If you are interested in working in a lucrative field and love animals, a vet assistant career might be right for you.
Check out the requirements in Washington to learn more about this job.
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Veterinary Assistant Employment and Job Duties in Washington
Once you are trained, you can work for various facilities, which include the following:
- Pet clinics,
- Animal rescue facilities,
- Animal shelters
- Zoos
- Educational institutions
Being a vet assistant will not get boring, as you will have many daily tasks.
These will include but not limited to:
- 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
You can always choose an externship first, or even volunteer, to learn about dealing with animals.
Becoming Certified as a Vet Assistant in Washington
In Washington, vet assistant certification is not required by law.
However, most companies prefer to employ vet assistants who have a certification.
For that, you can choose a training program that suits your needs.
After you finish training, you will be eligible to apply for the AVA (Approved Veterinary Assistant) certification.
The vet assistant certification in Washington is provided by the NAVTA for those who graduate from a training program it approved.
If you are looking to pursue more credentials, consider a specialization.
Some of these include:
- Dental Technician
- Anesthetist
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency and Critical Care
- Behavior Technician
- Zoological Medicine
- Equine
- Surgery
- Clinical Practice
- Nutrition
- Clinical Pathology
In Washington, there are numerous vet assistant programs you can enroll in either online or in person.
Online training programs are a good option if you are hired or cannot move around to get to the campus.
The training programs for vet assistants include theory classes, but also hands-on practice.
The theory covers the subjects below:
- 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
As of now, the training programs for vet assistants in Washington can be seen in this next table.
Top 6 Schools in Washington
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Lower Columbia College | 1600 Maple St. Longview, WA 98632 |
| Northwest Career & Technical Academy | 2205 West Campus Place Mount Vernon, WA 98273 |
| Pima Medical Institute | 555 S. Renton Village Place Renton, WA 98057 |
| Pima Medical Institute | 9709 3rd Ave N.E. Suite 400 Seattle, WA 98115 |
| Renton Technical College | 3000 NE 4th St. Renton, WA 98056 |
| Skagit Valley College | 2405 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, Washington 98273 |
If you work in a vet place for at least 20 hours weekly, you are eligible to become an experiential learner.
The training programs for vet assistants in Washington can last between 6 months and 2 years.
If you choose a college program instead of a diploma, you can be issued a B.S. in Veterinary Technology or an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology.
In Washington, you will have to pass the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination) exam to become certified.
The exam is available through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).
To join the test, you need to send in a fee and schedule it online.
The subjects will cover:
- Emergency Medicine/Critical Care
- Dentistry
- Pain Management/Analgesia
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Surgical Nursing
- Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Laboratory Procedures
- Anesthesia
- Animal Care and Nursing
You should keep in mind that after 2 years, your vet assistant certification will not be valid anymore.
To renew it, you have to submit a fee of $10 but also attend 10 more hours of education.
Salary Information for a Veterinary Assistant in Washington
According to the research done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, vet assistants in Washington have a median yearly salary of $33,322.
However, salaries vary according to the area you live in, your experience in the field, and your credentials.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Veterinary Assistants in Washington
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $34,867 |
| Spokane | $30,741 |
| Tacoma | $33,816 |
| Vancouver | $33,022 |
| Bellevue | $34,867 |
| Everett | $34,121 |
| Federal Way | $33,816 |
| Kent | $33,747 |
| Yakima | $31,563 |
| Bellingham | $32,559 |
Regional Salary in Washington
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | 120 | $41,110 | $19.76 | $44,450 | $36,990 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | 160 | $41,930 | $20.16 | $53,280 | $37,540 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 130 | $43,930 | $21.12 | $57,530 | $37,330 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,300 | $44,310 | $21.3 | $46,430 | $38,590 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 300 | $38,680 | $18.6 | $42,820 | $35,670 |
| Wenatchee, WA | 50 | $40,020 | $19.24 | $43,950 | $36,470 |
| Yakima, WA | 150 | $40,100 | $19.28 | $44,180 | $35,170 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information About Vet Assistants in Washington
Some other useful resources include:
- Washington 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
