What Is an Associate Veterinarian?
When studying veterinary medicine, you’ll probably come across associate veterinarians. It’s one of the most common professions in the veterinary medicine industry. There are tens of thousands of associate veterinarians practicing in the United States — a number that continues to grow larger. What is an associate veterinarian exactly, and how does this profession differ from other veterinary professions?
Overview of Associate Veterinarians
An associate veterinarian is a licensed veterinary professional who works for the owner of a veterinary clinic. Associate veterinarians provide the same animal-related medical services as other licensed veterinarians. Among other things, they diagnose, treat and prevent medical ailments in animals. Associate veterinarians, however, don’t own their own clinic. Rather, they work at an existing clinic that’s owned by another veterinarian.
Associate Veterinarian vs Clinic Owner: What’s the Difference?
Some veterinarians own the clinic at which they work. They are considered practice or clinic owners. Clinic owners are usually veterinarians as well. Many states require that clinics be owned by a licensed veterinarian. In states that allow non-veterinarian ownership, they typically require a licensed veterinarian to make all medical care decisions. Regardless, most veterinary clinics are owned by a licensed veterinarian.
Associate veterinarians don’t have ownership over the clinic for which they work. A licensed veterinary is considered an associate veterinary if he or she works for a clinic owner. Associate veterinarians may work as independent contractors or employees, depending on their tax classification. Regardless, they all work for an existing clinic that’s owned by someone else.
Benefits of Working as an Associate Veterinarian
As an associate veterinarian, you won’t have to worry about launching and managing your own clinic. A veterinary clinic is a business, and like all types of businesses, it requires a lot of work to succeed. You’ll have to secure all the necessary permits, which takes time and money. You’ll also have to recruit and train employees, including veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, receptionists and even other licensed veterinarians.
You won’t incur startup costs when working as an associate veterinarian. As brick-and-mortar businesses, veterinary clinics require a monetary investment. Clinic owners must pay for a building or office space, furniture, medical equipment, drugs, office supplies and employees. Associate veterinarians don’t have these expenses.
There’s also the added benefit of job flexibility when working as an associate veterinarian. If you own your own clinic, you won’t have the freedom to move around. You’ll have to stay within a reasonable driving distance to and from your clinic. As an associate veterinarian, on the other hand, you can pack up and move to a new location at any time. There are veterinary clinics in all 50 states. No matter where you live, there’s probably a veterinary clinic nearby.
How to Become an Associate Veterinarian
The path to becoming an associate veterinarian is the same as other licensed veterinary professions. You must obtain your veterinary license, which involves the completion of a Doctorate Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. A DVM program is a four-year training course on animal medicine. It’s offered by dozens of colleges and higher-education institutions, which you can find listed on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA’s) website.
Keep in mind, DVM schools have prerequisites for enrolling in their DVM programs. Many schools require a minimum of four years of college studies. Before enrolling in a DVM program, find out what the school’s prerequisites are so that you can prepare in advance. After meeting the school’s prerequisites, you can then begin the DVM program, after which you can obtain your license to become an associate veterinarian.
Tips on Finding Employment as an Associate Veterinarian
When seeking employment as an associate veterinarian, be sure to prepare all of your credentials. You’ll want to create a copy of your DVM certificate as well as your veterinary license. Clinic owners will typically require proof of these credentials before they’ll hire you.
You can use online classified ads to find employment as an associate veterinarian. Many clinic owners will job listings to fill available positions. If a clinic owner needs a veterinarian, you may find his or her job listing by using an online classified ads service. It’s an easier, as well as a more effective way, to find job openings at local veterinary clinics rather than driving around in your car.
If you’re unable to find employment as an associate veterinarian, don’t give up. There are always clinic owners who need new veterinarians. If you’re persistant with your search, you should be able to secure a job as an associate veterinarian. Just remember to keep searching while also following up with the clinic owners to whom you submit your job application.
In Conclusion
There are different types of veterinarians. Some veterinarians own their own clinic, whereas others work for these clinic owners. An associate veterinarian is the latter type. Associate veterinarians are licensed veterinarians who work for a clinic owner.
