Many animal lovers and owners are living in Georgia.
If you want to work in a field where you can interact both with people and animals, becoming a veterinary assistant could be for you!
Read on to find out the requirements for this job in Georgia!
Page Navigation
Veterinary Assistant Employment and Job Duties in Georgia
Residents of the State of Georgia who want to become veterinary assistants have many facilities willing to employ them.
Here are some of them:
- Pet clinics,
- Animal rescue facilities,
- Animal shelters
- Zoos
- Educational institutions
What you should know is that the hiring conditions and job duties will be different between these businesses.
Georgia’s tops employers of vet assistants are:
- Veterinary Centers of America
- This facility has centers in Carrollton, Roswell, and Savannah.
- Banfield Pet Hospital
- This pet hospital also has 3 locations: Macon, Augusta, and Savannah.
- Vetco Wellness Centers
- This center can be found in 4 cities: Alpharetta, Atlanta, Peachtree City, and Buford.
Many individuals start as volunteers in many of these places. especially if they lack the qualifications for the position.
Generally speaking, you’ll be responsible for completing duties such as:
- Communicating with clients
- Making appointments
- Request records requests from other vets
- Inventory control
- Cleaning vet gear
- Sanitizing animal cages
- Operation room cleaning
- Help with filling prescriptions
- Prepping exam and operating spaces
- Keeping records updated
- Pay attention to the dietary needs of pets
- Make sure the animals get enough exercise
Becoming Certified as a Vet Assistant in Georgia
Currently, Georgia doesn’t have any regulations related to becoming a vet’s assistant.
In reality, those seeking employment will have a hard time without a high school diploma or even a GED.
To maximize your chances of finding a job, you should enroll in a certificate program and get a diploma upon graduating.
The training program needs accreditation from the AVMA.
In Georgia, these courses are available at the schools in the table below.
Top 8 Schools in Georgia
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Ashworth College | 6625 The Corners Parkway, Norcross, Georgia, 30092 |
| Athens Technical College | 800 U.S. Hwy 29 North, Athens, Georgia 30601 |
| Fort Valley State University | 1005 State University Dr, Fort Valley, Georgia, 31030-4313 |
| Gwinnett Technical College | 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30043-5702 |
| Middle Georgia Technical College | 80 Cohen Walker Drive Warner Robins, Georgia, 31088 |
| Ogeechee Technical College | 1 Joe Kennedy Blvd Statesboro, GA 30458 |
| Southern Regional Technical College | 15689 U.S. Highway 19 North, Thomasville, Georgia, 31792 |
| University of Georgia | 1197 South Lumpkin Street Athens, GA 30602 |
While online classes are acceptable for this position, they are harder to find.
From the schools above, Ashworth College is one of the few that have such an option if you’re interested in it.
Expect to study topics such as:
- Identifying different animal breeds
- Animal anatomy
- The best ways to administer meds
- Performing laboratory analyses
- How to administer post-operative care
- Handling various breeds of animals
- Soothing animal patients
- Medical terminology
- Handling chemicals
Those attending these schools can graduate with either an Associates or a Bachelors degree, such as:
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in veterinary
- Associate of applied science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology
Earning only a certificate in the field from those institutions is also possible.
Depending on the diploma you want to obtain, the duration of the program will vary.
Students are also encouraged to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), to become better candidates or to widen their career options in the future.
Individuals can also become Approved Veterinary Assistants, or AVAs, by completing one of the following:
- Externship
- This option is good for those who do not work in the industry just yet.
- The training program offers theory classes but also practice, which is significant when trying to get hired.
- Experiential Learner
- If you are already working in the industry, this option may be suitable for you.
- You will have to work for 20 hours in a vet facility to apply.
- Veterinary Assistant Program
- For this, you have to work part-time in a vet facility.
- After you complete training, you can take the AVA test.
Salary Information for a Veterinary Assistant in Georgia
The demand for vet assistants is expected to grow at a much faster pace than many other occupations.
This is the best time to start your training and get certified as a veterinary assistant!
Below you can see the salary you can expect as a vet’s assistant, in Georgia’s major cities.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Veterinary Assistants in Georgia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | $31,481 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $29,782 |
| Columbus | $28,944 |
| Savannah | $29,904 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $31,258 |
| Macon | $29,693 |
| Roswell | $31,362 |
| Albany | $29,254 |
| Marietta | $31,392 |
| Warner Robins | $29,604 |
Regional Salary in Georgia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | 50 | $28,290 | $13.6 | $35,900 | $21,600 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 130 | $31,920 | $15.35 | $38,120 | $23,010 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,000 | $35,910 | $17.27 | $43,950 | $29,370 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 180 | $34,610 | $16.64 | $43,040 | $27,800 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 80 | $29,750 | $14.3 | $36,520 | $23,140 |
| Gainesville, GA | 60 | $35,730 | $17.18 | $49,920 | $26,930 |
| Macon, GA | 40 | $33,270 | $16 | $40,140 | $23,740 |
| Rome, GA | 60 | $31,710 | $15.25 | $37,080 | $27,940 |
| Savannah, GA | 150 | $32,340 | $15.55 | $37,280 | $27,490 |
| Valdosta, GA | 50 | $29,640 | $14.25 | $35,900 | $22,980 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 80 | $29,200 | $14.04 | $35,870 | $22,450 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information About Vet Assistants in Georgia
Veterinarians are overseen by the Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine.
It’s best to check their website often, to find out if there are any changes related to the need for a license for vet assistants.
Keep in mind that some certifications need to be renewed, and for this, you could need to pay a fee and to continue your education.
