How to Become a Veterinarian's Assistant

If you love animals and enjoy working with them you may want to become a veterinarian’s assistant. At one time the qualifications (and opportunities) in this occupation were pretty limited. You only needed a high school diploma and maybe some basic office skills. Those jobs are still out there, but as science and technology has provided more tools to help animals the role of veterinary assistants has grown and so have the opportunities. The better jobs now require specialized training and offer better pay and career opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are now over 73,000 people working as veterinary assistants at different levels of skill and training. For many people one of the great things about this field is that you can become a veterinarian’s assistant right out of high school and gain job experience while you go to school and add to your qualifications. This article takes you through the things you need to do to become a veterinarian’s assistant and to gain more qualifications to move up the ladder into better jobs step by step.

Things You'll Need

• A love for animals
• Willingness to learn

Instructions

1. Start to become a veterinarian’s assistant by getting a job helping with feeding, grooming, cleaning and other tasks along with basic clerical work like taking information from people about their pets. This is a basic entry level position but it is one you can get with a high school diploma—or even start as a summer job while still in high school.

2. Learn on the job. Many veterinarians welcome assistants who want to learn. As you gain more skill you will be able to do basic lab work, take blood samples, and even learn to assist in surgery. These skills will improve your opportunities—and your paycheck!

3. Go to school to become a veterinary technician. There are over 150 accredited programs in the United States now where you can earn a two year associate degree as a veterinary technician. This training will qualify you for better paying and more challenging jobs.

4. Go for the top of the ladder by earning a 4-year bachelor’s degree in Veterinary technology. This is a fairly new option (offered by 16 universities in the United States as of 2006) that qualifies you for virtually any veterinarian’s assistant position.

5. Become a certified veterinary technician by taking the required test in your state. Each state sets its own standards, but all require a qualifying test. Most use the National Veterinary Technician Exam.

6. Take the advanced American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification exam to qualify for positions working in biomedical and research facilities as a veterinary technician.

Tips & Warnings

• The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics rates the long term job prospects and growth in veterinary assistant occupations as excellent. You can get more detailed information by using the link below.

Resources

• Veterinary Assistant Information Bureau o fLabor Statistics