People who love animals often pursue a career that lets them take an active role in promoting the health and well-being of people’s furry companions. A veterinary assistant is a key player in ensuring this mission succeeds, performing tasks that support veterinarians and veterinary technicians to be able to do their jobs.
Vet Assistants routinely perform a variety of activities on an average day. These include bathing animals, feeding animals, cleaning teeth, filling scripts, cleaning and prepping exam rooms, sterilizing equipment, helping with inventory, setting up lab work, assisting with nursing care, administering medication, bathing animals, and medical records management.
A vet assistant is a rewarding job in many ways, and here are six great reasons you’ll want to consider pursuing a career.
1. You Work With Animals
The top – and most obvious – reason is you get to work with and be around animals all day long! As an animal lover, the work you do significantly contributes to the well-being of your furry friends. No two days will be the same, which makes for daily variation and excitement, as you help promote animal welfare by supporting the rest of the veterinary team. Even on the roughest of days, you can snuggle with an animal and help them feel better, brightening your day in the process too.
2. Jobs are In High Demand
If you’re looking for a career that’s going to provide stability, a vet assistant easily fits the bill. Jobs in this field are currently in high demand and will remain so for several years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, vet assistant jobs will grow 14% through 2030, which is faster than average when compared with other jobs. The government agency predicts 15,300 more veterinary assistant jobs will be added.
3. Stepping Stone for a Future Career
People who love animals but are uncertain where they want to go in life can explore the veterinary medicine field by working as a vet assistant. Or, perhaps you want to pursue other types of jobs in the veterinary field, such as a vet technician or veterinarian doctor, but aren’t 100% certain. A vet assistant is a perfect way to explore this exciting field of career. With short-term on-the-job training, as a professional in the capacity of vet assistant, you can observe what vet technicians and veterinarians do first hand.
4. Training and Certification are Quickly Achieved
You can take your love for animals into the workplace fairly quickly as you don’t need to spend two to four years in a classroom to be prepared for this important veterinary medicine role. You can be on the job in as little as 10 months, such as with Caris College’s program. While in school, you’ll learn about animal health, common diseases, and medical conditions, along with receiving hands-on training in a clinical lab.
5. You Can Dress Comfortably
While not as important as choosing a career you love and perhaps not necessarily the tipping factor in choosing a job route, as a vet assistant, you can dress comfortably. No worries about ensuring your dress clothes are cleaned and pressed and ready for work each week, you can wear scrubs – and most likely get to choose fun prints. Scrubs are easy to care for and will save you a ton of money.
6. You’ll Be a Part of a Team
A great aspect of being a vet assistant is you’re part of a team. Not just any team, but a team of fellow passionate animal lovers. Working side by side, you can share the joys of helping animals get well (or stay well). You’ll also get to interact with pet owners and learn fun stories, precious memories, and other fun facts about pets. What better part of a job than interacting with people all day long who share your love for your furry pals.
Start Your Journey as a Vet Assistant Today!
As a veterinary assistant, you’ll enjoy varied days that enable you to help keep animals safe, happy, and healthy. Every day will be a different experience, and you’ll learn while on the job. Not just about the technical aspects of your job, but about conditions affecting animals, or even different breeds of animals.
Caris College’s 10-month Veterinary Assisting Diploma Program is approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). Our program is flexible with both day and evening classes available, and all courses are taught by professionals in the veterinary field. Upon your graduation from our program, you’ll be eligible to sit for the Approved Veterinary Assistant certification exam. Other benefits we offer our students include financial assistance for those who qualify and lifetime job placement assistance.
Looking to learn more about pursuing an exciting vet assistant career? Let Caris College help get you started.