Are you considering becoming a veterinary technician but not sure you want to commit to getting the required degree? Do you wonder if you really have the courage to work in a veterinary environment? Can you afford to wait years to start working in your chosen field? Can you afford to get a degree right now?
Many people have doubts about their career choices, but fortunately there is an easier and faster way to enter the veterinary field without committing to years of university study.
If you have reservations but have a passion for animals and like the idea of a career in veterinary medicine, you might want to give serious thought to becoming a veterinary assistant first.
Why become a veterinary assistant first?
Becoming a veterinary assistant can provide a faster and more affordable entry into the field of veterinary care. It’s certainly less expensive and takes less time than becoming a vet tech, which can take two years or more. In fact, the job does not require any degree, license or education. Technically, you can apply with just a high school diploma.
That being said, anyone who wants to be competitive in the crowded animal job market or when applying to veterinary tech school should consider earning money. their veterinary assistant certification. It can be accomplished online and takes about a year, which is much faster than earning a veterinary tech degree.
Getting certified does three things:
- It gives you excellent training on the skills you need for the job.
- This lets potential employers know that you have learned the basics of the job and therefore should require less training than someone who is not certified.
- This certification, along with work experience, can give you an edge when applying to veterinary technician schools.
What does a veterinary assistant do?
Veterinary assistants are valued support staff who work under the supervision of a veterinarian or veterinary technician. Depending on the size of the establishment, part of the work may consist of reception, office or administrative tasks: scheduling appointments, filing files, answering the telephone, welcoming and/or discharging patients, etc.
Much of the job involves cleaning and disinfecting exam rooms, kennels, and operating rooms. Since a veterinary assistant certification is not a medical degree, you will not diagnose problems, perform procedures or vaccinate pets, but you will work closely with the animals, which is probably what you’re most eager to do.
Veterinary assistants can:
- Feed the animals
- Bathe and groom animals
- exercise animals
- Administer certain medications
- Provide postoperative care and follow-up
- Take vital signs
- Restrain/calm animals during examinations or procedures
- Collect samples
Become a veterinary technician
By getting used to the routine and talking to vets and vet techs, you’ll get a better idea of what veterinary medicine entails. Not everyone is suited to the physical or emotional aspects of the job
But if you decide that you like working in a veterinary setting and appreciate the opportunity to help animals, you may decide that you really want to commit to further education for a veterinary technician degree.
As vet assistants discover, vet techs can do so much more. They can perform dental work, anesthesia, lab tests and x-rays, for example. Veterinary technicians also earn more than veterinary assistants. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2022, the median salary for a veterinary assistant was $34,740but the median salary for a veterinary technician was $38,240.
After gaining experience working as a veterinary assistant, you may find that you have a head start in your veterinary technology studies. After all, you will have seen and realized much of what your course will cover. Sometimes, if you express your career goals to a supportive veterinarian or vet tech, you may benefit from additional opportunities, such as attending surgeries or learning to perform more tasks that could help you excel later. in a school of veterinary technology.
Also, since you discovered veterinary medicine, you may have decided to specialize – and some veterinary technology programs offer you this opportunity. You can specialize in anesthesia, internal medicine, emergency care, dental care, equine nursing, behavioral or zoological medicine, for example.
Becoming a vet assistant is like a test drive
Think of becoming a vet assistant like testing a car. Maybe you’ll love the field of veterinary medicine; maybe you won’t, but isn’t it great to have the chance to try it out first?
Becoming a vet assistant makes a lot of sense if you’re not sure if a career as a vet tech is right for you. It can be an effective way to quickly get a head start in your career, or it can confirm once and for all that a career in veterinary care is not for you at all.
Either way, the experience and skills you’ll gain as a vet assistant will stand you in good stead no matter what your next step in life is.