Considering a Career as a Veterinary Assistant?

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• For those who love being around animals, a career
  as a veterinary assistant can provide years of
  personal and professional satisfaction.
• As with most professions, however, there are
  various requirementspertaining to educational
  qualifications, relevant job skills, and other
  factorsthat must be met in order to survive and
  thrive in this field. What can you expect from a
  career as a veterinary assistant? Lets take a
  look.

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• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
  veterinary assistants draw a median salary of
  23,790 per year (2014).1
• This occupation is also expected to experience a
  growth of 9 from 2014 to 2024. Veterinary
  assistants wont be going away any time soon!

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• Veterinary assistants are required to hold a high
  school diploma or a GED. In practice, clinics and
  other facilities that employ veterinary
  assistants tend to prefer individuals who have an
  associate or bachelors degree in a relevant
  field, such as animal science.
• The website of the American Veterinary Medical
  Association (avma.org) includes a listing of
  colleges and other institutions with accredited
  educational programs.

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• For the most part, veterinary assistants are not
  required by employers to hold any kind of
  certification. However, some aspiring veterinary
  assistants elect to obtain a relevant certificate
  in order to boost their chances of finding
  employment.
• A number of state veterinary organizations offer
  certification programs in this discipline.

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• Veterinary assistants can also expect to go
  through a certain amount of on-the-job education
  at the workplace.
• This typically involves learning tasks like
  cleaning cages, feeding animals, performing basic
  examinations, sterilizing equipment, and more.
  Furthermore, veterinary assistants are generally
  required to handle some front desk
  responsibilities (e.g., greeting visitors,
  answering phones).

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• Veterinary assistants can be found in various
  kinds of work environments. These include zoos,
  animal clinics/hospitals, and laboratories.
• You can even find them at racetracks, where
  veterinarians are on duty to provide medical care
  to animals who perform in these sporting events.

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• Anyone who aspires to be a veterinary assistant
  needs to be aware that they will sometimes find
  themselves in tense situations, such as emergency
  surgery. Sick or wounded animals can become
  unruly. In addition, stressed-out or distraught
  animal owners may be difficult to deal with,
  making interpersonal skills important as well.
• Assistants should have sufficient strength to
  lift animals when necessary.

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• While on the job, veterinary assistants will have
  an assortment of duties that must be managed.
  These include, but are not limited to, the
  following
• Administering medications to animals
• Bathing animals
• Collecting blood and tissue samples
• Monitoring vital signs
• Filing reports and handling other clerical tasks
• Providing support during operations

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• Established in 1988, Westech College is a
  privately run educational institution offering a
  variety of career programs that prepare students
  for successful employment. The school has
  campuses in Fontana, Moreno Valley, and
  Victorville, CA. Westech College is currently
  accredited by the Accrediting Commission of
  Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
• Visit westech.edu for more information today!

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1. http//www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-assis
   tants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers.htm