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The job duties of a vet tech assistant are many and varied. They may include cleaning cages and kennels, walking dogs, feeding and watering animals, and helping the veterinarian with procedures.
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Job Description
Vet tech assistants provide important support to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Their duties might include cleaning and disinfecting equipment, preparing animals and instruments for surgery, taking X-rays, and collecting lab samples. Some vet tech assistants also care for animals after surgery and give them medications.
Duties of a Vet Tech Assistant
A veterinary technician assistant works with a licensed veterinarian or a veterinary technologist to provide animal care. The duties of a vet tech assistant vary depending on the size and type of facility in which they work, but they may include cleaning animals’ cages and exercising them, restraining animals during exams and procedures, drawing blood, collecting urine and fecal samples, preparing animals and instruments for surgery, and providing postoperative care. A veterinary technician assistant may also dispense medications, take X-rays, educate pet owners on proper animal care, and perform office duties such as answering phones and scheduling appointments.
Education and Training
Most vet tech assistant programs take about two years to complete, and typically result in an Associate’s degree. Some of the courses you can expect to take include animal anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, clinical pathology, and medical terminology.
How to Become a Vet Tech Assistant
Most veterinary technician assistants have a high school diploma or equivalent, although some jobs may require postsecondary education, and most states regulate veterinary technicians and veterinary technician assistants. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed a formal education program in animal science or a related field.
High school students interested in becoming a veterinary technician assistant should take classes in biology, chemistry, mathematics, animal science, and general education subjects such as English and social studies. Many community colleges, technical colleges, universities, and private career schools offer programs in veterinary technology that lead to an associate’s degree or certificate.
Certification
There are many benefits to becoming a certified Vet Tech Assistant. By becoming certified, you will show potential employers that you are serious about your career and that you have the skills necessary to be a successful Vet Tech Assistant. Certification can also lead to higher pay and more advancement opportunities.
Certified Vet Tech Assistants
Vet tech assistants work closely with licensed veterinary technicians and veterinarians to provide quality care for animals. They may perform a variety of tasks, including cleaning animal cages, taking x-rays, preparing animals for surgery, and assisting during check-ups and other medical procedures.
To become a certified vet tech assistant, you must complete a training program that has been approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Once you have completed the program, you must pass a national exam administered by the AVMA.
Salary
A veterinary technician assistant is a key member of the veterinary healthcare team. They provide professional, technical and clerical support to veterinarians in private practices, teaching hospitals and research laboratories. The average salary for a vet tech assistant is $33,274 per year.
How Much Does a Vet Tech Assistant Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for veterinary technicians in the United States was $33,280 in May 2016. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,540, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,210.
