Essential to the efficient running of any veterinary office is the veterinary assistant. As the name suggests, this job entails assisting the veterinarian with the surgery’s daily tasks. Some of these jobs entail working in the front office, while others concentrate on more clinical work. In fact, many positions actually combine these two areas
In the front office, the veterinary assistant should have enough knowledge to deal with any customer enquiries, while also managing the vet’s weekly schedule. Behind the scenes, much time is spent cleaning and disinfecting clinical areas, as well as taking care of any caged animals
Those in this role can qualify by taking a two-year diploma, or relevant honours degree. This training includes a lot of hands-on work in a general veterinary practice. Once qualified, they must register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) before starting work.
However, some assistant positions are open to unqualified applicants. These employees must have undertaken some basic veterinary training and they are limited by law to the tasks they are allowed to perform under the supervision of a surgeon. The salary range for individuals is from £10,000 to above £30,000, depending on location and years of experience.