If you love animals and are looking for a job where you can put that passion to use, becoming a veterinary assistant might be a perfect fit. Let’s consider some of the things that make being a veterinary assistant a great job.
Benefits of Working as a Veterinary Assistant
1. You Get to Work with Animals
We don’t think we need to explain this one too much. You wouldn’t be thinking about this career path if you didn’t love animals. There aren’t that many jobs where you get to work with them every day, and being a veterinary assistant is one of the most accessible.
2. Veterinary Assistants are in High Demand
According to the U.S. government Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of veterinary assistants is projected to grow 9% through the year 2034. For comparison, the average growth rate for all occupations is just 3%. Put another way, there are projected to be 22,000 new job openings for vet assistants each year through 2034. That means that if you become a vet assistant, you can count on finding lots of job opportunities.
3. Every Day is Different
As a veterinary assistant, your day-to-day duties might include:
- Checking in patients for appointments
- Scheduling new appointments
- Feeding, bathing, and weighing animals
- Cleaning equipment and examination spaces
- Handling and reassuring animals during exams and procedures
- Processing blood work
- Maintaining records
- Explaining treatments and medications to pet owners
The patients you interact with from day to day might include dogs, cats, small mammals like guinea pigs and gerbils, and reptiles. The variations in individual pet personalities will bring more variety to each day on the job.
4. Your Work Makes a Difference
Many people want their job to be more than just a way of making a living. They want to feel that their work has real significance. As a veterinary assistant, you’ll have the job satisfaction of knowing that your work helps animals live longer, healthier, happier lives, and in turn enrich the lives of their owners.
Veterinary Assistant Training at Caris College
If you’ve made up your mind that veterinary assistant is the job for you, Caris College is here to help you get started! Our accelerated 10-month training program is offered in a hybrid format that combines classroom instruction and a fully-functioning clinical lab. At the end of your training, you’ll complete a 150-hour externship in a working veterinary medicine facility to give you confidence in using the skills you’ve learned. Apply today, or contact us for more information!