Becoming a Veterinary Assistant in Alaska

On the frontiers of Alaska, there are always opportunities, and that includes opportunities to find work as a veterinary assistant. If you love animals and would like to help care for them when they’re sick or injured, becoming a veterinary assistant in Alaska could be your ticket to fulfillment.

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In raw numbers, the number of people in Alaska working as veterinary assistants is small (less than 200). But with demand for veterinary assistants expected to grow by double-digit percentages over the next few years, men and women with advanced training should have legitimate chances to break into this in-demand profession.

Alaska Veterinary Assistant Programs

As a sparsely populated state, Alaska has a limited number of vet assistant programs to serve aspiring students. However, admittance to the programs that do exist is not difficult to secure, and there are online training programs for Alaska residents as well that cater to people who require a flexible schedule.

Two on-campus training programs are available in Anchorage, through the private Charter College Alaska and the public University of Alaska-Anchorage. This is the state’s largest city and the location where half of Alaska’s veterinary assistants are employed.

Veterinary training programs usually require somewhere between 100 and 240 hours of classroom study plus hands-on training, the latter of which is essential for students who must learn everything there is to know about the complex demands of the veterinary profession. Programs can usually be completed in 12 months or less, and certifications will generally be given at the end of the training to signify the student’s qualifications to become a veterinary assistant.

Costs for veterinary assistant training programs normally run from $1,500 to $3,000, but prices for education (and other goods and services) tend to be higher than the national average in Alaska. Costs will likely be less if you choose an online program, and of course, this option would be ideal if you are living in Alaska for only part of the year.

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The Value of National Certification

Veterinary assistants in Alaska are only required to possess a high school diploma or GED to qualify for employment. But advanced training plus certification is desirable, and those who acquire it have better chances for employment.

One way to gain certification is to complete coursework at a school approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), which can only be done online in Alaska. After completing their programs of study, students can take the national NAVTA vet assistant certification test (for $100), and if they pass they will receive a certificate that grants them official recognition as an Approved Veterinary Assistant.

The second option to obtain certification is to combine direct experience with the NAVTA national examination. The three possibilities for prospective candidates who choose this approach are:

  • Externship. Non-employed individuals can gain credit for on-the-job training, assuming they can if they find a licensed veterinarian willing to employ them.
  • Experiential learning. Credit is given to those already working half-time as vet assistants.
  • Veterinary assistant employment. Those who are currently working full-time as vet assistants can also receive permission to take the NAVTA exam, which can help qualify them for better positions.

Once the national NAVTA exam has been passed, the candidate will be certified as an Approved Veterinary Assistant, meaning they possess outstanding qualifications for employment. To stay current AVA designations must be renewed every two years, and to obtain renewal the applicant must continue working as a vet assistant or taking classes to deepen their knowledge of the profession.

Certified Veterinary Assistant in Alaska

(CVA) is a higher designation than AVA, but it requires a more rigorous level of knowledge. CVAs must have completed at least 500 hours of classroom training plus the NAVTA exam and possess at least one year of work experience in a veterinary setting.

American Veterinary Medical Association

(AVMA) certification is also available to qualified candidates, and although this exam is not required it functions as a sign of excellence and can thus bring greater benefits in the job search. Passing the AVMA exam requires a much higher level of knowledge than passing the NAVTA exam and subsequent career paths can include veterinary technicians, practice managers, and even veterinary specialists.

Salaries for Veterinary Assistants

The median annual salary for Alaskan veterinary assistants is $30,730, with somewhat higher pay scales for those employed in the cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Most vet assistants in Alaska work at private clinics and animal hospitals in these three cities, but if you would prefer something more adventurous there are some interesting opportunities available in more remote villages.

Veterinary Assistant Salaries in Alaska by Region

AreaTotal EmployedAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Anchorage, AK60$13.51$28,090

Job Prospects for Veterinary Assistants in Alaska

In the entire state of Alaska, there are approximately 120 individuals working as veterinary assistants. This number is low but is expected to expand by 10-20 percent over the next several years, and offering more motivation for prospective candidates is the fact that salaries for vet assistants in Alaska are well above average.

Competition for veterinary assistant jobs in Alaska may become more heated in the years to come. However, if you enroll in a quality training program, either online or on-campus, and complete your studies and gain some type of certification, your prospects for finding employment will be considerably enhanced.

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Get information on Veterinary Assistant programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

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Veterinary Assistant Schools in Alaska

Anchorage, AK Area

University of Alaska Anchorage

3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508

Veterinary Assisting – Certificate Program

The University of Alaska Anchorage’s Certificate program in Veterinary Assisting is taught at their campus in the city of Anchorage. This is a full, 4-year public college with 17,151 students, of which 95% are undergraduates. The University of Alaska Anchorage has institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Tuition fees for in-state students are generally around $5,545 and for out-of-state students approximately $17,177 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $1,440, although this varies from program to program. Students will learn the fundamentals required for the care, treatment, and management of both the animals as patients and people as clients.

Fairbanks, AK Area

University of Alaska Fairbanks

505 South Chandalar Drive, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7500

Veterinary Assisting – Certificate Program

The Certificate program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks can be taken at their campus in Fairbanks in Fairbanks North Star County. Of the 8,620 students, about 13% are postgraduates. The University of Alaska Fairbanks has institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Tuition fees for in-state students are around $5,674 and for out-of-state students approximately $17,303 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $1,400, although this will depend on the program. Students learn the fundamentals of good customer service, communication skills, and the essentials of clerical responsibilities. They further learn the fundamental skills of proper handling, nutrition, and nursing care for both large and small animals and are introduced to clinical patient management and laboratory procedures.

* Tuition fees and accreditation status are correct at the time of writing, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/). Confirm with the college before applying.

Other Options

You can find vet technician programs in Alaska here.