The Growth of the Veterinary Assistant Profession in 2022

The Growth of the Veterinary Assistant Profession in 2022

If you want to pursue a career in the healthcare sector and love pets, then a veterinary assistant job is perfect for you. Not only is it a promising job, but it is also one of the fastest-growing, in-demand available. Job growth in the coming years is predicted to be much higher than in other professions. 

Interested in learning more about the veterinary assistant profession or needing help making up your mind? Here is everything you need to know about the job, including what a veterinary assistant does, how much they earn, and why you should consider this career path. 

What is a Veterinary Assistant? 

 Veterinary assistants play an important role in caring for the well-being of animals brought into the veterinary office. They assist and support veterinarians in providing preventive, regular, emergency, and post-surgery care to pets and non-farm animals. This profession is perfect for people who love animals. And, in caring for pets, veterinary assistants also provide comfort and relief to pet owners. 

What does a Veterinary Assistant Do? 

Veterinary assistants are supervised by veterinarians and may also work with veterinary technicians. Their main job is caring for animals. Their duties include administering medication, collecting blood, urine, or tissue samples, bathing animals, providing physical therapy to pets, moving animals between procedures, and keeping animals calm during checkups and lab procedures. 

Besides these duties, veterinary assistants may also clean and disinfect the clinic and treatment area and sterilize the medical instruments before and after every procedure. Moreover, they continually communicate with veterinarians regarding the treatment progress for each animal. In most veterinary clinics, veterinary assistants also perform clerical duties, including registering new patients, taking medical histories, etc. 

Job Outlook for Veterinary Assistants 

The job market for veterinary assistants is steadily expanding, so finding a job in the field is easy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is expected to grow by 14% between 2020 and 2030, which is much higher than the average job growth for all occupations. This translates to roughly 15,300 new job openings in the next decade. 

The median salary for veterinary assistants in 2021 was $29,780, which is promising considering the limited requirements for entering the field. You only need a high school degree or the equivalent, and you can learn the occupation on the job. 

Five Reasons You Should Become a Veterinary Assistant 

A veterinary assistant is a promising and rewarding job, with growing demand in the years to come. Job security is assured, and there are plenty of career growth opportunities, too. Let’s look at five reasons why you should become a veterinary assistant. 

1. You Get to Work with Animals 

If you are an animal lover, then becoming a veterinary assistant is the best job that you can find. Looking after animals is a passion for certain people, but their busy schedules do not allow them to interact with animals on a daily basis. If you become a veterinary assistant, you can turn your passion into your career. You will work with dozens of animals each day, helping to ensure their well-being and good health. Also, you will assist with procedures that aid in healing pets, knowing that your job makes a difference in a cause you care about. 

2. You Get to Have New Experiences Every Day 

At a veterinary clinic, there is always something new to experience. Every day you will deal with different animals with different needs. In taking care of these animals, you will learn new things every time you go to work, which will not only expand your knowledge but will also boost your confidence in your abilities. Experiential learning is always the best way to acquire new skills while on the job. 

3. You Can Enter the Profession Easily 

The best thing about becoming a veterinary assistant is that you do not have to complete a four-year college degree to start working. Most veterinarians hire veterinary assistants who just have a high school diploma. However, receiving training and getting certified can significantly increase your chances of getting a job and earning higher pay. 

If you want to get certified, you can do so through the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) or the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). Enroll in the Veterinary Assistant course by ed2go and learn everything you need to know about the profession. 

4. You Have a Steady Career Trajectory 

Your job as a veterinary assistant is not limited to working in veterinary clinics and animal hospitals. You can also work in animal shelters or other medical facilities that serve animals. There is also plenty of potential for career advancement. After gaining experience in the field, you can progress to a veterinary technician or technologist by obtaining the right certification, and you can even get a job in an animal shelter or other medical facilities that involve animals. 

5. You Get to Make a Difference 

Working as a veterinary assistant and caring for pets allows you to make a difference in the lives of many animals, as well as their owners. You get to care for hundreds of animals with different illnesses and health needs, knowing the work you do matters. 

There are thousands of veterinary assistant jobs available today. The number of jobs will only continue to rise in the coming years, making it easy for you to turn your love for animals into a worthwhile and rewarding job.  

If you are interested in becoming a veterinary assistant, our online Veterinary Assistant course covers all the requirements veterinary hospitals and clinics look for. Take the course and learn animal anatomy and physiology, animal restraint, laboratory sample collection, assisting in surgery and dentistry, prescription preparation, taking radiographs, best practices for interacting professionally with clients, and more!  

Enroll now or contact us to speak with an enrollment rep who will be happy to answer any questions you have!