The outlook is good for veterinary assistants , with a projected growth rate of 36 percent, or 28,500 new jobs, by 2018. Veterinary assistants have no formal educational requirements, and they usually receive training and experience on-the-job.
Can you make a living as a vet assistant?
“The median annual Veterinary Assistant salary is $28,527 with a range usually between $22,985-$34,409. However, the salary for someone with the title Veterinary Assistant may vary depending on a number of factors including industry, company size, location, years of experience and level of education.”
Is a veterinary assistant a hard job?
Vet assistants perform some of the least pleasant tasks for a veterinary practice. For example, they clean kennels, cages and operating areas and sterilize surgical equipment. They bathe animals and take blood and urine samples for diagnostic tests. The job is sometimes stressful and physically demanding.
What are the benefits of being a vet assistant?
Veterinary assistants receive some important benefits: You will have the opportunity to work closely with dogs, cats and other animals on a daily basis . You will learn a lot about animal health care and veterinary medicine. If you like people, the regular contact you will have with the public is another benefit.
Is there a demand for vet assistants?
Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 16 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. ... Demand for veterinary assistants will continue as the demand for these procedures increases .
Is a veterinary assistant certificate worth it?
Becoming a certified veterinary assistant is a great way to get your foot in the door and begin working in the field to gain experience. Having a certification from a reputable institution before applying to the position means you won’t need as much training on the job, therefore, you may have more job opportunities.
Do vet assistants draw blood?
As a veterinary assistant, you feed, bathe, and exercise animals in your care. ... Some veterinary assistant positions require you to perform lab work, such as collecting urine samples from animals, drawing blood , and administering medication under the supervision of the primary veterinarian or technician.
Are vet assistants happy?
Veterinary assistants rate their happiness above average . As it turns out, veterinary assistants rate their career happiness 3.5 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 30% of careers. ...
Do vet assistants put animals to sleep?
Currently around 10 states allow vet techs to perform euthanasia with (Direct) or without (Indirect) the veterinarian present . Nine states indicate the technician may perform it as long as the veterinarian is on site and able to assist should the need arise.
What skills do you need to be a veterinary assistant?
You will need compassion, good communication skills, fine attention to detail, and empathy for animals and their owners. As a vet assistant you will interact with pet owners and work with veterinarians and technicians.
What’s the difference between vet tech and vet assistant?
One major difference in these careers is that a veterinary technician works under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian and must pass a credentialing exam . Veterinary assistants work with the veterinarian or veterinary technician and do not need to pass a credentialing exam 1 .
Do you need a degree to be a veterinary technician?
Veterinary technicians must be a graduate of an AVMA-approved program. This means, at minimum, a 2-year Associate’s degree in veterinary technology or animal science . Hands-on training is a mandatory part of degree programs of this type. ... Some veterinary technicians continue on to become veterinarians.
What is the average vet salary?
| State 2017 Mean Annual Wage | Arizona $101,870 | Arkansas $69,130 | California $120,300 | Colorado $86,220 |
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Is it worth becoming a vet tech?
Being a vet tech is not only emotionally rewarding, it also provides decent compensation. Starting salaries for vet techs typically work out at around $12 per hour . The average hourly rate is about $15, nationally.
