Becoming a Veterinarian Assistant
Each animal hospital or clinic will have its own requirement as to what kind of education or training they want a vet's assistant to have before hiring them. Some may require that the applicant have schooling or a certificate in animal care. Other vet clinics may prefer, or offer, to do hands-on training. Entry-level assistants will earn much less than a fully trained and certified assistant. Some clinics may offer minimum wage, while others will pay fairly well.
Hands-On Training
Contact all of the veterinarian clinics in your area and ask what qualifications they require their assistants to have. Even if they are not hiring at the moment, you'll know if you need to take college courses to get a vet's assistant certificate.
If the veterinarian is willing to train you as you work but just isn't hiring, it may be that she can't afford to hire anyone. If you really want to do this type of work, offer to volunteer a few days a week in exchange for being trained.
The vet will train you to care for the animals and teach you hold and secure them for exams. You will basically be assisting the vet and the vet techs with whatever they ask you to do. This may be a wise career move, if you have any plans to move up the ladder to vet tech or even a fully licensed veterinarian.
The assistant usually does a multitude of tasks, including cleaning the office and animal areas. You will also need to be able to use a computer and have good customer relations. The vet's assistant usually schedules appointments, greets clients and escorts them to an examining room. They may also do the examination basics, such as weighing the animal and asking questions of the pet owner.
Schooling
If you think this is a career of interest, then you should start your education as early as high school. Getting good grades in English, Math, biology and even computer classes will help you in any career search, but they will be especially helpful in this field. You will need all of these skills, either to help the vet with the animals or to do office work.
Many colleges offer veterinarian assistant courses through which you can earn a certificate. This certificate may ensure that you are paid a higher salary at some clinics. At some it may not matter, as the pay might be predetermined. All you can do is earn raises by showing your ability.
You can arrange to continue your schooling while you work part-time as a veterinary assistant. If the clinic is financially able, they may be willing to help pay for the certification. They may also request that you continue your schooling to become a vet technician. A technician will be more involved in the tests and surgeries that the vet does.
Tags: assistant usually, Becoming Veterinarian, Becoming Veterinarian Assistant, continue your, continue your schooling, They also, veterinarian assistant