According to the 2018-2019 Occupational Outlook Handbook, a veterinary assistant salary could be upwards of $39,800 annually, with the middle 50% earning as high as $28,590. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent an estimated $62.75 billion on pet expenditures in 2016. Follow the step by step process below to begin your journey of becoming a veterinary assistant. When Can I Schedule An Appointment to Enroll? Capstone Course; Additional Program Notes. There are also a variety of different settings in which a veterinary assistant can find employment. Payment of the certification fee (Check, Credit Card or PO accepted) Tuition fees for the Vet Tech program are around $16,910 for each academic year. The average veterinary assistant salary in the United States currently stands at $24,360 annually, per the United State Board of Labor Statistics. A future as a veterinary assistant can create a whole new realm of possibilities for you and your future. That has made veterinary assistants a valuable part of any animal healthcare team. UFV’s Veterinary Administrative Assistant certificate program offers students the specific courses they need to work in an animal care facility. A veterinary assistant can just be the start of an exciting new career filled with advancement. The purpose of the Veterinary Office & Animal Care (VOAC) certificate program is to develop the career ready skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to perform the multifaceted duties of veterinary assistants. Most of the school’s 44 students are on diploma programs of under two years. Earning a certification is a way of proving you have the necessary job skills required of a veterinary assistant. Enrolling in a program approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) ensures that students are prepared for the challenges of a vet assisting career and can meet the expectations employers have of them. If you are going to try working as an assistant before going to school to become a technician though, experts say you should do your research when picking a veterinary assistant certification program. Some areas across the country are more densely populated with veterinary assistants as California has the highest number of any state with roughly 10,000 workers. This 660-hour certificate program is delivered through UFV’s Continuing Education department and consists of ten courses and a practicum component designed to provide you with hands on experience in a veterinary office. No certification included with the program. View accreditation information for all programs by campus, View program costs, additional disclosures and outcomes for this program (if applicable), Comparative Veterinary Anatomy & Physiology, Animal Life Stages, Nutrition, and Husbandry, Pharmacology and Principles of Anesthesia, Get your career working with animals started, Find multiple opportunities in a growing field*, Animal Life Stages Nutrition and Husbandry. The job duties of a veterinary assistant are multi-dimensional as there is plenty to do over the course of a workday. Veterinary Assistant Certificate Program Total 31 Credits; Footnotes. National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA). Our Veterinary Assistant course will teach you all the procedures required in today's veterinary office environment. There are also 35 certificate programs across the United States that have earned the approved program distinction by the NAVTA. In our Veterinary Assistant program, you’ll learn how to: Provide preventative healthcare; Collect and prepare laboratory samples; Assist with small animal nursing; Assist with diagnostic imaging This association has branches in each state, which provide a large selection of local resources as well as upcoming seminars, workshops and other events. The ability to perform a multitude of duties goes a long way in helping a veterinary practice function effectively. It gives you a look at the veterinary field as a whole. *, *Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, on the Internet at. American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA). Many factors are considered when calculating a vet assistant salary such as location, type of facility, education level and years of experience. The test … Upon receiving appropriate training and education, the next step in obtaining a vet assistant certification is taking and passing the national exam. Continue Your Education Online with a Veterinary Assistant Degree! About your Certification. Veterinary assistants interact with clients by greeting them upon arrival, scheduling appointments and making follow-up calls. Your vet assistant certification demonstrates your knowledge in the veterinary field and shows employers you’ve successfully completed our NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program. FOX 10 Shines Spotlight on Phoenix Campus’ Veterinary Science Programs, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers.htm. Certifications are also available through the NAVTA (National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America), which offer several options when it comes to training programs. There are a number of 2 or 4 year colleges that offer veterinary assistant certificate programs that can train you in a direction you wish to go, such as theory or the practice of humane care. Q. This voluntary certification requires graduation from a NAVTA-approved training program and passing an exam. (not all programs are offered at all campuses), According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 16 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Veterinary assistants are in high demand in numerous work settings. Veterinary assistant certificate programs offer students experience working with animals through hands-on experiences. Most states require a passing score on the Approved Veterinary Assistant Examination (AVA) as an element to be a certified veterinary assistant. NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant examinations will be issued in partnership with VetMedTeam. An education as a veterinary assistant is available through technical institutes, training centers, vocational schools and community colleges across the United States. Our veterinary assistant online program is designed to teach you the basic real-world skills that are used in veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, and pet boarding facilities across America. These certificates are then used to attain employment or to negotiate pay. Athens Technical College’s Certificate-level Veterinary Technician Assistant program is taught at their campus in the city of Athens, GA. VSCP graduates are eligible to take TVMA’s certification exam for the title classification of Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA). The second key ingredient to obtaining a vet assistant certification is taking and passing the national exam. Master office communication skills and see how to handle medical records. It remains a constantly growing profession that is in high demand every year. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This organization established an approved veterinary assistant certification in 2010 and has aimed to set the standards for quality animal healthcare in the United States. The cost of veterinary medical care is increasing as dog owners are paying upwards of $400 per year, while cat owners spend a little less than half of that amount. The possibilities can begin to open up as the veterinary field is in need of more workers every year. 5.Continuing Education and Advancement Opportunities for Washington Veterinary Assistants … Yes! Can Penn Foster help me study for veterinary certifications? There can be some clerical work involved as veterinary assistants maintain updated medical records and are entrusted with inventory control. Take the Pima Medical Institute Healthcare Career Quiz! There are currently more than 75,000 veterinary assistants employed in the United States and that number is expected to grow each year. Some animal education programs and research facilities also employ a number of veterinary assistants. Who are Veterinary Assistants? Veterinary Assistant – Certificate Program. Certification ensures that veterinary assistants are efficient and competent in their duties through the establishment of standard levels of knowledge, practical experience, and skill. Learn the anatomy and physiology of the major organ systems. Veterinary assistants help fill prescriptions and are also skilled in the proper ways to administer medication. Dougla… This course is designed to cover all of the Essential Skills for Assistant Training recommended by National Certified Veterinary Assistant (NCVA).NCVA is offered by the Certification Testing Corporation and is the only nationally-recognized certification for veterinary assistants. There are approximately 70 million dog owners and roughly 80 million cat owners in the United States. Earning potential among veterinary assistants can see a significant increase in some states. In the course of a single day, an assistant provides help to veterinarians and veterinary technicians which in turn allows those team members to perform the tasks and responsibilities of their positions. Step #1 – Enroll in vet assistant program approved by NAVTA. Get information on Veterinary Assistant programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information. California Healing Arts College’s Certificate-level Veterinary Assistant program is offered at their campus in the city of Carson, CA. A veterinary assistant is responsible for helping a veterinarian run the office. Hands on training hours will not be counted before age 14. The FVMA is the only certifying entity in Florida for veterinary assistants. 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