Washington is a wonderful state to live, work, and if you love animals, also a great state to be a Veterinary Assistant. While the ! And people in Washington love animals. Don’t you want to live and work in a place where the people care about animals as much as you? Check out some reasons that WA is where you might want to pursue a career as Vet Assistant:

Washingtonians Love Their Pets

in the country and they rank as . . It actually ! So it’s no surprise that it also has an abundance of pet-friendly restaurants and even hotels. Washington also has laws to protect pets and the rights of pet owners including legislation that fines owners who leave unattended dogs in parked cars, prohibits discrimination against tenants with assistance animals and places landlord caps on pet damage.

Washington Is a Top Employer of Vet Assistants

. And employment of Vet Assistants in the state is expected to grow more than 30 percent higher than the already high national average.

Washington Offers Plenty of Places for Vet Assistants to Work

As a Vet Assistant, you can find work in a variety of settings such as animal clinics and hospitals, veterinary offices, wildlife facilities, research laboratories, and colleges and universities. In the State of Washington, you might seek employment at places like and in Vancouver, the in Tacoma, or at one of the or . Or you might look for work at one of the state’s colleges or universities such Washington State University, a top veterinary teaching hospital or the University of Washington, an institution with ties to local medical clinics. Or maybe you’d prefer to work at an organization like the . There are plenty of choices for you.

Washington Pays Vet Assistants Above National Average

. . And the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue and Mount Vernon-Anacortes metropolitan areas are among the highest paying in the state. Your salary can depend on a number of factors, including where you work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, vet assistants who work in research laboratories can earn more than those who work in vet clinics.

You Can Earn Washington State Certification as a Vet Assistant

While Washington does not require Veterinary Assistants to be certified or licensed, it does offer a special license that can expand your duties. You can apply for a , which allows you to count, package, and label animal medication. You can also monitor the inventory of animal medication and order more, when necessary, all under the supervision of a vet tech or veterinarian. To submit an application and earn the license, you must have at least a high school diploma and a signed affidavit from a sponsoring veterinarian. Once your materials have been submitted and approved, the state board will send you a license that must be renewed every year.

Are you ready to become a Veterinary Assistant in the Evergreen State? Â鶹¹ÙÍø-Vancouver offers a Certificate in Veterinary Assistant that can prepare you for entry-level work in a vet clinic, animal hospital, zoo, or other animal care facility. The program can be completed in as few as 10 months through blended learning for flexibility and convenience. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.