How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Kansas

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A pet owner becomes distressed when their pet gets ill, prompting them to go to a vet clinic.

Giving them some kind of consolation is very important and that’s where vet assistants come in.

You’re part of the vet team that’s dedicated to helping animals in need, providing professional veterinary care.

And your career starts with proper education and training.

On this page, we’ll share everything you need to know about becoming a vet assistant in Kansas.

What a Vet Assistant Does

People tend to underestimate a vet assistant’s job, believing that they only have to do some clerical duties.

But they’re wrong.

A typical day in an animal hospital includes multiple activities that a vet assistant has to manage.

It starts with discussing with clients what needs to be done and telling the vet about the cases for the day.

Your responsibilities include the following:

  • Feeding hospitalized animals
  • Providing care to patients
  • Preparing relevant equipment
  • Restraining animals for treatment
  • Advising clients on health care
  • Record keeping

Even though it looks easy, this job can be physically and emotionally very demanding.

So being physically fit and having emotional stability is important.

Education Requirements in Kansas

There are no requirements for the formal education of vet assistants.

As such, when applying for a job, a certification or license isn’t mandatory.

However, the demand for veterinary medicine is constantly growing.

And so, vets are starting to look for highly educated and trained vet assistants.

—Individuals who can do their tasks competently without their supervision.

You have three options.

  • Externship for unemployed people interested in veterinary practice
  • Experiential Learner for employed and full time working vet assistants
  • Veterinary Assistant Program for vet assistants is working in a full-service veterinary practice

Of the three, you’re encouraged to enter a NAVTA-approved vet assistant program that will teach you everything about animal care.

Aside from that, you’ll also be taught how to do clerical work, such as:

  • Billing
  • Workplace safety
  • Marketing
  • Business communication

Here’s a list of schools you can consider enrolling in Kansas:

  • Seward County Community College
  • Colby Community College
  • Butler Community College

There you will be taught by experienced instructors.

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Job Prospects in Kansas

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The veterinary assistant profession is developing in recent years.

It has led to a growing number of employers, resulting in good job opportunities in Kansas.

Today, reputable clinics are looking for vet assistants who know what exactly they need to do.

Your tasks highly depend on the facility and the workload that it has.

Some of the potential employers in Kansas are:

  • Veterinary Centers of America
    • Welborn Animal Hospital
    • Cherokee Animal Hospital
  • Banfield Pet Hospital located in:
    • Wichita East
    • Wichita West
    • Topeka
  • Vetco Wellness Centers and Vaccination Clinics in:
    • Salina Petco
    • Hutchinson Petco
    • Overland Park Petco
    • Olathe Petco

Potential Salary in Kansas

The higher spending among pet owners has contributed to the salary increases of vet assistants.

According to Salary.com, you can earn an average of $30,100 annually as of January 2022.

In Kansas, the current salary range is between $24,253 and $36,307 a year.

The figures below show your potential annual earnings if you belong to a certain percentile.

Percentile Salary
10% $18,929
25% $24,253
50% $30,100
75% $36,307
90% $41,958

Meanwhile, the table below shows the salaries in different places in Kansas annually.

Average Annual Salary by Location

Location Avg. Annual Salary
Wichita $29,714
Overland Park $30,198
Kansas City $30,291
Topeka $28,847
Olathe $30,116
Lawrence $29,312
Shawnee $30,198
Salina $29,405
Manhattan $28,538
Hutchinson $29,405

Regional Salary in Kansas

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Manhattan, KS80$37,260$17.92$52,660$24,050
Topeka, KS70$26,540$12.76$34,940$17,390
Wichita, KS200$28,180$13.55$38,540$17,470
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, OCC Code 31-9096, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Continuing Education for Vet Assistants

continuing education for vet assistants

If you’ve yet to earn a certification as an Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA), we suggest that you pursue continuing education.

Being an AVA gives you many benefits, including career advancements.

Who knows, you might decide to become a vet tech someday.

Here are some resources that you might find useful.

Final Words

Many things can happen in a vet clinic.

Animal lives are in your hands and you need to be in charge of everything, from first aid to surgery preparations.

And so, you must have the knowledge and skills to be an ideal candidate for any animal care facility.

The first step toward that is to get your education.

Be trained and accumulate experiences to be prepared with whatever this job throws at you.

USA How to Become a Veterinary Assistant by State