How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Ohio

Because pet ownership is increasing and that veterinary medicine develops more and more, the necessity for educated and talented veterinary assistants rises.

The number of people interested in veterinary science and medicine does not satisfy the amount of work in veterinary clinics and hospitals.

That is why veterinarians are trying to raise awareness of how important is to take care of the animals.

By helping them you help people, as animal happiness reflects on their owner.

Job Description

Veterinary assistants have an active job, and most tasks require physical, technical and medical skills.

Since they spend most of their time on their feet, they need to have stamina and strength.

Their relaxed daily obligations are appointment scheduling, management of the clinic, working cooperatively with other staff members and education of pet owners.

To provide effective care and education, veterinary assistants need to continue their specialization in this field.

This can be achieved by continuing education programs to keep themselves acquainted with the latest technological and scientific improvements.

Some of the more involving activities include assistance to the veterinarian, animal nursing and lab procedures, preparing equipment before and after surgery among many others.

Becoming a Veterinary Assistant in Ohio

The positive thing about becoming a veterinary assistant is that people who are not interested in going to veterinary schools and universities are not required to do so.

They can become a veterinary assistant with their high school diploma because there is not a lawful determination of the requirements necessary to become a veterinary assistant.

During your work, as you will be working with animals, you will be asked to learn about animal care, you will need to possess great communication skills and to be a good listener since you will need to empathize with the worried pet owners.

If you are eager to improve your knowledge and educate yourself that would be your huge advantage as you will be a more appreciated and valuable member of veterinary personnel.

Licensed assistants, who have to pass the courses, can perform more complicated duties, know exactly how to help during the surgery, take blood samples without the assistance of a veterinarian.

Becoming a certified veterinary assistant is possible by enrolling in some of the courses or attending online classes offered by NAVTA.

Some veterinary assistant campus in Ohio:

• Ross College
• North Coast Medical Training Academy
• Columbus State Community College

Requirements

Ohio, like all the other states, does not have any education requirements for veterinary assistants.

However, those people without a certificate should not expect to be paid equally with those assistants who got educational training at community colleges, technical schools or online courses.

The veterinary assistant job should be taken seriously and requires a higher level of knowledge in dealing with animals.

So, more already employed assistants decide to enroll in courses to achieve education and certificate within six months to a year.

The courses are taught by a practicing veterinarian and college instructor and students study about animal diseases and disease prevention, pharmacology, animal behavior, nutrition, communication, and computer science, meaning that they get acquainted with all the tasks and duties that await for them once they start working as veterinary assistants.

Some of the NAVTA programs are:

• Animal Behavior College,
• Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology,
• East Valley Institute of Technology,
• and West-MEC Veterinary Assistant Program, to mention just a few.

Getting a Job

After finishing the studies, years of practice can make you even better assistant meaning that if you cannot instantly find the job, you should think about volunteering to be involved in the veterinary practice all the time.

When applying for a job, certified candidates are more self-confident and encouraged to express their knowledge.

It cannot be denied that they are more informed, skilled, and educated than those unlicensed ones.

To become a member of the veterinary medical team you can apply for a job in clinics, zoos, hospitals, and animal shelters.

The good fact is that job opportunities are expected to grow, but your eligibility for the job will depend on education and experience, as veterinarians are more interested in hiring assistants who can start working without previously being thought or supervised.

Potential veterinary assistant employers in Ohio are:

• OVMA (Ohio Veterinary Medical Association)
• VCA (Veterinary Centers of America)
  • VCA Holly Farms Animal Hospital
  • VCA Mill Run Animal Hospital
  • VCA College Hill Animal Hospital
  • VCA Sawmill Animal Hospital
• Banfield Pet Hospital
  • Reynoldsburg
  • Beavercreek

Salary

Not only that those applicants who possess documentation about the education achieved about veterinary studies to get better chances to find employment, but they should expect higher wages.

Being better in finding a solution to the difficulties once they are hired and performing sensitive tasks makes them paid more than others without a license.

The benefits regarding personal satisfaction when performing this job are huge, but the salary is rather modest and it varies from $ 27 069 in Portsmouth, even up to $ 29 500 in Cleveland.

The external factors that affect the salary are the development of the region where the city is located, and the annual incomes of its citizens.

The table below shows the salary of a veterinary assistant in the state of Ohio annually since it is not the same in all major cities.

Regional Salary in Ohio

Duties

A veterinary assistant has to possess medical skills to know how to administer medication and immunizations to animals, as well as technical skills to be able to use a variety of technical machinery in their daily tasks.

Their job is taking and developing x-rays, cleaning and maintaining other equipment, following specific instructions made by veterinarians.

Since they work on sensitive issues, they need to have strict attention to detail, and strong listening and communication skills.

Their least demanding duty is greeting clients and making phone calls.

The more educated and talented assistants are sometimes asked to perform examinations and minor surgery on animals, without the supervision of a veterinarian and these kinds of duties, demand the right training and knowledge.

Veterinary Assisting by State