SEF-VET8500 - Veterinary Assistant

Course Description

This veterinary assistant training course is perfect for animal lovers looking to pursue a career helping animals. With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that the employment of veterinary assistants will grow 19% by 2033, with an average of 25,800 job openings each year, now is a great time to enroll in an online vet assistant program. As the duties of a veterinary assistant vary widely, this vet assistant course will equip you with all the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure the health and well-being of animals inside the veterinary practice.

Throughout this online veterinary assistant education program, you will learn every aspect of veterinary assisting, including anatomy and physiology, animal restraint, laboratory procedures, emergency care, small and large animal assisting, exotic species, veterinary dentistry, human-animal bond, pharmacy procedures, and more.

The course will also cover how to interact professionally with clients and gain the expertise you need to educate them about key topics in pet care, such as nutrition, vaccinations, and administering medication. This veterinary assistant course concludes with a lesson to prepare you for the job market, in which you will see how to create an effective resume, advance your expertise, and develop strong interview skills.

By course completion, you will truly learn everything you need to know to be successful in your new, fulfilling career as a veterinary assistant.

Course Outline

1. The Veterinary Health-Care Team
2. Veterinary Team Culture and Communication
3. Introduction to Veterinary Medical Terminology
4. Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology, and Terminology (Part I)
5. Small-Animal Behavior and Restraint
6. Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology, and Terminology (Part 2)
7. Veterinary Receptionist Duties and Responsibilities
8. Veterinary Inventory Management
9. Pharmacy Procedures
10. Hospital Safety and Infection Control
11. Physical Exam and Patient History
12. Small-Animal Vaccines and Infectious Diseases
13. Small-Animal Nutrition
14. Small-Animal Nursing Procedures
15. The Human-Animal Bond and Euthanasia
16. Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Assistants
17. Diagnostic Imaging for Veterinary Assistants
18. Small-Animal Surgical Assisting
19. Hospitalized Patient Care
20. The Role of the Assistant During Emergencies
21. Veterinary Dental Assisting
22. Assisting with Exotic Species
23. Assisting with Large-Animal Species
24. Personal and Professional Development
25. Beginning Your Career as a Vet Assistant
26. Land the Job

Learner Outcomes

• Summarize the roles, responsibilities, and applicable laws and ethics as they pertain to the veterinary healthcare team
• Discuss the fundamentals of animal anatomy and physiology, restraint techniques, and basic examination tasks relevant to veterinary assisting, using proper terminology
• Explain how to perform veterinary assistant pharmacy tasks within the law's scope and discuss vaccinations, infectious diseases, transmission, and prevention
• Describe how to respond appropriately to veterinary medical emergencies, surgeries, and various laboratory procedures
• Understand how to perform the veterinary assistant's responsibilities related to veterinary dentistry

Notes

This is an asynchronous online course offered through the third party vendor ed2go. This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook. There are no prerequisites to take this course. A high school diploma or equivalent is recommended but not essential.

The instructional materials required for this program are included with enrollment. The following eBooks are available for your course. Reading assignments in each lesson will be linked to the eBook for the designated reading.

• Veterinary Assisting Fundamentals & Applications, 2nd Edition, by Beth Vanhorn
• An Illustrated Guide to Veterinary Medical Terminology, 4th Edition, by Janet Amundson Romich

FAQs

1. How much do veterinary assistants make?

According to Indeed.com, the average salary for veterinary assistants is $41,905, with those who have more than 10 years of experience earning over $59,522. (As of 2025.)

2. What is a veterinary assistant? What does a veterinary assistant do?

The number one job of a veterinary assistant is to assist the veterinarian and veterinarian technicians with basic tasks. As a veterinary assistant, you may feed, weigh, and take the temperature of various animals. You may also help give medication, clean cages, and provide nursing care for animals when they have surgery or other medical procedures. You may also bathe and exercise animals as needed and help restrain them during treatment. As a veterinary assistant, it is also your responsibility to clean and sterilize equipment and exam rooms. Some veterinary assistants even perform clerical work such as scheduling appointments and speaking with customers as well. The duties vary widely, but all are important to ensuring the health and well-being of animals inside the veterinary practice.

3. How long does it take to become a veterinary assistant?

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start whenever you are ready and finish at your own pace. When you register, you will receive six months to complete the course. Your training covers all you will need to start your new career as a vet assistant. This veterinary assistant course concludes with a lesson to prepare you for the job market, in which you will see how to create an effective resume, advance your expertise, and develop strong interview skills.

4. What is the difference between a veterinary assistant and a veterinary technician?

While the people in both these jobs may work in the same location (and potentially with the same animals), they perform very different roles. Veterinary assistants most likely have received training through a certificate program and training on the job by veterinary technicians to help with basic duties like setting up equipment and cleaning areas of the clinic like surgery sites. Veterinary technicians, or vet techs, have a formal education—likely a two- or four-year degree accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. They are also required to pass a licensing exam in most states. In short, veterinary technicians can perform more advanced clinical tasks under a veterinarian's supervision to help treat animals.

5. Does this course prepare you for a certification?

Not at this time. However, a veterinary assistant career does not require certification, and your course content will thoroughly prepare you for your new career.

6. How long does it take to complete this course?

After you register, you will receive 6 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

7. What kind of support will I receive?

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

8. What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

9. Am I guaranteed a job?

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

10. Can I get financial assistance?

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses.