Veterinary Assistant Schools in West Virginia

Veterinary assistants perform administrative and technical duties to help ensure the smooth running of veterinary clinics and establishments. This frees up veterinarians and veterinary technicians to handle other, more advanced obligations without feeling overwhelmed.

Naturally, the state of West Virginia has a few expectations of candidates entering this profession. Those who meet the requirements can start their careers smoothly with a platform to acquire more skills and grow their careers quickly.

Below, we explore all of these requirements and considerations in detail. We start with a general breakdown of the preparatory steps involved.

How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in West Virginia

The steps below are usually expected of aspiring veterinary assistants in West Virginia.

Basic Educational Requirements

The state of West Virginia does not mandate academic education for prospective veterinary assistants. However, having a high school diploma or GED will make candidates more appealing to employers.

It also gets them entry into high-quality training programs in the area.

Enrolling in a Training Program

Prospective veterinary assistants in West Virginia are highly encouraged to attend an accredited program for their education. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) accredits training programs.

Those attending an accredited program will have a straightforward career opportunity and certification platform. The organization has accredited around 36 programs in the United States and Canada.

Some of these are also available online.

Employment Opportunities

After education, candidates can proceed to seek employment opportunities at relevant establishments. Becoming certified is a very effective way to become attractive to veterinary assistant employers.

We explore this particular issue in more detail below.

Consider exploring careers with similar paths:

• How to become a veterinary technician in West Virginia

Top Veterinary Assistant Training Schools in West Virginia

The following programs are undoubtedly among the best options for prospective veterinary assistants in West Virginia.

Explore nearby states for education and training:

• Veterinary assistant schools in Virginia

Licensure & Certification Requirements

Veterinary assistants in West Virginia are not expected to be licensed by the state. When it comes to certification, having a professional credential can be very helpful, even though this is also not mandatory.

Anyone who is an Approved Veterinary Assistant in West Virginia has been certified by NAVTA. However, to become certified, candidates must meet a handful of requirements set by the organization.

The majority of these requirements concern education. The association offers several pathways for certification, including the opportunity for candidates to participate in an externship or gain some work experience.

Of course, as highlighted earlier, those who attend an accredited program will have the most straightforward opportunity for certification. After meeting the qualification requirements, candidates must pass a certification examination before being officially certified.

Salary & Career Outlook

Several factors influence the exact amount that a veterinary assistant will make every year in West Virginia. These include a professional’s experience level on the job, the specific location inside the state where they work, and their credentials/professional network.

Ultimately, candidates just starting their careers are expected to earn around $25,129, relevant to the bottom 10%. With time, they can make up to $31,414, which is relevant to the median earners, and then an annual average salary of $39,272, which the top 10% in the state makes.

Focusing on location as a predominant factor, Morgantown and Charleston are the best places to work in this field, with annual average salaries of $38,372 and $36,112, respectively.

Candidates will be glad to know that the projections for this field in West Virginia are very positive. The BLS predicts a continuous year-on-year increase for the foreseeable future.