By Gladys Mae
Gladys is the Associate Director of Admissions & Student Services with over 10 years of experience at the International Career Institute.
If you love animals and you want a challenging and rewarding career, becoming a veterinary assistant might be the job for you. As a veterinary assistant, you will use all your skills to complete daily responsibilities with the ultimate goal of establishing and supporting pets’ health and wellbeing. Capable veterinary assistants balance multiple duties and manage pet care and owners’ expectations through their passion for animals and key personality traits ideal for the veterinary field.
There are a variety of desired personality traits that every veterinary assistant should possess. Here are some of the essential qualities veterinarians look for in their assistants:
Other important qualities in a veterinary assistant include meticulousness, adaptability, respect, and creativity.
You can become a veterinary assistant or nurse by taking coursework and graduating with a diploma in Pet Care/Vet Assistant from the International Career Institute. In less than a year, you can earn your degree and start your career. Graduates can choose from a variety of animal-related fields to work in, such as veterinary clinics, animal welfare organisations, wildlife parks and zoos, and veterinary pharmaceutical companies.
Veterinary assistants and nurses need to enrol with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the veterinary regulatory body in the United Kingdom to legally participate in certain surgeries and procedures.
After becoming a veterinary assistant, you may want to know what career progressions are available if you wish to grow within this field. Applying to university and completing a veterinary degree, typically a 5-year process, will allow you to become a practising veterinarian. All veterinarians will need to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
You may choose to work in a general veterinary practise or go back to university for advanced postgraduate degrees in specialties such as dermatology, acupuncture, or cardiology. Dedicating your career to research or teaching are other career avenues open to veterinarians.
A veterinary assistant is responsible for a wide variety of role responsibilities. Some of the vital duties associated with this field are:
These are standard duties that a nurse or assistant can deal with daily and that prevent the job from becoming predictable.
Would you like to work with animals as a career? Do you have some of the qualities needed in a veterinary assistant? If this job appeals to you, visit the International Career Institute’s website and learn about our Pet Care/Vet Assistant courses and diploma. Don’t wait to make a difference in animals’ lives. Enrol in ICI UK today and start building a career with purpose and meaning.