How to Become a Veterinary Assistant: The Definitive Guide (2024 Updated)

What Does a Veterinary Assistant Do?

A vet assistant has a very important role for both animal patients and their owners.

And at its most basic, your job is to take care of the animals.

That’s why it’s vital that you be kind and patient to service them effectively.

Let’s take a look at what other duties you’ll shoulder.

Duties

Here’s the extensive list of your duties at the veterinary clinic.

Clean the animals’ cages
Administer medication prescribed by the vet
Feed, water, and walk animals
Clean and sanitize exam rooms and treatment areas
Maintain patient charts and keep records up to date
Properly restrain patients for blood, urine, or tissue samples
Surgery preparation
Sterilize surgical equipment
Perform laboratory tests like x-rays

How Much Does a Veterinary Assistant Earn?

Many people wonder about this.

As of this writing, the national salary for a vet assistant ranges from $23,899 to $35,762 per year.

That’s $29,648 per year on average.

But it’s possible for you to earn more than $35,000 annually.

It depends on several factors, such as:

Education
Where you live
Where you plan to work

In fact, some states are willing to pay you higher simply because of the education you received.

Related read: Comprehensive guide to a veterinary assistant’s salary

Average National Salary: $29,648

$18K

10%

$23K

25%

$29K

50%

$35K

75%

$41K

90%

Salary Information by State

State	Employed	Avg. Annual Salary	Avg. Hourly Pay	Top 10% Annual Salary	Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Alabama	1,100	$28,930	$13.91	$37,180	$21,910
Alaska	180	$38,950	$18.73	$45,780	$31,200
Arizona	2,450	$38,050	$18.29	$47,380	$31,120
Arkansas	1,300	$35,350	$17.00	$38,600	$26,710
California	16,300	$42,650	$20.50	$50,140	$35,890
Colorado	2,400	$39,380	$18.94	$46,400	$31,580
Connecticut	1,110	$45,350	$21.80	$68,510	$34,260
Delaware	80	$41,200	$19.81	$57,230	$30,110
District of Columbia	200	$50,830	$24.44	$59,300	$37,870
Florida	7,360	$35,880	$17.25	$43,930	$28,610
Georgia	3,310	$34,270	$16.48	$43,750	$24,960
Hawaii	500	$39,760	$19.11	$53,330	$28,490
Idaho	770	$33,430	$16.07	$37,710	$27,050
Illinois	4,000	$36,960	$17.77	$50,950	$29,160
Indiana	2,710	$33,350	$16.03	$42,630	$26,150
Iowa	1,300	$33,870	$16.29	$45,590	$27,340
Kansas	1,390	$32,480	$15.62	$42,790	$21,040
Kentucky	1,130	$33,010	$15.87	$40,580	$27,860
Louisiana	820	$31,010	$14.91	$37,610	$20,980
Maine	800	$44,920	$21.60	$54,000	$34,360
Maryland	2,550	$41,860	$20.13	$51,510	$33,640
Massachusetts	1,780	$48,090	$23.12	$62,990	$36,450
Michigan	3,820	$36,130	$17.37	$44,880	$29,560
Minnesota	1,050	$40,680	$19.56	$55,080	$34,990
Mississippi	230	$29,800	$14.33	$36,490	$22,910
Missouri	1,710	$33,230	$15.98	$39,140	$27,520
Montana	600	$34,170	$16.43	$38,160	$28,790
Nebraska	750	$33,440	$16.08	$43,280	$24,490
Nevada	1,310	$34,770	$16.72	$41,780	$29,540
New Hampshire	340	$36,160	$17.38	$44,600	$29,220
New Jersey	1,720	$38,760	$18.64	$45,780	$33,090
New Mexico	440	$33,330	$16.02	$39,660	$27,970
New York	5,130	$41,890	$20.14	$51,470	$34,410
North Carolina	5,750	$35,500	$17.07	$44,780	$25,090
North Dakota	230	$34,140	$16.41	$44,000	$27,340
Ohio	4,070	$32,330	$15.54	$36,860	$28,080
Oklahoma	2,050	$33,060	$15.89	$47,010	$22,480
Oregon	2,490	$40,350	$19.40	$46,650	$35,080
Pennsylvania	4,580	$36,570	$17.58	$48,440	$28,980
Rhode Island	330	$43,080	$20.71	$47,100	$31,710
South Carolina	1,760	$35,420	$17.03	$44,160	$28,380
South Dakota	270	$33,030	$15.88	$37,800	$27,320
Tennessee	2,750	$34,490	$16.58	$41,600	$28,120
Texas	8,020	$33,280	$16.00	$45,730	$21,820
Utah	900	$33,870	$16.29	$43,450	$27,750
Vermont	220	$34,680	$16.67	$43,670	$28,990
Virginia	4,690	$35,370	$17.01	$45,660	$28,700
Washington	4,270	$42,290	$20.33	$46,030	$36,770
West Virginia	570	$28,560	$13.73	$34,900	$22,070
Wisconsin	1,980	$34,470	$16.57	$41,930	$28,130
Wyoming	180	$32,610	$15.68	$45,050	$27,960
Puerto Rico	640	$21,860	$10.51	$23,670	$18,500

Annual Average Salary: Top 10 States

The top earning state in the field is District of Columbia, where the average salary is $50,830.

These are the top 10 earning states in the field:

District of Columbia - $50,830
Massachusetts - $48,090
Connecticut - $45,350
Maine - $44,920
Rhode Island - $43,080
California - $42,650
Washington - $42,290
New York - $41,890
Maryland - $41,860
Delaware - $41,200

* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, OCC Code 31-9096, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Veterinary Assistant

Step 1 Secure Your High School Diploma

Graduating high school means you have the competency to study science classes.

This makes it easier for you to understand veterinary sciences later on.

Step 2 Earn a Certificate

Only 34% of vet assistants do not have a certificate.

This tells you that a certificate may not be mandatory, but it’s useful career-wise.

It makes you more competitive and qualified than non-certified vet assistants.

You can obtain a certificate from the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).

Step 3 Apply for an Internship

There are two kinds of internship you can consider:

Volunteer internship
Paid internship

Whatever you choose, know that both will give you the same practical experience.

The good thing about an internship is that you can:

Interact with different animals
See first-hand how professionals care and treat animals

Step 4 Apply for a Job

Vet assistants are in demand, and there are many places you can apply to.

Animal shelters
Veterinary hospitals/clinics
Zoos
Local government agencies

Step 5 Advance Your Career

We recommend that you pursue continuing education on top of the NAVTA program.

You can either study for a:

Two-year associate’s degree
Four-year bachelor’s degree

Doing so helps you move up and become a veterinary technician.

Find Schools »

Education Needed to Become a Veterinary Assistant

At a minimum, you only need a high school education and enroll in a training program.

But many employers prefer someone who has obtained formal education over one without.

Fortunately, Veterinary Assistant (VA) programs are available for high school students.

This gives them the opportunity to earn a VA title and certification.

Here, you’ll learn the preparatory training necessary to become a vet assistant.

You only have to complete the:

Required lessons, exams, and activities
Apprenticeship under professional supervision

At the end of it, you’ll have extensive knowledge of the following:

Common diseases in animals
Diagnostic processes
Lab procedures
Treatment methods

Another option is to enroll in a NAVTA-approved training program.

NAVTA has partnered with several high schools to make its program more accessible.

Aside from that, they also offer the program online and in various colleges.

Important Note

You don’t have to take a VA certification program if you plan to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree.

And vice versa.

So we advise you to consider seriously whether to take a VA program or a college degree.

Of course, if you want to, you can do both.

This will make you better qualified than others in the job market.

Here’s a video for you to get some insights into this profession.

Video About The Career

Certification and Licensing

A vet assistant doesn’t have to get certified to work as one.

But many places are starting to prefer someone with certification work for them.

One certification employers widely acknowledge is NAVTA’s Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA).

You’ll have to:

Enroll and graduate from a NAVTA-approved training program
Pass the exam

Once you pass, you’ll earn your certificate and formal designation as an AVA.

With this certification, you prove to people that you have the proficiency to be a vet assistant.

NAVTA encourages VA graduates to pursue an education as vet technicians.

Average Training Program Duration: 2-4 Years

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Job Outlook and Growth for Veterinary Assistants

This profession will have a growth rate of 14% between 2020 and 2030.

By 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected employment to be 122,500.

The reason stems from the increase in pet-related spending.

This drove the increased demand for veterinary services.

Meaning, the more procedures vets perform, the more they need vet assistants to help them.

All in all, employment prospects look great for vet assistants in the next 10 years.

Related read: Comprehensive guide to veterinary assistant jobs

Employment Growth Projection: 14%

107,200
2020

122,500
2030

That's a higher than average projected growth of 15,300: Interest Over Time

Should You Become a Veterinary Assistant?

Overall Satisfaction: High

Many vet assistants find their job rewarding.

It allows them to help animals and sometimes even save their lives.

What’s more, they feel good to see the happiness in the animal and their owners’ faces.

It’s only then can they say that they’ve done their job well.

Average Salary: High

Vet assistants receive an average range of $23,889 to $35,762.

This salary is already considered good in the industry.

And if you get all relative certifications or degrees, then you’ll be able to earn more.

The same goes for the state you’re currently working in.

After all, it’s been known that some states pay more than others.

You can check out the salary table above for information.

Job Growth Outlook: High

More and more people now are now willing to spend on animal care.

And this positively affected the growth of veterinary services.

And with a 14% expected growth rate, demand for vet assistants will continue to rise in the next 10 years.

Education Duration: 2-4 Years

In terms of education, you have two options.

You can either:

Enroll in a VA program after high school
Pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree

At most, it will take two to four years of schooling.

Personal Skills Needed

Not everyone can handle the high demands of this job.

That’s why you need to possess the following:

Love and care for animals

This is rule number one.

Having enough love and care to give to your animal patients makes you more trustworthy to pet owners.

Physically fit

Being in good shape can help you move quickly and complete your tasks on time.

Ability to multitask

You may be working on multiple animals at the same time.

So you should be able to focus and remember which animal has what needs.

Interpersonal skills

You are dealing with several people every day.

Having good people skills can make you interact and communicate with them better.

Stress management

Being a vet assistant is stressful.

Sometimes, you’ll be caught in stressful situations.

You have to be able to handle these situations with poise and grace

Good temperament

Stress can cause mood fluctuations.

So you have to be able to keep your cool and still show a good disposition at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What do you do as a veterinary assistant?

There are many duties to be performed as a vet assistant.

To name a few:

Weigh, feed, exercise animals
Provide basic care
Cleaning and sanitizing of equipment
Administering medication

Q. How many days does a veterinary assistant work?

On average, you will work 25 to 40 hours a week.

That equals 3 to 5 days.

However, emergencies may require you to be on-call at all times.

Q. How much does a veterinary assistant make in an hour?

On average, you can earn $11.75 an hour.

Again, this amount varies depending on:

Your qualifications
The state you’re working in

Q. What skills do you need to be a veterinary assistant?

First of all, you need to have knowledge of and experience in animal care.

Other personal skills include:

Ability to multitask
Physically fit
Good stress management

Q. What qualifications do you need to be a veterinary assistant?

At a minimum, you need a:

High school diploma
VA training
Internship

It’s not necessary to get a certification, but it does help you gain a competitive advantage.

Q. How long do you have to go to school to be a veterinary assistant?

Most vet clinics require you to at least get an associate’s degree.

This can take you more or less two years to complete.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant by State

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