If you are thinking about a job as a vet assistant, here’s everything from salary, education, skills and outlook related to veterinary assistant requirements.
If you’re thinking about getting involved, let me be the first to encourage you and congratulate you on an awesome professional choice! Being part of the veterinary team led me to some of my proudest professional accomplishments, as well as unforgettable patients, owners and memories with my team.
After working in veterinary medicine for over 5 years, I know exactly what it takes from getting hired for your first vet assistant job to excelling as an essential member of the veterinary team!
If you’re thinking about a career with animals, the veterinary assistant role is a perfect introduction to working with both cats dogs and sometimes a guinea pig, chameleon, sheep or rats! All of which have made their way through the small animal doors.
Veterinary Assistant Requirements.
You can do it!
Before I fill you in what it actually takes to be a veterinary assistant the biggest factor that determines your success is your own belief in yourself. I know that sounds super cheesy, but trust me. Entering the veterinary field is overwhelming, especially if you’re anything like me; I was barely qualified to be anywhere near a veterinary clinic. I had NO experience in medicine or science and my only animal experience was owning my own dog.
BUT… I was willing to ask questions, jump in when needed, help animals, help my coworkers, help the clients, and take action. If are willing to do that, you’ll be employed as long as you want as a veterinary assistant!
Veterinary Assistant Duties
So what exactly does a vet assistant do? The short answer: anything and everything!
The long answer: A lot of the job duties and responsibilities will come down to the individual needs of the clinic you’re applying at and the legislation on the scope of practice within the state.
Here are some (but definitely not all) of the things that could be included in a job description for a veterinary assistant:
- Run appointments
- Assist in treatment of animals in outpatient and surgery
- Answer phones
- Clean up after surgery and dental procedures
- Laundry
- Cleaning (anything and everything from floors to the back kennels)
- Restrain animals for medical procedures and exams
- Unpack boxes
- Fill medications
- Utilize a Electronic Medical Record
- Customer Service
- Assisting with medical procedures such as catheter placement, vaccine administration and euthanasias.
Veterinary Assistant Required Education
Related: Should I Be A Vet? 5 Questions You Must Answer Before Picking a Major
Your education and experience will largely determine the tasks you are and aren’t allowed to do. This is referred to as Scope of Practice. You’ll need to understand what the scope of practice limits are in your state, which can always be further restricted in the clinic you chose to work.
You can find a list of Scope of Practice by state on the AAVSB website.
Your title and salary usually reflect your eduction. This will largely vary by state, too. In some states a veterinary assistant can do almost all the tasks a veterinary technician can do. In other states a vet assistant will be very limited in the tasks they can perform.
Things you will NOT be asked to do as a veterinary assistant or veterinary technician:
- Prescribe medication or treatment
- Perform surgery
- Attest on patient health status
- Diagnose
- Prognose
How long does it take to become a veterinary assistant?
If you have a high school diploma and a resume (and of course prior animal experience doesn’t hurt!), you can start sending out applications to clinics to obtain a position as a veterinary assistant. Once employed it could take anywhere from 3 months to a year to become fully trained for all of the responsibilities the clinic would like you to take on.
Veterinary Assistant Certification
First of all, the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) only has exams for Veterinarians and Veterinary technicians. There is NOT a recognized test for veterinary assistants by AAVSB.
However, there are programs available to become a certified veterinary assistant. In my opinion, do not waste your time. I have not heard anyone say that these certifications are worth it. Most clinics are willing to train you everything you need to know on the job.
Plus, a certificate almost never raises your starting salary, and isn’t that the point of spending money on your education?
A certification on a resume really only shows that you’re seriously interested in veterinary field. So if you want to add it to your resume to show your interest, go for it! Most veterinary clinics are so short staffed that it does not matter if you have a certificate or not. If you’re willing to learn and a good fit, you’ll get a job offer!
Whatever program you decide to do if you decide to go that way, just be sure to make sure it is accredited by National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).
Related: Vet Tech vs Vet Assistant | Which Should You Pursue?
How to Become a Vet Assistant Online
There are programs that allow you to become certified as a veterinary assistant online. I started to look into the programs, but I just got angry at how much they cost versus seeing what you get out of them. They almost never raise your starting salary after graduating from the program.
If you are going to invest in an online veterinary degree consider the veterinary technician route. There are programs online that allow you to become certified online, you’ll just need a way to practice your technical skills. This is why working as an assistant while you get your technician license is a great way to get the most bang for your buck!
This way you can raise your starting salary, get letters after your name, and you’re much more marketable as an employee.
Veterinary Assistant Age Requirement
Overall, the minimum education requirement is a high school diploma. So the minimum age is whatever age you graduated at. If you are still under the age of 18 then the hours you’re permitted to work could change.
However, there are some clinics will hire high school students during the summer and vacations to help with cleaning or administration tasks. It just depends on what kind of help they need.
Veterinary Assistant Salary
Your salary will largely be determined by your experience, your job responsibilities and what type of clinic you’re working in. There are assistants who have started around $10 an hour (about 20k salary), but some assistants make up to $18 an hour (about 38k salary).
Hourly rates will be higher in cities, emergency and specialty clinics. Your hourly rate could increase if you’ve worked in a clinic before, or had experience in reception in a medical setting. Usually there are options for overtime too, though this varies clinic to clinic.
Right now, most clinics are desperate to hire assistants, receptionists and techs so if you prove to be a good fit there’s a chance for salary negotiation or sign on bonuses.
Aside from usual 401k, paid time off and health insurance for full time employees, some clinics offer Christmas bonuses, free or discounted veterinary care and products for your own animals, and it’s not uncommon for clients to bring in snacks, desserts or lunch! Some clinics will even pay, or assist with obtaining your Veterinary Technician License (LVT).
Some vet clinics will even provide scrubs, others provide a stipend. Either way, you don’t want to miss out on the comfiest scrubs (I have these scrubs in multiple colors they’re so comfy!) Also- careful around light colors, they show every stain and hair shows easily. I usually stick to dark greens, blues, purples, grey and black. Plus the convenient thing about Grey’s Anatomy scrubs is that you can mix and match the styles since their color palette stays the same!
(ps. I am 5’2″ and about 130 pounds, I wear a size small)
OH! and you’ll need some super comfy shoes!! Once I found the Asics sneaker brand I never bought another brand of sneakers again! They’re great for running, and believe me, in a vet clinic you’ll be running at some point, BUT more realistically, you’ll walk 2-7 miles a day!
Veterinary Assistant Skills
1. Self Awareness
The biggest mistake new techs, assistants or even receptionists make is that they assume they know the answer or guess because they don’t want to ask for help. This is how people get legit FIRED.
If you are in a good clinic, coworkers, doctors and management will never get mad for asking for help or asking the same question literally 500 times. If they do, then they are not actually interested in your growth as a veterinary professional and maybe consider sending your resume to a clinic that actually values you!
2. Flexibility
Veterinary medicine is not an industry where you can expect your shift to end on time. You can’t leave your patients in the middle of an exam, surgery or procedure just because your shift is over.
Even if you work at a routine care clinic things change all the time. Clients cancel, emergencies walk in or a routine appointment becomes a complicated case.
You’ll need to be flexible to triage and multitask as the day changes.
3. Love for Animals
Okay.. obviously.. While the passion for helping animals can be what drives you, it can also be the source of frustration on the job. The good news is, 99% of people in veterinary medicine are in the industry for the animals, so you’ll work alongside people who have similar goals and values.
The most challenging part of this, is that there are different ways people show their love for their pets. Some prefer to prolong life and take every measure necessary to keep their animals alive, others prefer to make decisions too quickly or decide not to make any decision at all.
4. Ability to work on your own
Working in a clinic is a whole new level of busy. There are days when we work along side each other, constantly communicate, yet don’t even feel like we see each other all day long.
Your coworkers are not there to babysit, boss you around, or micromanage you. Of course if you are in training you’ll have some guidance. However, if you can pick up a mess without being told, you’ll have a job for as long as you want with most clinics!
5. Ability to Handle Emotional Situations
If you’re ever blessed with the opportunity to answer phones, your patience will be tested. You will face scenarios, questions, requests and demands that you couldn’t even dream up.
On a much more real scenario, there are going to be some pretty sad moments working in the clinic. There will be times when you disagree with owners, coworkers, management or the doctors. There will be times you’ll cry (or at least want to). There will be times you will want to call Animal Cruelty and Rescue on an owner (and you might).
This is when you’ll have to remember that everyone is there for the love of animals. Veterinary medicine doesn’t pay millions, but it makes up for that in wagging tails, face licks, cat motors, kitten muffins, puppy snuggles and the gift of helping owners enjoy their pet.
Veterinary Careers
Here are some similar careers to veterinary assistants and their salaries (according to glassdoor.com)
- Veterinary Technician: $24k – $45k
- Veterinarian: $60k – $150k
- Veterinary Office Manager: $40k – $80k
- Cruelty/Rescue Officer: $24k – $45k
- Humane Society Employee: $25k – $80k
- Groomer: – $22k – $50k
- Groomer’s Assistant: $15k – $26k
- Lab Animal Caretaker: $28k – $49k
- Dog trainer: $21k – $44k
- Dog Breeder: $21k – $56k
- Boarding Kennel Assistant: $20k – $32k
- Boarding Kennel Owner: $24k – $54k
- Wildlife Rescue: $18k – $45k
- Pet Sitter/Dog Walker: $15k – $51k
- Zookeeper: $23k – $49k
- Conservationist: $51k – $142k
- Biologist: $38k – $100k
This post is all about veterinary assistant requirements and what to expect working in a veterinary clinic.
Other posts you may like:
New Puppy Vet Visit | 13 Must – Ask Questions for Your Vet
Vet Tech vs Vet Assistant | Which Should You Pursue?
New Puppy Checklist PDF | 33 Must-Have Puppy Essentials