How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in New York

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There are many job prospects for those who want to become vet assistants in New York.

So, if you enjoy being around animals, you can get certified and work in the industry.

Maybe you first need some info about it, so check out the below guide.

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Veterinary Assistant Employment and Job Duties in New York

You can start your job search in an animal facility, which include:

  • Pet clinics and hospitals
  • Animal rescue facilities,
  • Animal shelters
  • Zoos
  • Educational institutions

The main job responsibilities you will need to finish daily include:

  • Communicating with clients
  • Making appointments
  • Request records requests from other vets
  • Inventory control
  • Cleaning vet gear
  • Sanitizing animal cages
  • Operation room cleaning
  • Help with filling prescriptions
  • Prepping exam and operating spaces
  • Keeping records updated
  • Pay attention to the dietary needs of pets
  • Make sure the animals get enough exercise

You can volunteer first if you think you should get more experience with animals.

You can also check the websites of the organizations below:

  • New York Veterinary Technician Association
  • Big Sky Veterinary Technician Association
  • National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
  • Veterinary Career Network
  • Vet Tech Life
  • Vetcetera
  • Where Techs Connect

Becoming Certified as a Vet Assistant in New York

In New York, you can find employment once you get a high school diploma or a GED.

The easiest way to learn what you need to do on the job is to attend a training program.

Finishing the program allows you to get an AVA (Approved Veterinary Assistant) certification.

The vet assistant certification is offered by the NAVTA.

The program of your choice should be accredited by the NAVTA as well.

In addition, you can choose a specialization such as:

  • Dental Technician
  • Anesthetist
  • Internal Medicine
  • Emergency and Critical Care
  • Behavior Technician
  • Zoological Medicine
  • Equine
  • Surgery
  • Clinical Practice
  • Nutrition
  • Clinical Pathology

You can either attend a program online or one in person.

Some of the topics you will attend in class are:

  • How to identify different breeds
  • Animal anatomy
  • The best ways to administer meds
  • How to administer post-operative care
  • Handling various breeds of animals
  • Medical terminology
  • Handling chemicals

You will attend a combination of theory and lab hours during your training.

The schools where you can train in New York are listed below.

Top 3 Schools in New York

School NameAddress
Suffolk County Community College533 College Rd.Selden, New York 11784-2899
Ulster County Community College491 Cottekill Rd,Stone Ridge, New York 12484
Wayne Technical and Career Center4440 Ridge Road Williamson, NY 14589

If you are already working as a vet assistant, you can get a certification as an experiential learner.

For this, you must work at least 20 hours a week in a vet facility.

Vet assistant training programs in New York last for a few months and put to 2 years.

The lengthier programs finish in a B.S. in Veterinary Technology or an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology.

Before getting your license, you also have to pass an exam that will assess your skills.

The required test is the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination).

This exam is provided by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).

To attend the exam, you have to make an appointment first.

The exam features the following subjects:

  • Emergency Medicine/Critical Care
  • Dentistry
  • Pain Management/Analgesia
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Surgical Nursing
  • Pharmacy and Pharmacology
  • Laboratory Procedures
  • Anesthesia
  • Animal Care and Nursing

The Vet assistant license has to be renewed after 2 years have passed.

In order to get a new one, you will need to attend additional education classes and pay another fee.

If you meet the criteria, your certification will be mailed to you shortly.

Salary Information for a Veterinary Assistant in New York

Vet assistants in the State of New York have a salary of $33,478 per year.

You can always get a higher salary if you have a specialization, or live in a big city like New York City.

Annual Salary Range:
$27K
$34K
$41K

Average Salary of Veterinary Assistants in New York

City NameSalary
New York$38,362
Buffalo$30,496
Rochester$31,436
Yonkers$36,757
Syracuse$31,431
Albany$32,265
New Rochelle$36,605
Mount Vernon$36,741
Schenectady$32,282
Utica$30,537
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in New York

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY400$38,540$18.53$46,150$30,780
Binghamton, NY50$33,020$15.88$38,860$29,540
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY310$35,340$16.99$43,670$29,550
Ithaca, NY160- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -
Kingston, NY60$34,330$16.51$37,460$29,880
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA3,790$41,170$19.8$50,600$30,940
Rochester, NY310$36,320$17.46$44,510$29,920
Syracuse, NY180$34,320$16.5$42,390$29,800
Utica-Rome, NY60$32,900$15.82$40,210$28,780
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, OCC Code 31-9096, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Additional information about vet assistants in New York

As long as you select a training program that fits your needs, you will be able to enjoy a long and stable career as a vet assistant.

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