Becoming a Veterinary Assistant in Arizona
Working with animals may have been your lifelong dream and, if so, becoming a veterinary assistant in Arizona would allow you to live that dream to the fullest.
Without the compassion and expertise of veterinary assistants, veterinarians couldn’t properly treat or nurture the animals brought to their clinics and hospitals for care. Consequently, your dedication to service would be highly coveted if you chose to follow this career path.
In Arizona, veterinary assistant training programs are available through community colleges, educational institutes, technical schools, high schools, and online universities, and completing such a program will dramatically improve your chances of finding employment in this field.
Arizona Veterinary Assistant Programs
The Arizona Veterinary Medical Association (AZVMA) has no specific requirements for applicants seeking employment as veterinary assistants. However, they strongly recommend that interested parties enroll in formal veterinary training programs, to improve their knowledge base and develop hands-on skills in animal care.
Training programs in Arizona (or online) normally require 100-240 hours of classroom instruction and experiential learning, which can generally be completed in a period of six-to-12 months (or at a slower pace if preferable). Average costs for veterinary training programs in Arizona run between $1,500 and $3,000 in total, and students who complete their programs will be awarded certificates of achievement that verify their training and experience.
Several institutes and community colleges in the state offer vet assistant training programs and most are located in the highly populated Phoenix metropolitan area.
Penn Foster College – Veterinary Assistant Program
- NAVTA-Approved Veterinary Assistant Program
- Support from the award-winning Veterinary Academy Team
- Complete in as little as 7 months
- Call 1-800-851-1819 today.
How to Receive National Certification as an Approved Veterinary Assistant
To receive national certification as an Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA), sanctioned by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), aspiring vet assistants have a few options.
One is to study online at a NAVTA-approved institution, and after completing their coursework those who select this option can receive official AVA certification by taking (and passing) NAVTA’s official qualifying test.
A second possibility is to enroll in special veterinary assistant training programs reserved for high school students, which are offered by three Arizona educational centers: the Western Maricopa Education Center in Phoenix, the Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology in Coolidge, and the East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa. Students who participate will combine regular high school with vocational classes, and once they complete their veterinary assistant training they, too, can be certified as Approved Veterinary Assistants by taking and passing the official NAVTA exam.
Yet another possibility is to apply for credit for previous work experience. If those interested in receiving a national certification can find externships, or full- or part-time jobs, in existing veterinary practices, they will be eligible to take the NAVTA exam after a few months of working.
Anyone who receives a designation as an Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) must renew their status every two years, and while the cost of doing so is low (just $10) they will have to show proof they’ve been expanding their knowledge by taking continuing education coursework.
Arizona Veterinary Medical Association
The Arizona Veterinary Medical Association (AZVMA) is the largest professional organization of veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the state. Founded in 1902, this non-profit corporation includes more than 2,600 members and provides them with the necessary resources to promote their profession and improve the level of care available to patients.
The AZVMA offers members various educational and networking opportunities, including conferences, seminars, and webinars. They also maintain a job board for aspiring veterinary professionals and provide a searchable directory of current members.
For those interested in becoming certified as Approved Veterinary Assistants (AVAs), the AZVMA serves as an excellent resource. In addition to providing links to helpful information and resources, they also offer an online course intended to prepare members for the NAVTA examination.
Approved Veterinary Assistant Examination
Once an individual has completed their training requirements and is ready to take the Approved Veterinary Assistant Examination, they must first apply for certification through NAVTA. The exam itself is three hours in length (including a 15-minute break), consists of 100 multiple choice questions covering material related to veterinary anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, and pharmacology, will cost $100 to take.
Veterinary Assistant Salaries
The average pay for veterinary assistants in Arizona (currently $29,780
per year) is higher than in most states, and it is about $2,000 per year higher than that in the Phoenix and Tucson area, where 80-85 percent of vet assistants are employed. In urban areas, there are numerous large animal hospitals and clinics that employ vet assistants, in addition to smaller private practices that are hiring throughout the state.
Veterinary Assistant Salaries in Arizona by Region
Area | Total Employed | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 1,340 | $12.85 | $26,730 |
Prescott, AZ | 40 | $12.16 | $25,290 |
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 60 | $11.29 | $23,480 |
Tucson, AZ | 270 | $12.20 | $25,370 |
Finding Employment as a Veterinary Assistant in Arizona
In total, just under 2,000 people are employed as veterinary assistants in Arizona, but that number is expected to increase by up to 25 percent by the year 2024. Veterinary work is a skyrocketing industry in Arizona, and if you have aspirations of becoming a veterinary assistant, that is obviously to your advantage.
In the years ahead, the job prospects for Arizonans who hope to launch careers as veterinary assistants should be excellent, and that will be especially true for those who successfully complete vet assistant training programs and confirm their expertise by gaining certification as Approved Veterinary Assistants.
College and University Listings
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ Area
Carrington College-Mesa
1001 Southern Ave., Ste. 130, Mesa, Arizona 85210
Veterinary Assisting – Certificate Program
Carrington College’s Certificate-level Veterinary Assisting program is taught at their Mesa campus in the city of Mesa, AZ. The college has around 718 students in total, with the majority of students in 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Tuition fees for the Vet Tech program are around $14,265 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost roughly $580. The typical program completion time is 9 months. The program includes courses on nursing skills, animal anatomy, and physiology, surgical procedures, chemistry, and animal restraint, as well as office-based skills such as computer basics, telephone, and appointments.
Carrington College-Phoenix
8503 N 27th Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85051-4063
Veterinary Assisting – Certificate Program
The Veterinary Assisting Certificate program at Carrington College can be taken at their Phoenix campus in the city of Phoenix. The college has approximately 617 students in total, with most students in 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Tuition fees for the Vet Tech program are generally around $14,265 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost around $580. The typical program completion time is 9 months.
Pima Medical Institute-East Valley
2160 S Power Rd, Mesa, Arizona 85209
Veterinary Assistant – Certificate Program
Pima Medical Institute’s Certificate program in Veterinary Assistant is taught at their East Valley campus in Mesa in Maricopa County. The majority of the school’s 459 students are on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. The cost of tuition for the Vet Tech program is around $16,443 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $1,824. The typical program completion time is 12 months.
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa
957 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, Arizona 85202
Veterinary Assistant – Certificate Program
The Veterinary Assistant Certificate program at Pima Medical Institute is based at their Mesa campus in the city of Mesa. The college has about 1,038 students in total, with the majority of students in 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Tuition fees are around $12,024 for each academic year. Study materials can cost roughly $670, depending on the program chosen.
Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix
1445 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85014-4929
Veterinary Assistant – Certificate Program
Pima Medical Institute’s Certificate program is offered at their Phoenix campus in the city of Phoenix, AZ. The Vet Tech program, with a duration of 1055 contact hours, is the college’s largest program. Tuition fees are generally around $16,443 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost roughly $1,824, although this will depend on the program.
Tucson, AZ Area
Carrington College-Tucson
201 N. Bonita Ave., Suite 101, Tucson, Arizona 85745
Veterinary Assisting – Certificate Program
The Certificate program at Carrington College is based at their Tucson campus in the city of Tucson, Arizona. The college has around 424 students in total, with the majority of students in 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Tuition fees for the Vet Tech program are usually around $14,265 for each academic year. Study materials can cost roughly $580. Typically, the program is completed in 9 months.
Pima Community College
4905C East Broadway Blvd., Tucson, Arizona 85709-1275
Veterinary Practice Assistant – Certificate Program
Pima Community College’s Certificate-level Veterinary Practice Assistant program is taught at its campus in the city of Tucson, AZ. The college has about 28,070 students in total, with most students in 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission. The cost of tuition for students living in the state is around $1,974 and for out-of-state students around $8,610 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost roughly $1,600, although this will depend on the program.
Pima Medical Institute-Tucson
3350 East Grant Road, Suite 200, Tucson, Arizona 85716
Veterinary Assistant – Certificate Program
The Certificate program at Pima Medical Institute can be taken at their Tucson campus in the city of Tucson. The majority of the school’s 1,948 students are in 4-year programs. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Tuition fees for the Vet Tech program are around $12,024 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost roughly $743. The typical program completion time is 8 months. This program can be completed in nine months, provides experience in the care of domestic animals in well-equipped labs and clinics, and offers clinical externships.
* 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
Arizona residents have further educational options in the neighboring states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. You can find vet technician programs in Arizona here.