New Hampshire is a good state to start working as a veterinary assistant.
Read on to find out why and not only!
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Veterinary Assistant Employment and Job Duties in New Hampshire
Not everyone is aware that veterinary assistants are needed in various settings, like:
- Animal clinics,
- Animal rescue facilities,
- Animal shelters
- Zoos
- Veterinary emergency centers
If you want to know the names of the best employers in New Hampshire, look below:
- Veterinary Centers of America
- Their centers in New Hampshire can be found in Bedford, Concord, Laconia, and Gilford.
- Banfield Pet Hospital
- This hospital can be found in Concord, Manchester, and Salem.
- Vetco Wellness Centers and Vaccination Clinics
- These centers are found in Dover, Concord, Gilford, and Plaistow.
These centers have facilities in many states, but they’re not the only ones in New Hampshire caring about animals’ health.
All these facilities do have requirements when it comes to employment, even though they may vary.
Your duties will also be different based on the type of facility you work at.
Next are some of the most common responsibilities of a vet assistant:
- Assisting with surgeries
- Applying bandages
- Monitoring anesthesia and vital signs
- Collecting samples
- Administering medications
- Giving subcutaneous fluids
- Filling prescriptions
- Communicating with clients
- Making appointments
- Inventory control
- Cleaning vet gear
- Sanitizing animal cages
- Operation room cleaning
- 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 New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, you don’t need to meet any educational requirements to get hired as a vet’s assistant.
In practice, however, most employers expect you to have at least a high school diploma or a GED.
Previous experience is also not needed, but you might see some places rejecting applications because of this.
You can apply for a volunteering position instead if you really want to work there until you accumulate the needed experience.
Many individuals choose to become Approved Veterinary Assistants as this is a credential with national recognition.
To obtain this certificate, you need to complete a training program approved by NAVTA.
One such program can be found at North Conway Academic Center.
If that center is too far from you, you also have these options:
- Externship – for those with no experience working with animals
- Experiential Learner
- You must work part-time in a health center for animals.
- Veterinary Assistant Program
- You need to already work as a part-timer in a health center for animals.
To become certified you need:
- An application
- The documents proving their eligibility
- The application and certificate fee $350
- To pass the exam
Earning Other Credentials
If you don’t want to enroll in the NAVTA-approved program, you can also enroll in a post-secondary training program.
Through such education, you can obtain either a certificate or a degree.
Those obtaining a degree have better career prospects and can earn higher salaries.
You can check the schools below for a post-secondary educational program in New Hampshire for vet assistants.
Top 3 Schools in New Hampshire
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Great Bay Community College | 320 Corporate Drive Portsmouth NH 03801 |
| Manchester Community College | 1066 Front St, Manchester, NH 03102 |
| North Conway Academic Center | 2541 White Mountain Hwy North Conway, NH 03860 |
Expect to study the following topics, among others:
- Animal Life Stages Nutrition and Husbandry
- Animal Nursing and Diagnostic Imaging
- Pharmacology and Principles of Anesthesia
- Aseptic Technique and Surgical Assisting
You may even choose to become specialized in a field like:
- Dental Technician
- Anesthetist
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency and Critical Care
- Behavior Technician
- Zoological Medicine
- Equine
- Clinical Practice
- Nutrition
- Clinical Pathology
The programs have a different duration based on the type of credential you want to obtain.
None of the programs will last less than approximately 9 months.
Salary Information for a Veterinary Assistant in New Hampshire
On average, the salaries of vet assistants in New Hampshire are very close to the average one at the national level that is about $31,200 per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Veterinary Assistants in New Hampshire
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Manchester | $32,718 |
| Nashua | $34,568 |
| Concord | $32,909 |
| Derry | $33,606 |
| Rochester | $32,520 |
| Salem | $34,057 |
| Dover | $32,654 |
| Merrimack | $34,568 |
| Londonderry | $34,568 |
| Hudson | $34,568 |
Regional Salary in New Hampshire
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover-Durham, NH-ME | 40 | $35,790 | $17.21 | $41,600 | $29,370 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | 40 | $36,160 | $17.38 | $42,300 | $30,390 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information About Vet Assistants in New Hampshire
Those who have the AVA certification need to pay $250 every 2 years, to keep their credential valid.
Once you’re a vet assistant, you should stay updated on the news from the industry with these sources:
- VetMedTeam
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
- New Hampshire Veterinary Medical Association
- New Hampshire Humane Society
- New Hampshire Vet Assistant Jobs
- New Hampshire SPCA
