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Veterinary Assistant

As an essential member of the animal care team, a veterinary assistant provides valuable support to veterinarians and ensures the wellbeing and comfort of animals in clinical settings. Available completely online with a built-in externship, our Veterinary Assistant program teaches the skills needed to work in veterinary clinics, labs, and other animal care facilities.

Program Length: 18 weeks
Program Type: Diploma
Format: Online + 100-hour externship
Total Clock Hours: 360

Student Testimonials

About the Program

Veterinary assistants play an important role in vet’s offices and animal clinics. They work with both small animals and their owners on a variety of clerical and clinical tasks.

This can include office and hospital procedures, communication and client relations, pharmacy and pharmacology, examination room procedures, small animal nursing, surgical preparation and assisting, laboratory procedures, and radiography and ultrasound imaging.

As a VA, you will learn to recognize behavioral signs and to assist in caring for patients’ basic needs under the direction of a veterinarian or designate. You will also learn soft skills for interacting with clients and the care team, such as effective communication, teamwork and cooperation, problem-solving skills, and organizational skills in a fast-paced setting.

Here are some of the top questions about our Veterinary Assistant training, medical technician online schools, and career outcomes:

What do Vet Assistants do?

VAs support veterinarians and other animal hospital staff with essential animal care, facility upkeep and administrative duties. This can include feeding, cleaning and restraining animals, preparing surgical areas, including sterilizing equipment, scheduling and interacting with clients, and performing other tasks to keep the clinic operating smoothly.

Where do Vet Assistants work?

Veterinary assistants work in a variety of animal care settings, including animal hospitals and clinics, animal shelters, research labs and even zoos.

Do VAs work with animals?

Yes, almost all vet assistants work with animals daily.

How long is the online VA program?

The Veterinary Assistant program at IMBC is expected to take 18 weeks from start to finish.  

Graduates of the IMBC Veterinary Assistant program will be prepared for entry-level employment in a variety of settings, including:

  • Veterinarians’ offices
  • Animal hospitals and clinics
  • Research labs
  • Zoos

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for veterinary assistants is expected to grow by 9%, which much faster than the national average for all jobs. There are expected to be more than 10,000 new veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker jobs between 2024 and 2034.*

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