There is a higher demand for vet assistants in North Carolina over the past years.
This means that you have higher chances to get hired and that your job will never get boring.
So, read on to have a better idea of the requirements to get certified in this state.
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Veterinary Assistant Employment and Job Duties in North Carolina
You will find it easy to get hired in any of the following animal-related facilities:
- Pet clinics,
- Animal rescue facilities,
- Animal shelters
- Zoos
- Educational institutions
The most important daily duties for a vet assistant are :
- 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
In order to get some experience with animals if you don’t have any, you can choose an externship.
This will provide practice that will help you find a job later on.
You can choose from the resources below:
- North Carolina Veterinary Technician Association
- Big Sky Veterinary Technician Association
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
- Veterinary Career Network
- Vet Tech Life
- Vetcetera
- Where Techs Connect
Becoming Certified as a Vet Assistant in North Carolina
In New Carolina, you can start working as soon as you have a high school diploma or a GED.
The most convenient method to become skilled is to attend a training program for vet assistants.
Finishing your training will enable you to get an AVA (Approved Veterinary Assistant) certification.
The vet assistant certification is offered through the NAVTA.
The program of your choice should also be approved by the NAVTA.
Furthermore, you can choose a specialization like:
- Dental Technician
- Anesthetist
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency and Critical Care
- Behavior Technician
- Zoological Medicine
- Equine
- Surgery
- Clinical Practice
- Nutrition
- Clinical Pathology
You can either join a training program online or a physical in person.
Some of the subjects you will join in class are:
- How to identify different breeds
- Animal anatomy
- The best ways to administer meds
- How to administer post-operative care
- Handling various breeds of animals
- Medical terminology
- Handling chemicals
You will attend a combination of theory and lab hours during your training.
The schools where you can train in North Carolina can be seen in the next table.
Top 1 Schools in North Carolina
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Middle North Carolina Technical College | 80 Cohen Walker DriveWarner Robins, North Carolina, 31088 |
If you have a job as a vet assistant, you can pursue certification as an experiential learner.
To be able to apply you have to work at least 20 hours per week in an animal facility.
Veterinary assistant training programs in North Carolina last for a couple of years at most.
You can also pursue a B.S. in Veterinary Technology or an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology.
Before getting your certification, you need to take an exam.
This exam is the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination).
The test is provided by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).
To attend the exam, you need to schedule it first.
The test features the next subjects:
- Emergency Medicine/Critical Care
- Dentistry
- Pain Management/Analgesia
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Surgical Nursing
- Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Laboratory Procedures
- Anesthesia
- Animal Care and Nursing
The vet assistant license needs to be renewed after 2 years.
You will need to attend extra education classes and pay a fee when applying for renewal.
Salary Information for a Veterinary Assistant in North Carolina
On average, vet assistants in North Carolina have a salary of $29,765 pr year.
You can earn a higher salary if you have experienced, or work in areas like Raleigh, Charlotte, Winston Salem, and Durham.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Veterinary Assistants in North Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charlotte | $31,238 |
| Raleigh | $30,859 |
| Greensboro | $30,476 |
| Durham | $30,681 |
| Winston-Salem | $30,550 |
| Fayetteville | $29,261 |
| Cary | $30,859 |
| High Point | $30,658 |
| Wilmington | $29,086 |
| Asheville | $29,313 |
Regional Salary in North Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 400 | $35,930 | $17.28 | $44,910 | $24,030 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,250 | $36,390 | $17.5 | $46,300 | $25,810 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 420 | $39,220 | $18.86 | $50,280 | $28,790 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 130 | $33,980 | $16.34 | $43,160 | $27,790 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 420 | $34,550 | $16.61 | $43,990 | $27,470 |
| Greenville, NC | 70 | $32,060 | $15.41 | $36,930 | $21,320 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 140 | $32,770 | $15.75 | $41,650 | $21,540 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 100 | $32,910 | $15.82 | $38,410 | $24,290 |
| New Bern, NC | 50 | $32,960 | $15.85 | $43,510 | $24,990 |
| Raleigh, NC | 1,050 | $36,280 | $17.44 | $45,520 | $23,610 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 280 | $36,910 | $17.75 | $46,030 | $26,440 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information About Vet Assistants in North Carolina
As veterinary assistants become more popular, you will be able to build a strong and long-lasting career in the industry.
The first thing you need to do is find a suitable training program and get a diploma.
