Veterinary Assistant

Do you love animals? Have you ever thought about a career as a veterinary assistant? This intensive course will provide the information you need to become a productive member of a veterinary team. The course is designed for people who want to work as veterinary assistants at veterinary hospitals and for those already employed in related positions. Upon completion of the course, you will also have the opportunity to gain access to an Externship Starter Kit.

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6 Months / 225 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
Externship offered
Offered in partnership with your preferred school

George Mason University

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Veterinary Assistant

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Course code: GES118

What you will learn

  • Veterinary Assistant
  • The anatomy and physiology of the major organ systems.
  • How to handle medical records and communicate with clients and coworkers.
  • How to restrain animals for procedures, take vital signs, and bathe them.
  • All about nutrition, vaccinations, and administering medication.
  • How to assist during surgery and dental procedures.
  • Preparation of prescriptions and taking blood samples and radiographs.

How you will benefit

  • Upon passing this course, you will have the knowledge to be a valued team member in a veterinary hospital.
  • You will be able to use your instructor as a professional reference.
  • Assistance from our Externship Coordinator and access to our Externship Starter Kit.

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 6 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 225 course hours
  1. Getting Started file
  2. Welcome to the Veterinary Hospital file
  3. Getting Ready for Your First Visit file
  4. Physiology and Anatomy 1: Directional Signs and the Skeletal System file
  5. Physiology and Anatomy 2: The Nervous System, Endocrine System, and Muscles and Joints file
  6. Physiology and Anatomy 3: The Circulatory and Respiratory Systems file
  7. Physiology and Anatomy 4: The Digestive System, Urogenital System, Liver, and Spleen file
  8. Front Office Duties: Records, Confidentiality, and Client Relations file
  9. More Front Office Tips, and Determining Age and Gender of Kittens and Puppies file
  10. Canine Restraint file
  11. Feline and Exotic Restraint file
  12. The Physical Examination: Procedures, Restraint, and Vital Signs file
  13. Everyday Procedures for the Veterinary Assistant file
  14. Workplace Hazards and Infection Control file
  15. The Reproductive Cycle and Sterilization Procedures file
  16. Vaccinology file
  17. Nutrition Basics and Prescription Foods file
  18. Prescriptions: Preparing and Calculating Doses file
  19. Prescriptions: Types of Medications and What They Do file
  20. Giving Medications file
  21. The Euthanasia Process file
  22. Taking Blood Samples file
  23. Interpreting Blood Tests and Handling Blood file
  24. Urine Collection, Handling, and Interpretation file
  25. Tests: Serology, Scrapings, Smears, Flotations, and Necropsies file
  26. Radiographs and Personal Safety file
  27. Radiographic Positioning file
  28. Pain Recognition and Emergency Care file
  29. Dentistry: Charting, Tooth Disease, and Dental Care file
  30. External Parasites: Fleas, Ticks, Mites, and More file
  31. Parasites of the Gastrointestinal Tract and Heart file
  32. Poisonings in Pets file
  33. Surgery 1: Preparing the Patient file
  34. Surgery 2: Your Role During and After file
  35. Understanding Animal Behavior file
  36. The Job Search and Future Opportunities file

Jeff Grognet

Jeff Grognet has been a companion animal veterinarian for 25 years. He was a pioneer in the field of veterinary assistant teaching, developing his first course more than 18 years ago. Due to the success of his veterinary receptionist/assistant courses, he expanded his teaching into other high-demand areas including pet first aid and alternative medical therapies for companion animals. He practices at a veterinary hospital and contributes regularly to several magazines.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

A high school diploma or equivalent is recommended but not essential.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 8 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant, by Teresa Sonsthagen

Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

This course includes access to our Externship Starter Kit. You can research and locate externships on your own and our kit provides a breakdown of the process used for traditional externships, but tailored for this specific course. There may be certain eligibility requirements depending on the medical practice that hosts the externship or by the State you live in and plan to work in. It is your responsibility to research these requirements before an externship begins. We recommend using State affiliated websites or Certifying bodies such as AAVBS https://www.aavsb.org/public-resources/find-regulatory-board-information/ . As part of the externship paperwork, you may be asked to pass a background check and a possible drug test.

We cannot guarantee an externship, but will do our best to help you find experience. Just like seeking real employment, a lot of the work is up to you. You are asked to review professional practices in local areas and research specific types of work in the field. Please check with the practice to confirm you have everything needed to begin an externship.

The number one job of a veterinary assistant is to assist the veterinarian and veterinarian technicians with basic tasks. As a veterinary assistant, you may feed, weigh and take the temperature of various animals. You may also help give medication, clean cages, and provide nursing care for animals when they have surgery or other medical procedures. You may also bathe and exercise animals as needed and help restrain them during treatment. As a veterinary assistant, it is also your responsibility to clean and sterilize equipment and exam rooms. Some veterinary assistants even perform clerical work such as scheduling appointments and speaking with customers as well. The duties vary widely, but all are important to ensuring the health and well-being of animals inside the veterinary practice.

The typical career path for a veterinary assistant involves earning a high school diploma or GED, enrolling in a certificate course, learning the specifics of the job, and gaining skills that will help you in your new role. After earning a certificate of completion, you will be prepared to begin work as a veterinary assistant.

According to Indeed.com, the average salary for veterinary assistants is $31,904, with those who have more than 10 years of experience earning over $37,000.

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start whenever you are ready and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive six months to complete the course.

While the people in both these jobs may work in the same location (and potentially with the same animals), they perform very different roles. Veterinary assistants most likely have received training through a certificate program and training on the job by veterinary technicians to help with basic duties like setting up equipment and cleaning areas of the clinic like surgery sites. Veterinary technicians, or vet techs, have a formal education—likely a two- or four-year degree accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. They are also required to pass a licensing exam in most states. In short, veterinary technicians can perform more advanced clinical tasks under a veterinarian's supervision to help treat animals.

No, you do not need to obtain certification to work as a veterinary assistant. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there is no required credentialing exam for veterinary assistants.

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America has a certification course that began in 2012. Currently, this requires attending a college that also has a veterinary technician certification course. Once NAVTA creates a way for online courses to lead to certification, we will be exploring this avenue.

Yes, ed2go courses are completely online. However, keep in mind that not all certifying bodies or industry-specific certifications are recognized internationally. Please review your country's regulations prior to enrolling in courses that prepare for certification.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive six (6) months to complete the course.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

The course instructor will be available by email to answer any questions and provide feedback on your performance. Occasionally, your course may be supported by a team of industry experts. You will also receive support from the student advising team.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.

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