How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Michigan

People who like working with animals might consider becoming vet assistants.

Even though it might sound like an easy job, it actually has more tasks, both easy and complicated, than you might think.

It’s not only about helping clients understand that their pet is in good hands.

But it’s also being involved in the intervention or surgery procedures.

So this means that you’ll need to do much more than just offer compassion to the animals and their owners.

A good vet assistant provides effective, high-quality veterinary care.

They’re always eager to pursue new knowledge and improvement.

So if being a vet assistant in Michigan is what you want to do, read on to learn more.

What a Vet Assistant Does

Vet assistants play an important role in the vet team.

Your help allows other team members to perform their day-to-day tasks and responsibilities well.

Here are the tasks you’ll shoulder in the normal operations of the animal care facility:

• Help and assist vets during surgery
• Collect and prepare samples for lab and diagnostic tests
• Document and maintain animal patient records
• Fulfill prescriptions and administer medications
• Cooperate with other vet facilities

To perform these well, you must be physically strong to withstand these tasks on a typical day.

Popular Programs

Education Requirements in Michigan

In Michigan, the state doesn’t have a set of higher education for becoming a vet assistant.

Many clinics require a potential employee to have only a high school diploma or GED.

However, this might not be enough for the more prominent and recognized animal care facilities.

They would rather hire someone who has:

• Completed the relevant coursework from an accredited program
• Possessed a vet assistant certification

So you’re encouraged to take the next step and enroll in a program.

You can consider going to Baker College or Ross Medical Education Center.

Or you can look for institutions approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).

NAVTA has created the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) program.

It’s a comprehensive curriculum with licensed courses available throughout the country.

You can visit and browse their website for the complete list of online programs and schools.

The program is available to everyone interested, and it includes lectures and training which will prepare you for this career.

It focuses both on practical and theoretical knowledge, enabling you to learn, among other things, the following:

• Diagnostic processes
• Animal illnesses and their causes
• Animal anatomy and physiology
• Parasitology

After completing the program, you can prepare to take the vet assistant certification exam.

A passing score on the AVA exam means that you showcase the ability to work professionally in this field.

Job Prospects in Michigan

Everybody is eager to start working after finishing their studies, but that might not always be the case.

Some find it wise to volunteer or intern at various animal shelters to gain experience.

Nevertheless, you won’t face any difficulties when it comes to employment in Michigan.

The need for vet assistants here is increasing, and there are many places where they can look for a job.

You can choose to work at a wildlife refuge, vet clinic, zoo, animal shelter, or nonprofit organization.

These institutions determine the criteria on which they will decide who to employ.

Some of the potential employers in the state are:

• Michigan Veterinary Medical Association
• Veterinary Centers of America Branches
  • Northeast Cat and Dog Hospital
  • Southwest Michigan Animal Emergency and Referral Center
  • Cherry Bend Animal Hospital
  • Portage Animal Hospital
• Vetco Wellness Centers and Vaccination Clinics in:
  • Sterling Heights Petco
  • Lake Orion Petco
  • Ann Arbor Petco
  • Detroit Petco

Potential Salary in Michigan

When we consider all the responsibilities that a vet assistant does, the salary may be modest in comparison.

Per Salary.com, the salary ranges between $25,611 and $38,341 annually as of February 2022.

Meanwhile, an average vet assistant earns an average of $31,786 in a year.

Here’s a table of the salary percentile for you to look over.

On the other hand, the one below shows the annual salaries in different places within the state.

Average Annual Salary by Location

Regional Salary in Michigan

Continuing Education for Vet Assistants

These are the most popular and useful resources that you can benefit from.

• Michigan Veterinary Medical Association
• Michigan Humane Society
• American Veterinary Medical Association
• SPCA of South West Michigan
• Michigan Vet Assistant Job Listings

Final Words

We understand that for an animal lover, dealing with animals and helping them all day might be the dream job.

But before you decide to become a vet assistant, it’s important to understand both the positive and negative sides of this profession.

There are more things that you must do daily than most people realize.

So find pleasure and fulfillment in the job itself.

Don’t worry; there will always be a demand for vet assistants in Michigan and in the U.S.

And so, your chances of getting a satisfactory job and pay are great.

But for this to happen, with you involved in vet care, getting the appropriate education is necessary.

Veterinary Assistant Schools by City

• Detroit, MI2 Schools

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant by State