Veterinary Assistant Schools in Ohio

Veterinarian assistants in Ohio work as a part of a veterinary healthcare team, carrying out duties such as offering comfort to pets and concerned owners, providing critical nursing care, and administering minor treatments.

Becoming a veterinary assistant in Ohio typically starts by meeting basic educational requirements, selecting a training option, and securing employment. Sandwiched between these steps are a few requirements and alternatives that may significantly impact how far you go in your veterinary assistant career.

The sections below look at these critical steps, requirements, and alternatives.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Ohio

The following are the steps required to become a veterinary assistant in Ohio.

Step 1: Have a High-school Diploma or GED

Ohio does not specify an essential educational requirement for veterinary assistants. This responsibility falls on training programs and employers. Both parties tend to ask that aspiring veterinary assistants seeking admission or employment in their institutions possess at least a high school diploma or GED.

Step 2: Choosing a Training Program

Veterinary assistants in Ohio have two alternatives when choosing a training program. They can either attend a veterinary assistant training school for an academic program or obtain their training on the job.

Academic Programs

Academic programs are popular destinations for people looking to become veterinary assistants in Ohio, even though no law says they must attend one.

The fact that they graduate with a certificate is an enormous appeal, as it can make it easier to secure employment.

Additionally, accredited programs can pave the way for certification and job growth.

Lastly, whether or not veterinary assistants have academic training can also impact their salary once they secure employment.

On-the-Job Training

Employers of veterinary assistants in Ohio may be willing to provide training on the job even if the individual has yet to receive any prior form of academic training. As a substitute for classroom instructors, individuals who choose to receive their training this way get to learn in the real world under the supervision of established professionals, which may include veterinary technicians, veterinarians, and even experienced veterinary assistants.

Step 3: Certification

Lastly, before they pursue employment, it is also advisable for veterinary assistants in Ohio to consider becoming certified. Thankfully, certification opportunities are available for veterinary assistants regardless of whether they graduate from an academic training program or they choose to acquire their training on the job.

Explore other careers with similar paths:

• Learn how to become a dog groomer in Ohio

Top Veterinary Assistant Schools in Ohio

Below are some of the most prominent veterinary assistant schools in Ohio.

Explore nearby states for education and training:

• Veterinary assistant schools in Kentucky

State Licensure & Certification Requirements

As one would expect, Ohio does not have any specific licensure requirements for veterinary assistants. Vet assistants in the state do not need to be certified either, but as we touched upon earlier, getting certification may help candidates secure employment and boost their career opportunities.

Currently, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) offers the best credential for fresh veterinary assistants in Ohio. The certification in question is the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) credential that can be obtained by attending a NAVTA-approved training school or acquiring work experience.

Salary and Career Outlook

In Ohio, veterinary assistants earn an annual salary that aligns with the national average. This figure of $34,082 is usually applicable to veterinary assistants who fall in the midpoint of optimizable factors such as experience, credentials, location, and establishment type.

Those who fall in the upper end of these conditions take home as high as $42,442, while those who fall in the lower back have an annual average salary of $27,368 to look forward to.

Veterinary assistants in Worthington earn the highest annual average in the state by city, with a salary of $39,126. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Grove City complete the top five with average yearly wages of $38,554, $35,548, $35,156, and $34,059, respectively.