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Do you consider yourself a person focused on animal welfare?
Do you approve of the amelioration of the way animals are being treated during recent years and the fact that they have become a treasured member of our families?
All those changes made that the care and protection of animals turn into occupation even more difficult and demanding than it used to be.
Veterinarians and their staff nowadays play an important role in animal health care, thus making their jobs of greater importance.
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Article Table of Contents
Job Description
To daily veterinary practices run smoothly and that pets and other animals are provided with perfect care, veterinary assistants carry out a range of tasks.
Veterinary assistants are animal lovers who provide medication to animals, sterilize surgical equipment and assist with administration tasks.
Their genuine love and caring for animals is essential for this job, as well as empathy, compassion, and patience.
Veterinary assistants communicate with vets, other staff and pet owners so they need to possess excellent communication skills.
If they are more educated, some minor interventions are also entrusted to them, as well as laboratory work, helping veterinarians during surgery and animals while they are recovering.
Becoming a Veterinary Assistant in Maryland
Even though there are no official requirements for becoming a vet assistant in the state of Maryland, many people decide to enter and complete a certificate program to be a candidate with more qualifications when applying for a job related to taking care of animals.
Working with animals is a dream for some people and getting a certificate prepares them to be hired anywhere in the state.
A veterinary assistant needs the knowledge to be able to manage all the demands set by the veterinarian.
He/she may be asked to help with procedures and exams, take samples or assist with imaging and diagnostics, and that is the moment when it is up to individual employers to determine necessary qualifications.
They realize that it is beneficial to complete a veterinary assisting program, and a good thing is that they are allowed to enter any course, no matter if they have previous experience in working in the veterinary field.
They can decide what suits them best between going to courses in a college or school or learn online through distance learning programs.
These are some of the veterinary assistant campus located in Maryland:
- Harford Community Center
- Carroll Community College
- Montgomery College
Through these classes vet, assistants can learn the specifics of this profession such as everything about a veterinary hospital from marketing to cash flow, duties of veterinary assistant and knowledge and skills that can lead to a rewarding career.
Requirements
The best programs related to the training of veterinary assistants are organized by NAVTA in numerous states throughout the USA and Canada.
Their mission is to advance animal healthcare and protection.
To become an AVA (Approved Veterinary Assistant) and earn educational qualifications you can enter any of the courses such as:
- Harford Community College, in Bel Air MD
- or Carroll Community College, in Westminster, MD
The curriculum of all these programs is targeted at developing skills that are necessary and can be of great use for veterinary assistants.
Students learn about veterinary terminology, basic veterinary technology, animal parasites, and medications, etc.
To become certified, they need to complete the certification exam set by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).
Getting a Job
After successfully finishing the studies and becoming licensed, veterinary assistants usually look for a job in veterinary offices, animal clinics, and hospitals.
Those more inquisitive and intrigued by this vocation might search for a job in academic institutions, laboratories, and animal rescues and shelters.
Job openings for veterinary assistants are forecast to increase in the future and the job opportunities in Maryland are numerous.
Some of the potential employers are:
- Maryland Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA)
- MDVMA
- VCA (Veterinary Centers of America)
- Vetco Wellness Centers and Vaccination Clinics inside PETCO
- Located in Annapolis Petco
- Located in Landover Petco
- Located in Sykesville Petco
- Located in Baltimore Petco
When applying for a job, you should know that most veterinarians require that assistants hold a certificate achieved at an accredited community college or technical school.
Salary
The job growth is expected to continue in Maryland and there is the chance that the average annual salary of a veterinary assistant may change.
Nowadays, their salary is not so high, compared to other jobs of equal importance, but on the other hand, it is higher than the salary of veterinary assistants in some other states.
A salary of a veterinary assistant in Maryland varies among the major cities and the less paid are veterinary assistants in Glen Burnie with $ 30 478per year, while their colleagues in Silver Spring get $ 32 978.
The table below shows the salary of a veterinary assistant in the state of Maryland annually since it differs from one city to another.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Baltimore,MD | $30,478 |
| Bethesda,MD | $32,976 |
| Bowie,MD | $32,909 |
| Columbia,MD | $30,429 |
| Dundalk,MD | $30,478 |
| Ellicott City,MD | $30,458 |
| Frederick,MD | $31,830 |
| Gaithersburg,MD | $32,889 |
| Germantown,MD | $32,016 |
| Glen Burnie,MD | $30,478 |
| Potomac,MD | $32,958 |
| Rockville,MD | $32,938 |
| Silver Spring,MD | $32,978 |
| Towson,MD | $30,478 |
| Waldorf,MD | $32,889 |
Regional Salary in Maryland
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,280 | $40,870 | $19.65 | $51,250 | $31,470 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 120 | $36,330 | $17.47 | $44,130 | $28,650 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | 40 | $40,280 | $19.37 | $47,900 | $31,180 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Duties
Veterinary assistants do a range of different tasks daily. Their activities depend on the practice they work in, the popularity and reputation that a facility has and the types of animals they are caring for.
Their job is to administer medications to animals under the supervision of a veterinarian, keep the equipment sterilized, make sure that medical records are up-to-date and provide assistance during consultations.
If you already have a certificate and have passed all the training and practices, then you are considered to be able to successfully fulfill daily duties that an animal hospital asks you to do.
The easiest and the most fulfilling tasks are feeding, bathing and caring for animals since that is the reason for becoming a veterinary assistant in the first place.
Summary
So, if you are fond of animals and eager to provide them help and support, and at the same time interested in continuing your education, the veterinary assistant vocation is ideal for you.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assisting by State