Vets rely heavily on both veterinary assistants and veterinary techs to help provide quality care for animals. The two jobs might sound similar, but there are distinct differences to be aware of between a vet tech vs. a vet assistant. Show
Veterinary Techs can expect to earn 35% more annually than veterinary assistants. This difference is attributable to education and training. A two-year associate’s degree from an accredited veterinary technology program is required for veterinary techs. Passage of the Veterinarian Technician National Exam and a credential are also required by most states. Veterinary Technicians may perform any or all of the following daily tasks:·
As the field of veterinary assisting grows, more and more clinics and hospitals prefer to hire veterinary assistants who already have professional training working with animals. However, a post-secondary training program is not a requirement. Veterinary assistants may perform any or all of the following daily tasks:
Vet Assistant vs. Vet Tech SalaryThe US Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated the veterinary tech 2010 median annual pay of $29,710 compared to the veterinary assistant median annual pay of the same year at $22,040. There are some distinct differences between vet techs and vet assistants, and the salary for a veterinary tech is clearly a cut above. So enroll in one of the top veterinary tech schools in St. Louis at Midwest Institute and get started on a two-year associate’s degree as a veterinary tech today! Students interested in veterinary medicine may wish to “test the waters” to see if a veterinary career is right for them without committing to becoming a veterinarian and fulfilling the relatively steep educational requirements associated with that career. For such students, it may make sense to become a veterinary assistant or veterinary technician. Both veterinary technicians and assistants work closely with veterinary doctors, and both may perform a host of similar tasks. Still, despite that, the two roles differ significantly in terms of requirements, responsibilities, and scope of practice. Therefore, a complete understanding of each career is essential for someone deciding between the two. Vet Tech vs. Vet Assistant: Similarities, Differences, and OverlapThe similarities between the roles and responsibilities of veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants are numerous, and because of that, people often confuse or conflate them. Individuals in both positions assist the veterinarian with their duties and carry out requests. However, neither the veterinary technician nor the veterinary assistant may diagnose illnesses or prescribe treatment or medication for animals. Furthermore, because veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants work directly with veterinarians, they may both find themselves working in a similar setting, such as a clinic or other animal hospital. Beyond this, however, the responsibilities and qualifications of these two roles are very different. To begin, veterinary assistants don’t require any specific licensure and may start working in this role after obtaining a high school diploma (or GED). By comparison, veterinary technicians must get an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from a two- or four-year college or university and further pass a credentialing examination, as described by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMA). In general, veterinary assistants are more likely to perform clerical work and office support, help restrain animals during evaluation and answer client questions. A veterinary assistant will often deal as much with humans as with animals. On the other hand, a veterinary technician (vet tech) serves as an animal nurse caring for wounds, assisting with tasks related to patient surgery, filling and dispensing prescription medications, and performing lab work like blood work, urinalysis, and parasitic identification. Unlike veterinary assistants, vet techs often pursue additional specialties during their education, such as anesthesia, dental technology, emergency, and critical care, internal medicine, equine veterinary nursing, zoological medicine, and animal behavior. Overall, while more states require vet techs to have more education and hold licensure, vet techs have more responsibility for patient care than veterinary assistants. Vet Tech vs. Vet Assistant: Side-By-Side ComparisonIn the coming decade, both vet tech and vet assistant careers are poised for faster than average career growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows job growth for veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow by 15 percent between 2020 and 2030 (BLS 2021). The career outlook is equally strong for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers, with a projected growth rate of 14 percent in the same period (BLS 2021). Both these numbers are higher than the national average (8 percent) for all careers over that same period. As a result, people considering an investment in education and training for a vet tech or a vet assistant career can be reasonably confident that future employment opportunities are likely in high demand in this field. A side-by-side comparison of the two professions is below to shed further light on the similarities and differences between veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians. Unless otherwise stated, the data in this table is sourced from the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the BLS.
Is a vet assistant higher than a vet tech?Veterinary assistants do not require any higher education beyond a high school diploma (or GED). A veterinary technician can seek either an associate's or bachelor's degree; however, the AVMA asserts that those with a four-year degree usually receive higher salaries and greater levels of job responsibilities.
Can you make a living as a vet assistant?No, you can not make a living as a vet assistant.
Working as a vet assistant earns you, on average, $28,000 a year ($13.50 an hour) with a modest range between $20,000 a year ($10.02 an hour) to $38,000 a year ($18.27 an hour).
What are the duties of a vet assistant?Responsibilities. Feed, groom and weigh animals.. Clean cages and bathe animals.. Sterilize equipment and clean examination tables and rooms.. Restrain animals during examinations or vaccinations.. Soothe upset or frightened animals.. Administer medication prescribed by Veterinarians (e.g. by mixing it with food). Do vet assistants wear scrubs?Unrestricted, loose-fitting cotton tops are preferred for both men and women vet techs. Medical scrubs worn by nurses and doctors are common in both the educational and professional veterinary settings.
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