How a Vet Assistant Can Become a Vet Tech

We follow strict quality and ethics policies to make sure our content is honest, accurate, and helpful. Learn more about our editorial guidelines.

Many vet assistants discover, after working in the field for a while, that they want to take the next step in their careers. The natural next step can often be moving into a veterinary technician role. But doing so isn’t just as easy as getting a promotion. You’ll need education, training, and credentials to get that new title.

In this blog, we’ll cover how vet assistants can become vet techs, the difference between vet assistants and vet techs, and even how starting out as a vet assistant could be a good way to get your foot in the door of veterinary medicine.

What’s the difference between a vet assistant and a veterinary technician?

There are several differences between a vet assistant job and a vet tech job, including responsibilities, education and training expectations, required certifications, and pay.

Veterinary assistants generally work in administrative and support positions while a veterinary technician works in a more clinical capacity. Both support veterinary clinics and veterinarians, helping patients and clients, just in different ways.

Common vet assistant duties

Veterinary assistants will sometimes act as a clinic or hospital receptionist, the first face clients and their pets see. They’ll be responsible for administrative tasks like

• Coordinating and booking appointments for patients
• Checking in with pet owners regarding upcoming visits and patient concerns
• Maintaining accurate and current medical records for patients
• Assisting clients with billing questions, payments, and pet insurance paperwork

Veterinary assistants might also handle a variety of direct animal care and support duties, including:

• Providing food, basic grooming, and weight checks for boarded or hospitalized animals
• Sanitizing cages and kennels and bathing patients when needed
• Disinfecting and preparing medical instruments and equipment
• Tidying and organizing exam rooms before and after appointments
• Safely holding animals during examinations, treatments, or vaccinations
• Comforting nervous, frightened, or stressed pets
• Monitoring animals staying at the clinic and alerting veterinarians or vet techs to any concerns
• Supporting veterinarians and veterinary technicians during urgent or emergency situations
• Assisting veterinary technicians with anesthesia procedures
• Helping veterinary teams during surgical procedures
• Preparing and processing laboratory samples, including bloodwork

Read more: Your Veterinary Assistant Career Guide (Salary, Job Duties, & Requirements)

Common vet tech duties

Some common veterinary technician duties include both clinical and laboratory responsibilities that support veterinarians and help care for animals. Depending on the clinic or specialty, daily tasks may include:

• Collecting blood, urine, and other laboratory samples
• Running diagnostic tests and preparing lab results
• Administering medications, vaccines, and treatments
• Monitoring animals under anesthesia during procedures or surgery
• Assisting veterinarians during surgeries and emergency care
• Taking and developing X-rays or other diagnostic images
• Recording patient histories and updating medical charts
• Educating pet owners about medications, nutrition, recovery, and preventive care
• Performing dental cleanings and assisting with dental procedures
• Preparing surgical instruments and exam rooms
• Monitoring hospitalized animals and reporting changes in condition
• Restraining and handling animals safely during exams and treatments
• Placing IV catheters and collecting blood samples
• Assisting with wound care and bandage changes
• Helping maintain a clean, sterile, and organized clinical environment

Veterinary technicians often take on more advanced medical responsibilities than veterinary assistants and may specialize in areas like emergency medicine, dentistry, anesthesia, or exotic animal care.

Read more: What Do Vet Techs Do?

Can a vet assistant become a vet tech?

Yes, a vet assistant can absolutely become a vet tech! In fact, many vet techs might even start their veterinary career as vet assistants.

Working as a veterinary assistant can provide valuable experience before pursuing veterinary technology education. You'll gain exposure to clinical environments, learn how veterinary teams work together, and build confidence in handling animals in professional settings.

For some people, that experience helps confirm they want a larger role in patient care. Others discover specific interests such as surgery, emergency medicine, dentistry, or laboratory diagnostics that motivate them to continue their education.

Moving from veterinary assistant to veterinary technician is a natural progression because the skills developed in one role often support success in the other.

Besides already having an understanding of the dynamics of a veterinary clinic, starting as vet assistant can also potentially give you a site for future externships or vet tech job opportunities. And, some employers may even have programs that can cover tuition for training programs, so if you’re currently working in a vet hospital or clinic, that can be worth looking into!

Steps to go from being a veterinary assistant to a veterinary technician

If you're currently working as a veterinary assistant and thinking about becoming a veterinary technician, here's what the process may look like.

1. Shadow the vet techs at your clinic

As a working vet assistant, you’ll already have access to trained vet techs and veterinarians who can give you great insight into what the job is really like and what you need to do to get there. If you’re thinking about taking the steps to become a vet tech, it can be helpful to ask the techs in your clinic to let you shadow them or just take time to ask them about their education and day-to-day work just to make sure the job is really the right fit for you.

2. Complete an AVMA-accredited vet tech program

In a lot of states, you can’t call yourself a vet tech unless you’re credentialed (that means you’re certified, licensed, or registered, depending on the state) and you can’t earn that credential unless you qualify to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam. One of the biggest requirements to take that exam is earning an AVMA-CVTEA accredited Vet Tech Associate Degree.

An accredited associate degree program typically covers topics such as:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Pharmacology
• Surgical nursing
• Diagnostic imaging
• Clinical pathology
• Anesthesia
• Animal nursing

Students also complete externships at clinics and veterinary hospitals in their areas that help develop real-world skills.

Read more: Becoming a Vet Tech: Why Vet Tech Certification and Title Protection Matter

3. Meet state credentialing requirements

Requirements vary by state, but many veterinary technicians must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and satisfy any additional state licensing, registration, or certification requirements.

Before enrolling in a program, it's always a good idea to review the requirements for the state where you plan to work.

Read more: How to Become Certified as a Vet Tech (State-by-State)

4. Continue learning

After you graduate from your vet tech program, pass the VTNE, get credentialed, and find a vet tech job, that’s not the end! As a vet tech, you’ll always want to keep learning. Like human medicine, veterinary medicine is always evolving, so you want to keep growing your skills to stay on top of trends and changes to best serve your patients. Besides that, you’ll need to regularly earn credits and complete continuing education programs during your career to maintain your credentials.

How do you know which path is right for you?

If you’re not already a vet assistant and you're trying to decide between becoming a veterinary assistant or a veterinary technician, consider what kind of role you want to have within a veterinary team.

A veterinary assistant role may be a good fit if you:

• Want to enter the field relatively quickly
• Enjoy supporting patient care and clinic operations
• Are exploring whether veterinary medicine is the right career for you
• Prefer an entry-level position focused on hands-on animal care

A veterinary technician path may be worth considering if you:

• Want greater involvement in medical procedures and diagnostics
• Enjoy science-based learning and clinical skills
• Are interested in taking on more advanced responsibilities
• See veterinary medicine as a long-term career path

Some people know from the start that they want to become vet techs. Others begin as veterinary assistants and decide to continue their education after gaining experience. Both approaches can lead to meaningful work helping animals and supporting the people who care for them!

Read more: Real Student Stories: How Kelsy Found Her Path as a Mom, Military Spouse, and Future RVT

From first step to next step

Veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians share a common goal: helping animals receive quality care. The difference often comes down to the level of clinical responsibility you want to take on and the education required to get there.

If you're still deciding between the two careers, learning about each role can help you identify the path that aligns with your goals. And if you're already working as a veterinary assistant, becoming a veterinary technician may be a natural next step that builds on the experience you've already gained.

Whether you're just getting started or thinking about advancing your career, every step you take contributes to the care and well-being of the animals who depend on veterinary professionals every day.

Read more: How Online Vet Tech School Helped Madison Take Control of Her Future

Online training for veterinary jobs

If you’re new to working in veterinary medicine or an experienced veterinary assistant looking to transition into a vet tech role, Penn Foster’s Veterinary Academy offers flexible, online training problems that can help you prepare to take that first step toward the job you want.

In our Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma, you’ll learn how to be an effective vet assistant through online classes that you can do around your schedule. You’ll get the chance to take what you learn online to the real world with a 100-hour externship at a clinic in your area.

In the Veterinary Technician Associate Degree, you’ll learn the skills and knowledge that can help you prepare for the work you’ll do as a vet tech and what you need to know to sit for the VTNE. You’ll also apply what you learn online to real experiences in two externships at the end of semesters 2 and 4.

Need help picking the program that’s right for you or want help enrolling? Fill out our secure form and one of our expert Admissions Specialists will reach out to get you started. Confident and know exactly what your next step is? Enroll online and start your first class today!