How to Become a Vet Assistant in Ireland

If you love animals and care about animal welfare, it’s worth looking into a job as a vet assistant. There are plenty of full-time and part-time positions in Ireland that you could land. However, before you start applying for new roles, you need to make sure that you have the right experience and qualifications. So, how do you become a vet assistant? 

Before you can work in a veterinary practice, you need to have a stellar application. In the following guide, we will cover the entry requirements for this type of animal care role, the work experience that you will need, and how you can get started. If you think you could benefit from a role in the realm of veterinary care, read our advice to kick things off.

First up, let’s talk about what a vet assistant does. Whether you work in a surgery or simply a veterinary clinic, you will be responsible for supporting the health care of animals. The world of veterinary nursing is fast-paced. If you choose to become a veterinary assistant in Ireland, you will be supporting the main nurse in their everyday operations. With that in mind, you may find that your role includes the following animal care tasks: 

 As a vet assistant, the aim of the game is to make veterinarians’ work lives easier. Many of the duties you carry out will be to help support this professional. You will also have to work closely with the animals and ensure that they are safe and secure. For that reason, this type of professional role is best suited to someone who loves and cares for animals. 

Ahead of applying for vacancies in Ireland, you need to make sure that you have the right qualifications. It’s important to note that you don’t need a degree to become a vet assistant in Ireland. However, you do need to ensure that you have the right level of training. Most veterinary clinics will expect you to have at least an accredited Level 2 Diploma.

With that in mind, if you are interested in this career path, the first step is to look at vet assistant diplomas. There are many courses that you take that will give you the expertise you need to thrive. If you are unsure where to start, take a quick look at the ‌entry requirements for roles in your area. For example, you can access the course Diploma in Veterinary Assistant & Animal Welfare from The Career Academy with no prior entry requirements and can become qualified within 18 months. 

Learners can benefit from a variety of pathways. There are many options for first-timer as well as mature applicants and payment plans learners can use. If you are Irish and you’re looking into further education, be sure to do your homework.

When you have completed your studies, you should also register with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI). Any professional working in this type of animal welfare role needs to make sure that they are registered with the council ahead of time.

Now that you know what entry requirements you need to become a vet assistant, let’s talk about the skill set that you will need. Of course, the first box that you should tick here is being an animal lover. Since the job requires you to take care of animal welfare, that is a given. However, you will also need to have the following skills to be a vet assistant: 

Now that you know what entry requirements you need to become a vet assistant, let’s talk about the skill set that you will need. Of course, the first box that you should tick here is being an animal lover. Since the job requires you to take care of animal welfare, that is a given. However, you will also need to have the following skills to be a vet assistant: 

As we have already covered, you don’t need a degree to practise as a vet assistant, but you do need the right qualifications. Often enough, it is wise to gain some experience working with animals. For example, you may want to intern at a wildlife park or a pet shop. Doing so will give you a realistic understanding of what it is like to work closely with animals. However, any type of customer-facing work experience will help you land your first job. No matter where you are in your career, you should keep this in mind. 

Do you have what it takes to become a vet assistant? Now that you have read our guide, you may be wondering what the career prospects are. Should you choose to go down this pathway, many doors will open for you. You can become self-employed, for example, and work with a variety of veterinary clinics for a higher hourly rate.