I’m considering following a correspondance course to become a verterinary’s assistant. The course is offered by Thomson Education Direct and costs in the 800.00 Can$. Needless to say that before I sign on the program I would like to ask a couple of questions from any members that are involved in the veterinary / veterinary assistant field that can perhaps enlighten me.
1- Have you heard of this correspondance school? If so have you ever hired / been hired a person after he/she followed this formation?
2- The veterinary assistant formation is offered in CEGEP (College) and lasts 3 years with high school science credits as pre-requisites for admition. This correspondance course does not ask for science course credits as pre-requisite. Is that a relevant factor in being able to learn and gain knowledge of what is needed to be an efficient assistant.
3- I would like to have some comments pertaining to what its really like to be a vet’s assistant, (for better and worse) and what are the qualities required to be a good assistant.
Thank you all in advance for your insight & advise.
I don’t know about the laws in Canada, but the certificate correspondance courses over here for “Veterinary Assistants” aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. Basically they are just a way to sucker money out of you.
Find a college that offers a diploma in veterinary nursing/veterinary technician or do an applied science course.
Talk to the Veterinary Medical Association- they should be able to put you in touch with the Veterinary Nurses/Technicians Association who may be able to help you, and will also be able to tell you what the job is like.
I agree. It only takes two years (as full-time student) in many accredited veterinary technician programs to become certified as an RVT (registered vet tech)
John, Guy, the OP is in Canada. CEGEP is grades 11th-13th, or roughly, from ages 16 to 18 or 19 (more or less). If, while in CEGEP, one decides to take a vocational/technical job, one adds one year to CEGEP. At the end of CEGEP, one has finished all the HS requirements plus has learned a trade. This means a 20 years old person (or younger, perhaps?) can graduate from the CEGEP with a veterinary assistant degree.
It takes two years as a full time student (after HS) to get the veterinary assistant degree in US. Again, the student will graduate when he/she is 20 years old (more or less).
Gotta tell you, here in the US most correspondance degrees/certs/diplomas are worth roughly nothing. They usually charge their students exorbiant prices for some pretty cheap textbooks and access to a 1-800 number. I say don’t waste your hard-earned cash. Stick with an accredited (or it’s Canadian equal) university, college, JC or technical school. It’ll be a far more respected and useful degree. Good luck!
(spelling changed; I’m turning into a Grammar Nazi. Apologies.)
IANAVA, but I do work in the medical field, and I can truthfully say that sometimes taking the long way is the best way to be an efficient worker.
I worked with a girl who took some billing correspondence course, and it was a nightmare. She didn’t have the anatomy/physiology or pathology training that a graduate of a one-year program is expected to have. All of her work had to be checked because she got so much of it wrong, and these were mistakes that wouldn’t have happened had she had more training in anatomy/physiology and pathology. She was fired and advised to go back to a real school.
The training from a correspondence program might be enough to get you into a job, but I can guarantee that you’ll have a lot to learn once you get there, and not every employer has the patience to teach you.
