What Certification Do I Need?Whether you choose an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, you must have a basic understanding of animal nursing, performing laboratory procedures, and assisting in all aspects of animal care, including surgical procedures. The process to become a certified veterinary technician and VTNE information is overseen by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). Show
Every state regulates veterinary technicians differently, but most candidates are required to take a credentialing exam. In most states, the test used is the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). Vet techs must become certified, licensed, or registered to practice, depending on the state. Certificate vs Certification Certificate: Certification: In short, a certificate is evidence that someone has completed an educational program, while a certification denotes that someone has met a certain set of professional criteria and/or passed an exam. Not all programs offered are designed to meet state educator licensing or advancement requirements; however, it may assist candidates in gaining these approvals in their state of residence depending on those requirements. Contact the state board of education in the applicable state(s) for requirements. The Veterinary Technician National ExamThe VTNE is a 4-hour, 200 multiple choice question certification exam. The VTNE is prepared exclusively by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). You can take the veterinary technician certification exam at certain times of the year in your state. The exam covers seven major areas of knowledge in which an entry level candidate with a veterinary technician education should be proficient:
Practice exams may be purchased on the AAVSB website. Because licensure and certification rules vary by state, you should be sure to consult your state’s board of health for specific requirements. Remember that earning licensure through certification is for the most part, a requirement, and the payoff not only reflects in the ability to potentially advance or specialize, continue to practice, and possibly earn a better salary. Veterinary assistants play an important role in ensuring the well-being of animals who visit veterinary offices. Vet assistants provide support to veterinarians and provide preventive, routine, emergency and postoperative care to pets and other nonfarm animals. If you have a love for animals, a career as a veterinarian assistant can be rewarding. You can play a direct role in helping animals maintain health and well-being and in providing comfort and happiness to their owners. Learn how to become a vet assistant and what to expect from this important job in this guide. What Does a Veterinary Assistant Do?Vet assistants typically work under the supervision of veterinarians and veterinary technologists and technicians. They perform routine animal care tasks. Their duties may include:
Veterinary assistants may also perform animal intake sessions before a pet owner meets with a veterinarian. In addition to being adept at performing animal care effectively, vet assistants must also be good at communication and show empathy and understanding to pet owners they meet with. Benefits of Being a Vet AssistantIf you want to work with animals, a vet assistant position typically requires less training time than what’s required of roles like veterinary technologist and technician or veterinarian. Veterinarian school typically takes 4 years to complete after a 4-year undergraduate degree, while a 4-year bachelor’s degree is typically required for veterinary technologists. Veterinary technicians typically need a 2-year associate degree. Through the Veterinary Assistant program, you can earn vet assistant certification in as few as 9 months.1 2 Since a vet assistant position is an entry-level role in animal care, it’s a role that enables professionals to determine whether they want to further their education and career in the field. The demand for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is bright.3 Vet Tech vs Vet AssistantVet assistants can enter the animal field more quickly than vet techs and get to work helping animals and assisting veterinarians. Vet tech roles are more advanced. In particular, only vet techs can induce anesthesia, suture existing skin wounds, extract teeth, or make a port hole to place a catheter. Because vet tech roles involve more direct animal care for injuries and illnesses, beyond the routine care vet assistants provide, vet techs typically need at least a 2-year associate degree to qualify for a position. All of these positions – vet assistant, veterinary technician and veterinary technologist – work under the supervision of a veterinarian in similar veterinary clinic work environments. What position you choose to pursue depends on what kind of animal care you want to provide and what kind of education you’re willing to complete. You may want to pursue a vet assistant position if you want to work with animals in a shorter amount of time. In as few as 9 months, you can earn Vet Assistant certification and learn animal care skills including animal nursing fundamentals, animal handling and laboratory procedures. The BLS reports there are 19,800 new laboratory animal caretaker and veterinarian assistant jobs expected to be added between 2020 and 2030 to the 107,200 jobs there were in 2020.4 These jobs are found throughout the United States, wherever there are veterinary clinics and other animal care facilities. With veterinary assistant education, you may choose to advance your education to become a veterinary technician, vet technologist or veterinarian. An entry-level veterinarian assistant job can help you determine how involved you want to be in the field and what type of career you want to pursue. Best States to Work as a Vet AssistantYou may be interested in the states with the most demand and highest-paying salaries for veterinary assisting. Some states have higher demand due to animal population. Veterinary assistant salary may depend on factors like cost of living and demand. The following states have the highest vet assistant employment levels.6 States with the highest employment levels of veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretakers, as of May 2020 Rotate Phone for Optimal Viewing
Find Your Path as a Veterinary AssistantSJVC is committed to hands-on training in the skills you need as a Veterinary Assistant. Learn more about our program and exciting opportunities. Veterinarian Assistant JobsVeterinary assistants typically work in animal hospitals and veterinarian clinics, providing routine care and helping treat animals with illnesses and injuries. According to the BLS, 86% of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers work for veterinary services.7 Vet assistant work hours may be full- or part-time and may include nights, weekends and holidays. Since animals may require care any time of day, any day of the year, there are typically veterinary services available 24/7 by various providers. Vet assistants may specialize in working in regular or emergency veterinary medicine. In addition to providing care for pets, some Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers work at educational institutions (4%) and some work in animal research and development centers (3%). With vet assistant training, you might pursue roles such as the following.
If you’re curious about what veterinarian assistant jobs are available in your area, check out California Registered Veterinary Technicians Association and the California Veterinary Medical Association.9 10 You can get more information on general veterinary medicine by visiting the Department of Consumer Affairs Veterinary Medical Board.11 Skills for Veterinary AssistantsVeterinary assistants require diverse skills to be successful. Physical strength and manual dexterity are important because vet assistant jobs are typically very physical. You may be handling animals, lifting cages or equipment, administering medication, using medical equipment and collecting blood and urine samples. Some pets can weigh 100 pounds or more, so being able to maneuver animals and adapt to their size and strength is helpful. You’ll also likely be on your feet for a significant part of the day. Fitness and physical stamina help you stay energized in this physical job. A love for animals and empathy for their pet owners is also important. Good communication and customer service skills help you connect with clients. Treating animals with care is important to pet owners and for providing animals with optimal support. Communication skills are also important for vet assistants because they must communicate effectively with their team members, including veterinarians. Vet assistants must also be detail-oriented and vigilant of developments that may affect an animal’s health. Vet assistants also benefit from emotional skills. Often there are challenging and difficult situations in environments like vet clinics, including abused and injured animals or pets who are euthanized. You must be able to handle tough circumstances like these on the job. How to Become a Veterinary AssistantIf you want a job as a veterinary assistant, it helps to get education and certifications that can help you stand out as a candidate. Some positions may require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Some employers may require vet assistant certification or an associate degree in order to be considered. These are some typical steps to become a vet assistant.
Before you begin the process for becoming a vet assistant, research jobs you’re interested in to see what they require. Then, you can align your veterinary assistant training with those jobs. You may apply for licensure by meeting all of the Veterinary Medical Board Alternate Route requirements, including completion of 4,416 hours of practical experience under the direct supervision of a California licensed veterinarian. The candidate must also submit all SJVC course outlines to the Veterinary Medical Board. SJVC prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program. You may also be interested in applying for a Registered Veterinary Technician license.13 What to Look for in Veterinary Assistant SchoolThe Veterinary Assistant program you choose should ultimately help you achieve your desired vet assistant position. As you research veterinary assistant schools, keep the following factors in mind.
Not all vet assistant schools are created equal. Take into account the curriculum, instructor quality, hands-on experience, accreditation and expected career outcomes as you’re researching schools. How Long is a Vet Assistant Program?Vet assistant training will vary depending on the school, what curriculum is included and what award is provided upon graduation. For a Veterinary Assistant certificate program, you may be able to complete that in as few as 9 months. Can I Attend Veterinary Assisting School Online?Yes, there are vet assistant schools available online. Before signing up for an online program, consider how hands-on a vet assistant career is and whether the in-person experience you’d get at an externship is important to you. Many students prefer attending a campus vet assistant program because they get to work directly with animals. That valuable hands-on experience is important to them as they prepare for vet assistant careers. Kickstart Your Career as a Veterinary AssistantSmall class sizes, individual attention, and hands-on training in the skills you need. Learn more about how to become a Veterinary Assistant with SJVC. What Will I Learn in SJVC’s Veterinary Assisting Courses?San Joaquin Valley College’s Veterinary Assistant program prepares students to work as vet assistants at locations like animal hospitals, veterinarian clinics and kennels. Students in the certificate program learn animal nursing fundamentals, diagnostic imaging, laboratory procedures, animal handling and restraint, and veterinary office practices. The program includes hands-on training and externship experience in various animal care environments. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to work in professional vet assistant careers.  Vet Assistant ClassesDuring the 36-week Veterinary Assistant program at SJVC, students will take veterinary assistant courses like the following.14
Prepare for a Career in Veterinary Medicine with San Joaquin Valley CollegeSJVC prepares students to work as a veterinary assistant in a variety of environments. Students get to work with animals in real-world situations and learn how to provide proper, safe care that helps animals and pet owners. You can receive your certificate of completion in as few as 9 months to begin your career in veterinary medicine. Learn more and request information on veterinary assisting at SJVC. Vet Assistant FAQHow long does it take to train a vet assistant?You can complete veterinary assistant school in as few as 9 months. From there, you can begin your career as a vet assistant in less than a year. Do I need to be certified as a vet assistant?According to the BLS, veterinary assistant certification is not a requirement. What's the difference between vet assistant and vet tech?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 exam1.
Is becoming a vet tech worth it?Becoming a vet tech is certainly worth it for individuals who want to work with animals and outside of an office environment. To date, the career is experiencing tremendous growth, with about 10,000 new jobs hitting the market each year. The field also provides plenty of job security and room for growth.
Is studying to be a vet tech hard?Veterinary technology school isn't easy. The curriculum is challenging, the time required to study is enormous and the responsibility of providing care for the animals living on campus never lets you forget why you're there.
Do you have to be licensed to be a vet tech in Florida?Currently in the state of Florida, certification is optional. There are two certification bodies in Florida, the Florida Veterinary Technicians Association, and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association.
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How long to get vet tech certification
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