Vet assistant job requirements?

Can anyone here tell me what a vet assistant's job entails, what education/training is required, what the average pay is, and whether health insurance is typically provided?

Also, how does one go about getting a job as a vet assistant? I never see any advertisings for that job? Am I just supposed to ask the local clinics if they're hiring? What if it's a new veterinary clinic that hasn't opened yet? How would I go about inquiring about a job there?

I'm asking because there's a new vet clinic opening in a few months and the owner is the vet I used to take my cats to. I had been considering a job as an assistant but was unsure if it's right for me. But I would love to get a job at this new clinic. I just don't know how. I want to let the owner know asap before other people start applying. I figure I have a good shot at getting a job there so long as no formal training or education is required.

At the clinic I currently go to they have licensed veterinary technicians who require schooling. Then there are veterinary assistants. The female assistants sometimes works as a receptionist. But I don't think these assistants require any formal education or training. That's what I'm interested in, for now. I know that the assistants deal more with the patients and owners then the licensed techs, who I rarely see.

Otto, what was so depressing? I'd be afraid that the sick animals would end up depressing me and that the owners would anger me with their stupidity. Plus, as a pet owner myself, I have seen veterinarians make huge mistakes. As an assistant or tech, I would probably see things I didn't agree with and I'm not sure how the veterinarian would feel about me speaking out (in private, of course).

I'm pretty certain I don't want a career as a vet assistant or tech. But I do need a job asap. I've thought about this and what I've concluded is that I could only work as a vet assistant if I was working with/for this particular doctor. I have social anxiety disorder and so any job is going to be a nightmare for me. So I guess for right now, I feel like I could only hold a job if I was working with someone I felt comfortable with, like this doctor. Plus, I already know how to do stuff like how to give sub-q fluids and take a pulse and respiratory rate. Also, I don't get grossed out about cleaning up animal messes.

I'm thinking that maybe if I like the job I could get the tech license and maybe get a degree in information technology all at the same time. Unfortunately, I have to plan my career choice around my social anxiety disorder, which is really hard to do.

So how should I contact this vet? A few months ago they quit working at the animal clinic where I met them. I do have their home address, but they didn't give it to me. I also have their cell phone number from a few years ago when they called me when my cat had an emergency. They also have a Facebook page, but it doesn't look like they use it much and I know they aren't technologically savvy.

I'm starting to get confused. I guess job titles and duties depends on location and the particular clinic.

At the clinic I currently go to they have a receptionist, a vet assistant, and a vet tech. From what I've seen, there are significantly more assistants than anything else. The assistants aren't licensed (I checked) and they supposedly can't draw blood, but can assist on dental procedures. I know there is one licensed tech there, but I don't know if they have more. The tech can draw blood, but I don't know what else they do.

The assistants are actually referred to as techs. And I suspect some of the more experienced assistants may be allowed to draw blood, but I don't know. Some of the female assistants also double as receptionists when they are shorthanded. I suspect that the licensed techs do more stuff behind the scenes whereas the assistants are more visible.

At the first clinic I ever went to, they didn't even have any licensed techs. All they had was one veterinarian and one receptionist/vet assistant who had no formal education or training. They were usually high school students. I have no idea what they were allowed to do, I shudder to think.

It seems like the bigger clinics have vet assistants that don't have to perform any receptionist duties.

I can't be a receptionist. I would have a nervous breakdown after 5 minutes of dealing with people.

I could handle talking to people in the exam room, but I could never perform any receptionist type duties. I could call people on the phone if I had privacy. But I'm thinking that the vet who would be the owner of the practice would be willing to cut me a bit of slack at first. I could be wrong though. I believe their new practice is going to be more like a family environment rather than a more professional environment like so many other vet clinics. I think that's part of the reason they decided to open their own practice.

Anyway, did we ever decide how I should inquire about getting a job there? Should I send a brief letter to their house asking if they're opening their practice, if they have an opening, and tell them I'm interested? Is that ok? Do I need to be more professional? I figured that since I already have a friendly relationship with them, that I wouldn't need to be so professional in asking about the job. Now if they wanted a resume, then I would be totally professional. Opinions?

But they're not open yet. I don't even know if they have a location yet. It opens in a couple months and I want to make sure I get that job (assuming there is one) before anyone else. The only reason why I know they're opening their own practice is because they listed themselves as owner of a practice that will be opening in a few months on their Facebook page.