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For those people interested in continuing their education, fond of animals, eager to provide them help and support, but not sure what to study, the veterinary assistant vocation is ideal.
The public awareness of veterinary health care issues is improving daily since the way animals have been treated has significantly changed throughout recent years.
They have become a treasured member of our families, thus the care and protection of them turned into a difficult and demanding occupation.
So, there is a constant demand for new veterinarians and their assistants which made their jobs become of greater importance.
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Article Table of Contents
Job Description
If they are more educated they need to perform laboratory work, which is not naïve at all.
Veterinary assistants in animal hospitals and clinics are the first to encounter the upset pet owner.
The thought about going to a hospital makes you feel stressed and not to mention coming to an animal hospital upset about the welfare of your beloved pet.
To be able to handle the clients, veterinary assistants need to be patient and ready to listen and understand their needs and feelings.
Administrative work and scheduling appointments are their less important duties.
However, veterinary assistants perform countless demanding responsibilities, such as helping veterinarians during surgery and helping animals while they are recovering.
Becoming a Veterinary Assistant in New Hampshire
For students and other people interested in becoming a veterinary assistant in New Hampshire, there are no legal regulations that require a certain license to be able to work as a veterinary assistant.
This state, like all the other states, offers job opportunities to everyone.
However, once you start working, you might find yourself in situations where you do not know what to do with the injured animal, and there is nobody to help you.
That is why it is better to have the required knowledge related to animal health care.
To be prepared for successful work in veterinary hospitals, you can pass special lessons and training associated with veterinary assistant duties.
Courses are available in a college or school, and even online through distance learning programs which have become more and more popular.
The specifics of this profession that you learn through these programs are:
Everything about a veterinary hospital since it is not just a veterinary facility, but has an administrative side and marketing.
Duties of a veterinary assistant
Skills that can lead to a rewarding career, etc.
To become an AVA (Approved Veterinary Assistant), you can enter any of these colleges:
- Great Bay Community College
- Manchester Community College
Requirements
To become more knowledgeable about all matters of a veterinarian’s office and become a veterinary assistant with greater qualifications you can enter the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America courses and programs, dedicated to helping both experienced and inexperienced people enthusiastic about working with animals.
There are 35 approved programs located throughout the USA and Canada and four accredited online programs and there is an increased number of constant demands for licensed programs.
However, your education does not finish once you get you New Hampshire AVA since you will need to renew it every 2 years, by earning 10 continuing education credits.
Getting a Job
Whether you are experienced or not, have a license or just finished high school, you can try your luck by applying for a veterinary assistant job.
The job opportunities in the USA are numerous, but the criterion for the appropriate candidate is determined by the employers themselves.
Animal clinics and hospitals look for a candidate who fulfills all the requirements and when hiring, most veterinarians require that assistants hold a certificate.
These are facilities where veterinary assistants can look for a job in New Hampshire:
- VCA (Veterinary Centers of America)
- Banfield Pet Hospital
- Concord
- Manchester
- Salem
- Vetco Wellness Centers and Vaccination Clinics inside PETCO
- Located in Dover Petco
- Located in Concord Petco
- Located in Gilford Petco
- Located in Plaistow Petco
Salary
In New Hampshire, the rise in animal health care has increased the demand for veterinary assistants, so there is the chance that the average annual salary of a veterinary assistant may change and the number of job offers will escalate.
As in any other state, the salary of a veterinary assistant in New Hampshire varies among the major cities.
The least paid are veterinary assistants in Rochester with $ 30 235 per year, while their colleagues in Nashua get $32 139 annually.
The difference between the cities is not as great as in some other states, but it still exists.
You should have in mind that the salary of a veterinary assistant depends on the number of activities performed during the day when deciding whether this is an ideal position for you.
The table below shows the salary of a veterinary assistant in the state of New Hampshire annually since it differs from one place to another.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bedford,NH | $31,308 |
| Concord,NH | $30,597 |
| Derry,NH | $31,689 |
| Dover,NH | $30,360 |
| Keene,NH | $31,136 |
| Manchester,NH | $31,308 |
| Merrimack,NH | $32,139 |
| Nashua,NH | $32,139 |
| Portsmouth,NH | $30,360 |
| Rochester,NH | $30,235 |
| Salem,NH | $31,427 |
Regional Salary in New Hampshire
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover-Durham, NH-ME | 40 | $35,790 | $17.21 | $41,600 | $29,370 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | 40 | $36,160 | $17.38 | $42,300 | $30,390 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Duties
People who already have a certificate and have passed all the training and practices can fulfill daily duties that an animal hospital asks them to do.
Their duties start from cleaning cages, preparing surgical supplies, checking in and registering clients and patients, processing payments and maintaining medical records.
They have to be ready to provide emergency first aid to sick and injured animals, by taking pets’ vital signs upon arrival and preparing it for intervention.
This means that the ideal candidate should be familiar with all these and many other tasks.
The veterinary assistant should be emotionally strong and mature person in cases of emergency.
Summary
Veterinary assistants play an integral role in the care of the patients, by working directly with the veterinarian to provide medical support and help him achieve greater efficiency.
They have a very significant role in communicating with and educating clients about their pets.
It is important to know the required and preferred skills for this position in case you want to become a veterinary assistant:
- passion about animals
- good human relations
- a recognized qualification in animal science
- patience and calmness
Read the full guide: How to Become a Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assisting by State