Veterinary Assistant Job Description and Duties
Learn what you'll do in a veterinary assistant job.
The Basics
What you'll do: While veterinary technicians perform tasks such as administering medication and preparing animals for surgery, veterinary assistants fill a different but equally vital role in the veterinarian's office. They support animal doctors and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding, exercising and grooming patients, preparing and sanitizing surgery suites, restraining and handling patients, and clerical and administrative work.
Where you'll work: Animal hospitals, clinics, research laboratories, universities.
Degree you'll need to practice: Certificate or Associate's degree
Median annual salary: $22,040*
Cities with the highest employment level: Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles, CA; Washington, D.C.; New York, NY; Boston, MA; Houston, TX; Philadelphia, PA; San Diego, CA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX.
Job Environment
Veterinary assistants work mainly in clinics and hospitals, helping technicians treat the injuries and illnesses of animals. You can choose to work in small private practices or large veterinary hospitals. Your main job is to ensure a comfortable, safe and sanitary environment.
As a related entry-level veterinary career, laboratory animal caretakers work in labs under the supervision of a veterinarian, scientist, veterinary technician or veterinary technologist. Their daily tasks include feeding animals, cleaning kennels and monitoring lab animals' general well-being.
Different locations will bring you into contact with distinctly different kinds of animals, specific to region and environment. Whether focused on domestic animals or working in scientific research environments, your primary responsibility will be the humane care of animals.
Career Advancement
Beginning work as a veterinary assistant is a great way to enter the field of veterinary medicine. While this career can be physically and emotionally demanding, especially if there's an emergency, or a patient has to be put to sleep, supporting veterinarians in providing comfort to pet owners may be one of the most important aspects of the job. It assures them that your clinic is committed to giving their pet the best possible treatment.
If you end up loving the work as much as the animals, consider studying to become a veterinary technician or technologist. These positions require more education and will increase your job prospects. To advance into a technician role, you'll complete a two-year associate's degree. To advance into a technologist position, you'll complete a four-year bachelor's degree program in veterinary technology.
Veterinary science and support is a fast growing field for compassionate and capable animal lovers.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition; Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers.
*The salary information listed is based on a national average, unless noted. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and other factors.
Education and Careers
- Veterinary Technician Education Read about course information and requirements toward your certification.
- Certification Information Learn what you need to do to become a certified veterinary technician.
- School Accreditation Get information about the benefits of attending an accredited vet tech school.
- Professional Interview Read the interview of an experienced veterinary technician and get an inside look at the profession.
- Training Information Find out how to choose the right education program and internship.
- Career Options Discover some of your options when you are choosing a veterinary technician career.
- Job Information Find out the responsibilities of a veterinary technician and the tasks they perform.
- Veterinary Tech Specialties Check out some of the specialties a veterinary technician career offers.
- Salary Information Find information about the earning potential of different veterinary technician jobs.
- Veterinary Assistant Career Learn about getting into the field as a veterinary assistant and the duties they perform.
- Resources and Links Browse a compiled list of vet tech resources to research your certification.