Agricultural Sciences
Academic Advisor - AHT or VMA?
It can be a tough decision whether to take the animal health technology or the veterinary medical assistant program.
To help you decide here’s a brief outline how they differ in
- what kind of role you would have in a vet clinic or other setting
- what tasks you are allowed to perform as set out by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) guidelines
An analogy may help. An AHT is similar to a combined human nurse/x-ray tech/lab tech. As an AHT you can
- take blood
- administer prescribed medications
- start an IV
- monitor anesthetics
- prep for surgery
- do lab work
- assist veterinarians in all aspects of their role. This could include anything from reception duties, traditional technical tasks and clinic maintenance.
A VMA has more of a supporting role in a veterinary clinic. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be an integral part of the veterinary health care team.
Typically as a VMA you could assist one or all of a receptionist, AHT and veterinarian. For example you might assist an AHT and/or vets with:
- restraining an animal
- developing an x-ray
- preparing surgery packs
- maintaining equipment
- packaging samples for analysis
- exercising animals and cleaning kennels.
Depending on the practice, VMAs typically fill a receptionist role in a vet clinic and answer the phone, book appointments, record treatments, take payments, file, and do merchandising.
By regulation, a VMA isn’t permitted to perform technical duties such as monitoring anesthetics, analyzing samples, giving injections or placing intravenous catheters. These duties are only to be carried out by certified AHTs or veterinarians.
Whatever program you choose, you aren’t limited to working in veterinary clinics. Other career opportunities include:
- feedlots and other large livestock operations
- drug/food company representatives
- zoos
- research labs
- humane societies
- pet stores