Veterinary Assistant Schools in Louisiana

The duties of a veterinary assistant may vary from state to state in terms of complexity. All veterinary assistants can assist veterinary technicians and veterinarians during surgery and non-invasive treatment in Louisiana.

They are also qualified to sterilize instruments, provide first aid, clean and disinfect facilities, and ensure that medical records are well-kept and up-to-date.

The following guide explores all the requirements that individuals must know to work legally and professionally as veterinary assistants in the state. We examine the basic requirements, educational requirements, top programs, and licensure/certification requirements, among others.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Louisiana

Below are the steps to launch a successful career as a veterinary assistant in Louisiana.

Step 1: Basic Requirements

The basic requirements to become a veterinary assistant in Louisiana are to have a high school diploma or GED, be manually dexterous, and have a strong foundation in Biology subjects.

Candidates with all these may proceed to secure admission into a training program.

Step 2: Training Program

During their training, aspiring veterinary assistants are taught classroom topics dealing with the theoretical aspects of the job, such as record maintenance, breed identification, medical terminology, and more.

They are also expected to receive some hands-on training to understand how performing these duties in a veterinary establishment feels.

In an upcoming section, we explore some of the most notable training destinations for candidates in the state to consider, including an alternative for those who wish to attend a NAVTA-accredited program.

Step 3: Important Qualities

To succeed on the job, veterinary assistants must develop some important qualities. These include attention to detail, communication, interpersonal, dexterity, physical strength, patience, and critical thinking skills.

Step 4: Securing Employment

Lastly, individuals may obtain certification and secure employment after completing all these steps. Banfield Pet Hospital, Destination Pet, LLC, and MRO Corporation are some of the most popular companies hiring veterinary assistants in the state.

Consider Careers with Similar Paths:

• How to become a veterinarian in Louisiana

Top Veterinary Assistant Schools in Louisiana

The following are some top-class veterinary assistant training programs in Louisiana.

Explore nearby states for education and training:

• Veterinary Assistant Schools in Arkansas

Licensure and Certification Requirements

Louisiana allows fresh veterinary assistants who have just completed their training to start their careers immediately without worrying about registration or state licensure. Technically, they don’t have to worry about certification, but certified professionals enjoy strong professional networking opportunities and continuing education resources, so many choose to become certified anyway.

As mentioned earlier, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America is the leading authority in the United States regarding certification for veterinary assistants. The association allows those who graduate from an approved program to take the certification exam immediately.

They must have a score of at least 75% to pass. They must also renew their credentials by completing 10 continuing education credits every two years.

Salary & Career Outlook

The annual average salary of a veterinary assistant in Louisiana can range between $26,257 to $40,530. This depends on whether they fall among the bottom 10% or the top 10%. Of course, they can also fall among the mid-point earners.

Currently, those who fall among the bottom 10% are the ones who take home the $26,257 figure, while those who fall among the top 10% take home $40,530, and those who fall among the average earners take home an annual salary of around $32,622.

For those who would like to improve their average earnings, location is one of the factors that can be optimized to achieve this result. As it happens, Harvey (with an annual average salary of $36,791) and New Orleans (with an annual average salary of $34,881) have the highest annual average salaries for veterinary assistants in Louisiana.

They are followed by Slidell, with an annual average salary of $33,988; Metairie, with an annual average salary of $33,916; and Baton Rouge, with an annual average salary of $33,695.