Veterinary Assistant
The world of veterinary medicine is a great field for animal lovers and those who are interested in working to maintain the health and well being of animals. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing or able to complete the 9+ years of education and training required to become a veterinarian. Luckily, there are great careers in this field even for those who don’t have the time or money for such extensive education. If you would like to work in this type of job, take the time to go back to college and get your career training as a veterinary assistant.
Education and training for a veterinary assistant
One of the advantages of increasing numbers of people choosing to go to college is that many positions that require less than a four-year college degree are becoming open and are in need of skilled professionals to fill them. The fact is that higher education is not right for everyone and that is not a bad thing. The world needs all types of people to function successfully and a veterinary office is no different.
It is possible to enter the career of veterinary assistant with only a high school diploma and on-the-job training. However, if you want to greatly increase your chances of landing one of the best careers in a veterinary office, you should get formal training as a vet assistant from one of the many traditional and online colleges that offer the veterinary assistant education program. Depending on your preference, you can complete the vet assistant training either on campus or through online courses in less than a year.
Job description
This position has been compared to the licensed practical nurse position in human health care as the duties are somewhat similar. Often an assistant in a veterinary office will perform a number of clerical tasks including answering phones, scheduling appointments, billing for services, accepting payments, and managing patient records.
You will also provide other services to the veterinarian and technicians including preparing and cleaning examining and surgical rooms, caring for pets in holding cages, assisting with routine examinations and care, stocking rooms, managing inventory of supplies, and more.
The assistant in a veterinary office is an integral and valuable part of the team but they are highly limited in the functions they can perform in direct animal care. Although they will be present for many procedures, their presence will be more of a support position for other personnel than that of a health caregiver.
By taking the steps to become a veterinary assistant, you are preparing yourself to enter an exciting and rewarding career field that will allow you to realize your dream of working with animals without having to undergo extensive training. This career allows you to work in a great professional environment as part of a medical care team. Considering the lack of need for extensive training, this career also has a great salary. A qualified veterinary assistant can easily earn a yearly salary of around $35,000 or more. If you would like to work as part of a skilled veterinary team, this job is for you.
