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Veterinary Clinics and Hospitals Education and Training

Turn your love of animals into a career in veterinary clinics and hospitals

By Harrison Howe
If you're an animal lover and thinking about turning that love into a career, you might find what you're looking for in veterinary clinics and hospitals. Many veterinary hospitals, veterinary clinics and free pet clinics are looking for well-trained, dedicated staff to help them provide care to their patients.

There are a few routes you can take for veterinary clinics and hospitals education and training. From formal degrees in veterinary technology to volunteering at animal hospitals or a veterinary clinic, you can receive the training and education you need to work in a vet clinic, vet hospitals or even a 24-hour animal hospital.
  1. Attend an accredited college or university and get a formal degree to start a career in veterinary clinics and hospitals.
  2. Get certified as a veterinary technician to help you land a job at veterinary clinics and hospitals.
  3. Realize the invaluable hands-on education and training you can get when volunteering at animal hospitals and vet clinics.

 

Pursue a formal degree as a first step in veterinary clinics and hospitals education and training

While a formal degree is not mandatory for a career in veterinary clinics and hospitals, it certainly wouldn't hurt when it comes time to look for a job. In addition, many programs offering degrees in veterinary technology have excellent placement assistance, internship opportunities and help you prepare for the National Veterinary Technician Exam.
Try: Get a bachelor's degree in veterinary technology from Mercy College, a program fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA). Get an associate's degree in applied science from Brown Mackie College and learn a wide range of animal care skills to be applied in veterinary clinics and animal hospitals.

Become a certified veterinary technician before seeking work in animal hospitals and clinics

If the formal route is not for you, you might consider becoming certified as a veterinary technician through programs offered by veterinary associations and technical schools. These shorter, more intensive programs will expose you to many aspects of working for veterinary clinics and hospitals, from online courses to hands-on experiences with working veterinarians.
Try: Penn Foster Career School is an accredited independent home study school which offers a program for certification as a veterinary assistant, covering everything from surgery to washing and feeding animals. The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) offers accredited programs for veterinary technician certification. Students at the Vet Tech Institute learn from hands-on training, guided by a licensed veterinarian.

Volunteer at veterinary clinics and animal hospitals to gain valuable training and experience

Many local veterinary hospitals and clinics and even animal nonprofit organizations are always seeking volunteers. Volunteering will provide you with extensive and incomparable hands-on training for working in veterinary clinics and hospitals.
Try: The Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has year-round voluntary veterinary clinic assistant positions available, which allows volunteers to help out with everything from surgery to cleaning animal cages. Henrietta Animal Hospital is open to student volunteers who are interested in seeking careers in the animal healthcare industry.

 

  • Consider joining the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) and take advantage of continuing education seminars and conferences to add to your veterinary clinics and hospitals training. Many of these seminars are available online.

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