path is to learn more about the programs, training and opportunities available to you in advance. With the right preparation, there is no reason why you can't turn your love for animals into a lifelong career.
How Do I Know If This Field Is Right For Me?
One thing you need to be aware of when deciding if a veterinary assistant is right for you is that you will not make a fortune working in this position, so money cannot be your primary goal for choosing this field, however there are many other reasons to consider this line of work. Most importantly, being an animal lover is key and probably the most rewarding part of the job. If you can see your life's ambition as spending time with animals, playing with them, caring for them and enjoying the love you get from them on a daily basis, then the decision is a simple one.
Furthermore, you will have varied responsibilities in a high paced environment which will eliminate the chance of tedium on the job and give you a wide range of experience. Finally, it's a job that requires minimum education to break into but also offers a lot of advancement opportunities with added training once you are already employed. So, with little effort, you can get started and explore the possibilities available to you.
Are There Any Requirements To Start Working?
The beauty of finding work as professional veterinary assistants is that you can apply for the job without having any formal education. Veterinarians will often hire candidates who are hard working and have a demonstrated love for animals and simply train them on the job, since the tasks are not that complicated. However, as in any field, attending formal schools and getting proper veterinary assistant training is always an asset and can help your chances to find the job you want and have a leg up on the competition. A veterinary assistant school will typically train you with pet behavior classes, small animal health, vet fundamentals and nutrition.
Additionally you will receive training for the administrative side of the job, including keyboarding, office practices, bookkeeping and IT. Most schools will also offer a clinical component to the course after the theory part of the program is complete, so you will get first hand exposure to the duties that await you. Keep in mind that it is not necessary to follow a course to start working, but any programs you attend will better prepare you and guarantee more openings.
What Will I Need to do on the Job?
Your daily role as an assistant will include many different responsibilities. You will essentially be in charge of the care of the pets who are both boarding at the vet, those waiting for surgery and those who come in for appointments. You will be feeding and giving water to the pets, cleaning their cages, and administering any medicine they may be on. Additionally, you will be sterilizing the surgical and lab equipment, giving post-op care and, under the supervision of the technicians or vets, preparing lab samples. In some facilities you will also need to help restrain the pet while being examined and walk and play with any dogs that may be boarding.
Finally, there will be administrative tasks like answering phones, making appointments, helping clients and taking payments.Your day will never be tedious, but you will be required to multitask and spread yourself over a variety of jobs.
Do Clinics Hire Inexperienced Assistants?
Veterinary assistants are required in every animal medical environment, so vets are always looking for people willing to take on the job, and since a vet assistant's salary only averages around $22,000 a year, most don't expect candidates who have any prior training or even experience. Clinics will offer on the job training for inexperienced workers, but of course any prior exposure you have had will make your training period shorter and easier. With prior experience, you also have the chance of a higher salary and more responsibilities that can lead you to advancement opportunities, like becoming technicians or technologists.
Therefore, even if you are seeking your first assistant job, it is advisable to try to do some volunteer work beforehand to increase your value.
What is My Future Potential in this Field?
After having accumulated some work experience as an assistant, you can consider moving up to the position of a technician or technologist. In some clinics, the vet will offer in-house training to achieve this goal, but most states require completing either a 2 or 4 year veterinary technology degree program offered at an animal behavior college that will train you. Programs should be accredited by the AVMA or American Veterinary Medical Association so you can then take a national certification exam to become a registered technician. This title will then entitle you to a veterinary assistant salary that can range from $30,000-$40,000 a year, and out you in charge of additional things like collecting samples, taking x-rays and dressing wounds.
Where Can I Find Work as an Assistant?
An assistant can find work in different places; a vet clinic being the first and most obvious choice. Aside from that though, you can seek positions in a medical laboratory, a private drug company, marine facility, boarding house or even working for yourself with a pet-sitting or dog-walking business. Anyone willing to dedicate their lives to loving animals and providing them the attention and care they need can easily obtain a rewarding veterinary assistant position in virtually any animal environment you choose.
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