Veterinary Assistant Career Guide

Written by: Jordin Frey

If you love animals, you might think about being a veterinarian. If you want to make sure you're going to be happy in this profession, you could try being a veterinary assistant first. A veterinary assistant works with a veterinarian, helping with the treatment of animals. If you like being a vet assistant, you might want to go to college, so you can be a full veterinarian.

Veterinary Assistant Vs. Veterinary Technician

• Vet Technician vs. Vet Assistant: What's the Difference? - Vet technicians and vet assistants often work together, but they have different roles. Vet assistants don't have to have a degree, and vet technicians need to have at least an associate's degree.
• Vet Tech vs. Vet Assistant, Schooling, Jobs and Salary Differences - Both vet techs and vet assistants have to work under the supervision of a veterinarian or other veterinary care professional.
• Veterinary Technician vs. Veterinary Assistant - Someone who isn't sure about a career as a veterinarian might first become a vet assistant or a vet technician.
• What Is the Difference Between a Vet Assistant & a Vet Tech? - A vet assistant may help both a vet tech and a veterinarian. Their duties include feeding animals, cleaning cases, and giving medications.
• Differences Between a Vet Tech and Vet Assistant - Vet techs will study vet pathology, biochemistry, animal behavior, animal pharmacology, and clinical practices while earning a degree.

Daily Tasks of a Veterinary Assistant

• What Does a Veterinary Assistant Do? - Veterinary assistants are responsible for many of the daily tasks involved with caring for animals receiving veterinary care, including feeding, weighing, giving medication, cleaning cages, and nursing animals before and after surgeries.
• Veterinary Assistant Responsibilities - A veterinary assistant may help a veterinarian during examinations and procedures, comforting and restraining animals.
• What Does a Veterinary Assistant Do? Job Description & Career Growth - Veterinary assistants might work in vet clinics, animal hospitals, and research laboratories.
• Veterinary Assistant Job Description (PDF) - Vet assistants may have to observe animals for signs of illness while caring for hospitalized pets and animals who are boarding.
• Duties of Veterinary Technicians and Assistants (PDF) - Veterinary assistants have to be directly supervised either by a licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician when performing invasive procedures such as diagnostic imaging.
• Job Description: Veterinary Assistant (PDF) - Vet assistants may intake and release patients, giving post-operative instructions to owners.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant

• How to Become a Veterinary Assistant - Most programs for veterinary assistants don't have strict enrollment requirements, making it easy for most people to enter.
• Becoming a Veterinary Assistant - Although certification isn't required, it's possible to earn a certificate at a junior college or online school to become a vet assistant.
• How to Become a Veterinary Assistant - It's possible to become a vet assistant with only a high school diploma, but some people choose to get a certification.
• Working as a Veterinary Assistant - A veterinary assistant program usually involves classroom instruction and some type of clinical experience.
• How to Become a Veterinary Assistant: The Ultimate Guide & Step-by-Step Instructions - Graduating from high school is the first step toward becoming a vet assistant. Then, on-the-job training may be the best option to work in this field.

More Resources

• Pros and Cons of Being a Veterinary Assistant - Because no formal education is required to be a veterinary assistant, it's possible to enter this position and train for it on the job.
• The Benefits of a Veterinary Technician Career - A career as a vet tech has many opportunities, because this position is in high demand virtually everywhere.
• Pros and Cons of a Veterinarian Assistant Career - Anyone who loves animals and wants to help them would enjoy working as a veterinary assistant.
• Veterinarian Salary & Benefits Information - After working as a vet assistant or technician, you might decide that you want to become a veterinarian.
• Pros & Cons Of Becoming A Veterinary Technician - Working as a vet assistant or tech can be stressful at times, but the rewards are high for anyone who loves animals.
• The Life of a Veterinarian - Becoming a veterinarian can be rewarding, but there are also some challenges when working with unpredictable animals.
• Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers - The median pay for veterinary assistants in 2019 was $28,590 annually according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Veterinary Technicians: Opportunities But at What Cost? - Vet techs may have trouble finding a good salary in this field.
• 10 Reasons to Become a Veterinary Assistant Infographic - Vet assistants can work at animal shelters, vet offices, and clinics.
• FAQ's - National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America - A veterinarian is responsible for diagnosing, prescribing medication, and operating on animals. Vet techs can be supervisors of vet assistants.