Credentials for starting as an assistent, and advice?

[CatHeart]

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Hello everyone, this is my first topic and I wanted to go over some of my thoughts and maybe get other suggestions. I love animals, and am also very aware of the darker aspects of getting into a veterinary field.

It is something I want to do though and would like to know if this sounds like a good plan to start out. In three months, my local community college will have a no credited but ce course on becoming a veterinary assistant. If I take it, I will be paying out of pocket but assume that would give me some credentials to at least stand a better chance at becoming an assistant. I also plan over the next year to do some volunteer work as well with animals, most likely SPCA.

Then, if I can get a job as an assistant go through more school to become a veterinary technician.

Does my personal plan sound like a good idea to get my foot in the door, so to speak?

Also, are there any other suggestions, all advice and constructive criticism is appreciated.

🙂

 

[NStarz]

Is your ultimate goal to become a veterinarian? If so, both the vet assistant and vet tech programs are not necessary. Take the prereqs and apply to vet school 🙂 Depending on your state, you can get a job as a tech/assistant without any kinds of credentials.

 

[LetItSnow]

I [...] am also very aware of the darker aspects of getting into a veterinary field.

Man. This makes it sound like there's some sort of initiation rite done by full moon with blood sacrifice and ominous chanting. Did I just not get my invitation?

 

[jmo1012]

Man. This makes it sound like there's some sort of initiation rite done by full moon with blood sacrifice and ominous chanting. Did I just not get my invitation?

hahaha reminds me of a phrase my father tried to add into my PS last fall about emergency medicine/outcome. the ER tech i was working with at the time was like geez, this just makes everything sound so lovely (i'm really leaning towards ECC and that part had been how i'd developed my interest in ECC)

anyhow, to contribute something useful, as said above, if your ultimate goal is to go to vet school, don't waste the money getting other certifications. you're gonna spend enough as is completing the pre-reqs, shadowing/volunteering instead of getting paid, applying, and then going through school. you also don't those certifications to get into school.

how much is the CE class? and what does it cover? is it simply classroom stuff or does it also do hands on stuff? depending on all of this, it *might* be worth it and potentially help you get a job. you could also just apply to every clinic in your area and see if anyone will hire and train you. i think a lot of people get started this way, i know i did.

 

[lostbunny]

I wouldn't take the assistant course if you have to pay for it. Save that money for something else! 😀

Its alot easier to just get a job at a vet clinic either as a kennel student/assistant or receptionist. This is how I got into the vet industry. I started as a kennel student at 16, then got a job as a receptionist (which paid a lot better!) and because I was keen, I learned to restrain animals and did quite alot of handling. I also volunteered at that hospital, and gained tons of experience. Eventually I my last veterinary job was a big specialty hospital where I was hired on as an assistant (giving injections, subQ fluids, assisting in sx, TPRs, all the super fun stuff) because I had so much experience.

I would advise against doing the vet tech course as well (if you don't already know, in Canada a "veterinary technician" is a college diploma degree, but in the USA, I've noticed that alot of people tend to interchange the vet assistant/vet tech terminology, though they technically are the same as in Canada- this was from another post if anyone is reading this and cringing 😀). You don't need to do 2-3 years of school to learn how to be a tech, if you're lucky enough to work with cool people that will teach you on the job, then thats a bonus. Being a certified 'tech' won't necessarily help you get into vet school over someone who isn't.

For application to vet school, your priorities are Uni courses and veterinary experience. Those are the most important things to focus on.

 

[CatHeart]

Is your ultimate goal to become a veterinarian? If so, both the vet assistant and vet tech programs are not necessary. Take the prereqs and apply to vet school 🙂 Depending on your state, you can get a job as a tech/assistant without any kinds of credentials.

Thanks, I do want to take the assistant class because the particular place I am looking into as a start has a very good reputation in my area and felt it would be best to have something to show for education and experience.

I was aware I don't "need" the assistant class but thought it would help both with experience and finding work. I will have to look more into state requirements. I live in Maryland, but was under the impression you needed certain schooling to become a certified veterinary technician.

Anyway, I will look into this more and see what is needed in my state.

Thanks.🙂

Man. This makes it sound like there's some sort of initiation rite done by full moon with blood sacrifice and ominous chanting. Did I just not get my invitation?

I just meant that there is good and bad experiences which I'm aware of.

As for the full moon rite and sacrifice, I'll be sure to invite you when it happens. 🙄

hahaha reminds me of a phrase my father tried to add into my PS last fall about emergency medicine/outcome. the ER tech i was working with at the time was like geez, this just makes everything sound so lovely (i'm really leaning towards ECC and that part had been how i'd developed my interest in ECC)

anyhow, to contribute something useful, as said above, if your ultimate goal is to go to vet school, don't waste the money getting other certifications. you're gonna spend enough as is completing the pre-reqs, shadowing/volunteering instead of getting paid, applying, and then going through school. you also don't those certifications to get into school.

how much is the CE class? and what does it cover? is it simply classroom stuff or does it also do hands on stuff? depending on all of this, it *might* be worth it and potentially help you get a job. you could also just apply to every clinic in your area and see if anyone will hire and train you. i think a lot of people get started this way, i know i did.

The CE class is going to end up a little roughly $600 and is six months long. As for what it covers....

Well, more specifically it will be three classes but they are corequisites.

Edit, looking over all three I'm assuming it would be about six months but still would need to check with the college to see how it works out.

Guess it's easier to just link to the classes....

http://www.aacc.edu/search/course/crs_desc.cfm?courseId=54681

http://www.aacc.edu/search/course/crs_desc.cfm?courseId=54682

http://www.aacc.edu/search/course/crs_desc.cfm?courseId=54683

 

[NStarz]

You do need certain schooling to become a certified veterinary technician: it's a 2 year degree involving classes and experiential education. However, you don't necessarily need to be a certified vet tech to work as a vet tech...does that make sense?

 

[shortnsweet]

You do need certain schooling to become a certified veterinary technician: it's a 2 year degree involving classes and experiential education. However, you don't necessarily need to be a certified vet tech to work as a vet tech...does that make sense?

Oops...wee bit of a correction NStarz. In Maryland you do need to be certified to work as a tech, but not as an assistant.

 

[NStarz]

Oops...wee bit of a correction NStarz. In Maryland you do need to be certified to work as a tech, but not as an assistant.

Touche, shortnsweet 🙂 Thanks for the edit!

 

[jmo1012]

okay, after looking at that info, i'd have to say it's definitely not worth the money. you are better off dropping a resume at a bunch of clinics or trying to shadow. you'll learn the stuff hands on which is ultimately far more valuable, both for you and for the hiring staff. as dsmoody said in another thread, buy a vet tech book if you're the type of person that learns well from reading. in my experience, there really is no substitution to actually doing things. also, i dont know that it really gives you anything extra as opposed to someone else. you dont get a certification or anything along those lines, its simply something you can say you took but it was online so you didnt learn that stuff in the field, only in theory.

MD is really relaxed as far as licensing. most of the techs i know started off as reception staff and got recruited to become techs. there arent strict laws requiring only schooled (LVTs) to handle things like controlled substances and monitor anesthesia. makes MD a great place to get veterinary experience. knowing you live in MD makes me further discourage you from taking that class and spending the money.

 

[jmo1012]

Oops...wee bit of a correction NStarz. In Maryland you do need to be certified to work as a tech, but not as an assistant.

actually, i don't believe you need any certification to work as a tech in MD. theres a recent trend towards becoming registered, but techs aren't required to have an LVT or RVT behind their names to do stuff like push controlled substances or work in surgery here

 

[shortnsweet]

okay, after looking at that info, i'd have to say it's definitely not worth the money. you are better off dropping a resume at a bunch of clinics or trying to shadow. you'll learn the stuff hands on which is ultimately far more valuable, both for you and for the hiring staff. as dsmoody said in another thread, buy a vet tech book if you're the type of person that learns well from reading. in my experience, there really is no substitution to actually doing things. also, i dont know that it really gives you anything extra as opposed to someone else. you dont get a certification or anything along those lines, its simply something you can say you took but it was online so you didnt learn that stuff in the field, only in theory.

MD is really relaxed as far as licensing. most of the techs i know started off as reception staff and got recruited to become techs. there arent strict laws requiring only schooled (LVTs) to handle things like controlled substances and monitor anesthesia. makes MD a great place to get veterinary experience. knowing you live in MD makes me further discourage you from taking that class and spending the money.

Be careful what you say there friend. MD does have laws about this that aren't always so lax. A tech does not equal an assistant, and I don't think an assistant is allowed to handle controlled substances unless in the presence of a vet. You can for sure move up to being an assistant and restrain animals, monitor, so on and so forth, but if you want to do more than that, you've gotta get your tech degree. Some practices may be relaxed about some of their policies and what you can do, but the state is not. I think the OP would be better off asking to shadow the vet, or work alongside a tech as an assistant. Maybe applying to a Banfield and working as a pet nurse one summer.

actually, i don't believe you need any certification to work as a tech in MD. theres a recent trend towards becoming registered, but techs aren't required to have an LVT or RVT behind their names to do stuff like push controlled substances or work in surgery here

Read above: Tech does not equal assistant. If the state caught an assistant pushing controlled substances, you'd be in an awful lot of trouble.

 

[shortnsweet]

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[CatHeart]

Thank you all so far, based on what I've heard and different opinions I think my best option right now is to go to a few local veterinary hospitals tomorrow in person and ask questions. Will need to do more research in person I guess but I appreciate all the advice so far.

I do plan on going to school, just not sure about the assistant class now.

I will give an update tomorrow on what happens after looking around.

 

[jmo1012]

Be careful what you say there friend. MD does have laws about this that aren't always so lax. A tech does not equal an assistant, and I don't think an assistant is allowed to handle controlled substances unless in the presence of a vet. You can for sure move up to being an assistant and restrain animals, monitor, so on and so forth, but if you want to do more than that, you've gotta get your tech degree. Some practices may be relaxed about some of their policies and what you can do, but the state is not. I think the OP would be better off asking to shadow the vet, or work alongside a tech as an assistant. Maybe applying to a Banfield and working as a pet nurse one summer.

in the interests of not starting an argument over it, i will just say that i have a very hard time believing that some of the places here i've been to are breaking laws in that regard. one of them, absolutely, that place was super sketchy. however, in corporate owned facilities, i just don't see how they can get away with it. but it's moot point because it doesn't really matter to both this thread or to pre-vets.

i was hoping to find more about MD laws, but this was the best they had to offer in terms of definitions "(h) “Veterinarian” means any person who is a graduate of a college of veterinary medicine.

(i) “Veterinary practitioner” means a licensed and registered veterinarian engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine.

(j) “Veterinary technician” means a person who is registered with the Board as a veterinary technician."

 

[shortnsweet]

in the interests of not starting an argument over it, i will just say that i have a very hard time believing that some of the places here i've been to are breaking laws in that regard. one of them, absolutely, that place was super sketchy. however, in corporate owned facilities, i just don't see how they can get away with it. but it's moot point because it doesn't really matter to both this thread or to pre-vets.

i was hoping to find more about MD laws, but this was the best they had to offer in terms of definitions "(h) “Veterinarian” means any person who is a graduate of a college of veterinary medicine.

(i) “Veterinary practitioner” means a licensed and registered veterinarian engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine.

(j) “Veterinary technician” means a person who is registered with the Board as a veterinary technician."

I'm not trying to argue! No worries there. Simply trying to make the point that there are differences in definitions/duties of techs and assistants 😎

 

[jmo1012]

oh there are definite differences, no doubt about that! i'd love to read what all the different people are legally allowed to do in MD, i think it would be fascinating to know.

 

[CatHeart]

oh there are definite differences, no doubt about that! i'd love to read what all the different people are legally allowed to do in MD, i think it would be fascinating to know.

Well, I assume I will be learning more about that over the next few weeks/months.... 😉

So if people are curious I will update on what I find.

Anyway, it's getting late here so I'm off to bed. 😴

 

[shortnsweet]

oh there are definite differences, no doubt about that! i'd love to read what all the different people are legally allowed to do in MD, i think it would be fascinating to know.

Hearsay from my LVT/RVT/CVT friends in MD-- apparently we have one of the tougher board exams, so many worked as assistants for years before they decided to go for their certificate or license. You can get the assistant cert at some of the local high schools as an extra add on. http://education-portal.com/veterinary_assistant_certification.html

Once they(my friends at least) reached a certain point (ie had worked there for years) the vets trusted them to do more vet tech stuff without the degree, but they all wanted their degrees so they wouldn't be restricted, and could get higher paying jobs, better hours, and avoid the scut work. 🙂
http://www.mda.state.md.us/licenses_permits/veterinary/veterinary_technician_registration.php

You can find a lot of information about the laws etc here: http://www.mda.state.md.us/vetboard/index.php

I think the main difference is that typically techs work directly under the vet, whereas assistants work under techs and the vet, and can't technically do as much, There will always be exceptions though. The rules, at least in my experience, are also very different in the equine world vs the SA world. My brain almost exploded when I worked for Banfield over break and they used terms like CSE and pet nurse instead of tech/assistant!!

 

[jmo1012]

haha well i think you'll find what you see and what is legal might be different-just based on my experiences that is definitely the case. i'd just be curious to see if its actually spelled out legally.

good luck with everything though! be persistent, try a lot of places because its all about need, especially if you're only temporary for the summer.

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see, my experiences have been totally different. i've worked with well over a dozen people in specialty and emergency medicine who were hired as technicians not assistants but had no certifications other than sometimes a BS/BA degree. so that's where my impressions came from. i'm sure all of these people worked up from assistant jobs and such, and many have gone on to pursue RVT status, but they are doing everything a vet tech is supposed to do even without the certifications. in VA, i know that's not the case and the state stays very on top of people staying current (although an LVT/RVT i worked with the other night said she interviewed for a tech job at the EMC in Leesburg and her supervisor would have been completely unlicensed and illegal). guess it's really just all politics in the long run!

 

[CatHeart]

Just an update,

I went by my local animal hospital today and found out nobody is certified as a tech there. I also looked over some schools as well and found one I liked that had a program to earn an associate degree as a veterinary technician. After talking to people and looking around I think the class on being an assistant is a waste of money and time.

I looked over what is involved in the class for a degree as a tech and have decided at the moment I'm going to just borrow some books from my dad related to the program since he is a teacher, and review some stuff on my own.

It can't hurt to educate myself, and review in advance, and there are a few basic things I want to review as well since I would first be required to complete two skill assessments.

That said, I think just to get some more experience with animals I will do a little volunteer work for a few months, review some things, and educate myself some more on things I know are related to the program.

Then look for work as an assistant, and eventually take the veterinary technician classes. 🙂

 

[jmo1012]

i'm really confused, didnt you mention above that you ultimately want to go to veterinary school?

the thing we're trying to point out to you about getting a vet tech degree is that none of those classes are pre-req's for vet school. so even if you get your LVT, you're still looking at a minimum of 2 years of extra coursework to satisfy requirements for veterinary school admissions (bio, gen chem, ochem, physics, english, math, biochem, etc.)

also, why volunteer when you can get paid? just me personally, but i'd rather be making money doing something i enjoy if i can! also, vet hospitals aren't going to view you as more qualified just because you read vet tech books. it's great and all, and i totally encourage learning as much as you can, but they all want experience and you just can't beat that with textbook knowledge.

anyhow, if you are interested in going to veterinary school in the long run instead of just being a vet tech (which theres nothing wrong with if thats the career for you!), i HIGHLY recommend hopping online and looking at the requirements for applying to vet school and contacting Joyce Massie or Dr. J. Pelzer down at VMRCVM (your in state school) and seeing what they have to say about the pre-req's/vet tech stuff.

 

[lostbunny]

i'm really confused, didnt you mention above that you ultimately want to go to veterinary school?

the thing we're trying to point out to you about getting a vet tech degree is that none of those classes are pre-req's for vet school. so even if you get your LVT, you're still looking at a minimum of 2 years of extra coursework to satisfy requirements for veterinary school admissions (bio, gen chem, ochem, physics, english, math, biochem, etc.)

also, why volunteer when you can get paid? just me personally, but i'd rather be making money doing something i enjoy if i can! also, vet hospitals aren't going to view you as more qualified just because you read vet tech books. it's great and all, and i totally encourage learning as much as you can, but they all want experience and you just can't beat that with textbook knowledge.

anyhow, if you are interested in going to veterinary school in the long run instead of just being a vet tech (which theres nothing wrong with if thats the career for you!), i HIGHLY recommend hopping online and looking at the requirements for applying to vet school and contacting Joyce Massie or Dr. J. Pelzer down at VMRCVM (your in state school) and seeing what they have to say about the pre-req's/vet tech stuff.

I agree. If you want to get to vet school, apply to uni and just work at a vet hospital on the side/summer. If you can't get a job then volunteer/shadow, but any job at a vet clinic is a foot in the door basically. Even if you just scrub the toilet, you're now part of the hospital staff and you can use that to your advantage! But like I said before, your main priorities are UNIVERSITY and veterinary experience.