At Caris College, our veterinary assistant school prepares you to work in vet offices providing valuable care alongside licensed veterinarians. This career choice may be ideal for those interested in providing care for pets of all types. Many people who complete this degree program work as an assistant like this, but there may be other career paths for those who obtain this type of licensing and certification. If you are unsure what career path is right for you, consider the options that your vet assistant program at Caris College may be able to help prepare you for.
Veterinary Assistant
Those who complete a vet assistant educational path typically will work in a veterniary office, hospital setting, or lab. They provide the routine care of animals who come in to the practice for care. They often work alongside veterinarians, scientists, and others in the field, providing supportive services while also performing some types of care on their own, such as taking patient histories, providing for an initial exam, and handling some types of testing. The BLS notes that those who work in this type of position earned $14.32 per hour as a median salary in 2021. There is ample availability of positions with the expectation that demands in this field for well-qualified individuals will continue for some time.
Work in Veterinary Behavior
Another potential career path is to work in veterinary behavior, which is often a very focused area of vet care. These individuals work to provide treatment for behavioral conditions in pets. They may work with typical pets, like dogs, but they may also work in zoos and animal shelters. They may work to help train zoo animals to complete tasks or work in animal welfare organizations to help determine if animals are feral. They may help determine if it is safe for an animal to be adopted. Often, those who work as a veterinary behavioral technician may also work in service dog organizations, helping prepare animals to meet the needs of the blind or others with a disability. Some also work in animal therapy organizations.
Clinical Pathology
Working in clinical pathology may be another option for those who enjoy science and lab work. These individuals work in a lab setting, typically as a lab tech, to provide services such as examining and interpreting lab tests, including blood work, urine samples, and others. They may work to just analyze these types of tests as they come in, though some labs also hire vet techs to handle the obtaining of those samples, such as in an emergency room like setting. This type of work may be done in local vet practices, specialized providers, state labs, or privately owned labs, including research facilities.
Animal Research Labs
Like people, animal research labs are another career option for many students. For those that love to handle research and data, use samples, and gather insights on a wide range of topics, working in animal lab research may be the ideal path. These types of research opportunities may be available at colleges, research centers, state-owned facilities, and in some private practices. They often have a number of different tasks that need to be done. They may be working to develop new medications or researching behavioral aspects. Those who work in a research lab may be able to work to improve the lives of animals or gain a better understanding of them.
Vet Nutritionists
A veterinary nutritionist provides support for animals in a wide range of settings, specifically aimed at improving nutritional health. Many work within vet offices, but they may also provide private consulting services to pet owners. Vet assistants that have added training in nutrition may work to develop nutritional plans for animals based on their specific needs, such as disease management, preventative health care, and for newborns and seniors who may need additional support. They may use their experience working as a vet assistant, as well as additional training to support this type of growth.
Vet Nutritionist Instructors
Another path for some students is to become a vet instructor. For those who are passionate about this field but may not want to work in a vet clinic on a day-to-day basis, becoming a teacher may be a good route to take. Those who work in this field are most likely to be good at communicating with others, educated in proper teaching methods, and experienced in the field. While it does require additional training, it may be a good option for those who are looking for a way to contribute to the growth of the industry.
At Caris College, our veterinary assistant program provides you with the tools you need to get into the field and start exploring any of the many career options that are available in it. Learn more about our program today.