How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Minnesota

Do you love having animals around?

In that case, you can get a job as a vet tech in Minnesota.

Read on for more info regarding training and certification.

Veterinary Assistant Employment and Job Duties in Minnesota

You can get a job in any facility that works with animals:

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

Some of your daily responsibilities as a vet tech will be:

• 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

If you don’t know where to start, you can first get a voluntary based position.

You can also check out these vet facilities in Minnesota:

• Minnesota Veterinary Hospital
• Blaine Central Veterinary Clinic
• Bemidji Veterinary Hospital
• Duluth Veterinary Hospital
• South Shore Veterinary Hospital
• Woodlake Veterinary Hospital

Becoming Certified as a Vet Assistant in Minnesota

in Minnesota, the minimum requirements for vet techs are a high school diploma or a GED.

But, you could also be requested to provide:

• COMPASS test
• Proof you are a resident of the state
• Meeting up with a mentor

First, you will have to get used to what the job entails.

This is typically done by joining a training program for vet techs.

Then, you can also get the AVA (Approved Veterinary Assistant) certification for vet techs.

This certification is offered through the NAVTA.

The program you enroll in has to be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA).

You can also choose a specialty:

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

Your certification will be sent to you by the school after you pass the final exam.

Candidates can join a physical program or an online training program.

Some of the subjects available include:

• 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

The training programs for vet techs usually include theory and lab practice hours.

The schools that offer vet tech programs in Minnesota are listed below.

The extra paperwork you need to submit includes:

• Tuberculosis clearance within a year
• Tetanus vaccine within 10 years
• Health insurance
• Criminal background check

Vet tech training programs don’t last for more than 2 years.

Another choice is to pursue a B.S. in Veterinary Technology or an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology.

After you complete the training program, you can apply for certification online.

Furthermore, you need to take a certification exam, the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination).

The exam is offered through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).

This exam lasts for 3 hours and has 170 open-book questions.

Before taking the test, you have to make an appointment and submit a fee of $300.

You will also have to pay an application processing fee and wait for your Authorization-to-Test letter (ATT).

This letter will be submitted to you by the Professional Examination Service (PES).

The topics in the exam belong to the following areas:

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

Your new certification has to be renewed every 2 years.

However, the first renewal must take place within 4 months to a year.

You will also have to take 24 additional classes in education to get your certification renewed.

To become certified, you need to pay an additional $60 fee.

This is also the amount you have to pay to get your certification renewed.

Salary Information for a Veterinary Assistant in Minnesota

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, vet techs in Minnesota have an annual salary of around $31,918.

Of course, you will be paid more if you have enough experience.

The same happens for vet techs who work in some of the state’s larger areas.

Regional Salary in Minnesota

Additional Information About Vet Assistants in Minnesota

If you want to work in a lab, you can pursue one of the AALAS certifications:

• ALAT: Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician
• LAT: Laboratory Animal Technician
• LATG: Laboratory Animal Technologist