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The differences between veterinary technician assistants and licensed veterinary technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a veterinary technician assistant and a licensed veterinary technician. Additionally, a licensed veterinary technician has an average salary of $40,369, which is higher than the $39,025 average annual salary of a veterinary technician assistant.
The top three skills for a veterinary technician assistant include patients, PET and patient care. The most important skills for a licensed veterinary technician are PET, patients, and anesthesia.
| Veterinary Technician Assistant | Licensed Veterinary Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,025 | $40,369 |
| Hourly rate | $18.76 | $19.41 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 35,338 | 29,983 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A veterinary technician assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks in a veterinary hospital or clinic. Their responsibilities include administering medication to animals in adherence to the veterinarian's directives and performing basic care tasks such as feeding, bathing, and walking animals. They may also clean cages, sterilize equipment, prepare and process documents, and answer calls and inquiries. Furthermore, as a veterinary technician assistant, it is essential to monitor the behavior of animals, reporting to the veterinarian or technician should there be any problems.
A licensed veterinary technician serves as the assistant of the veterinarian who is responsible for doing clinical work inside a clinic or a veterinary hospital. They monitor and observe the current health situation of an animal and also give them first aid when needed. They are also tasked to collect specimens and conduct different laboratory tests, then give it to the veterinarian to determine the pet's health condition. Vet techs can also perform vaccination or prepare sick animals for tests or surgery.
Veterinary technician assistants and licensed veterinary technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinary Technician Assistant | Licensed Veterinary Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,025 | $40,369 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $49,000 | Between $31,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | University of Wisconsin System | Zoetis |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a veterinary technician assistant and a licensed veterinary technician in terms of educational background:
| Veterinary Technician Assistant | Licensed Veterinary Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | Ohio State University | University of Virginia |
Here are the differences between veterinary technician assistants' and licensed veterinary technicians' demographics:
| Veterinary Technician Assistant | Licensed Veterinary Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |