Meet Courtney Oliver, she’s only 10-years-old, but already has an on-line certification as a veterinarian assistant. Read her story and see photo below.
Courney Oliver volunteers at the South Bay Veterinary Hospital in Olympia where she assists on surgeries with Dr. Shoemaker.
“She’s amazing,” exclaimed Dr. Shoemaker. “She’s a wonderful girl. Always been so bright, very very smart actually.”
I’d say. She’s completed her veterinary assistant certification in only eight months. She also claims she’s always known this is what she wants to do and she might as well just get it done early.
“I have a dog Maggie and two hamsters and I just thought: ‘Well, if I have so many animals why don’t I just work with them?’”
When Courtney is volunteering, state law says that she’s just too young, so her mom has to be with her when she goes once a week. How long before this girl has her own television show? Somebody should team her up with Bindi Irwin and put them on Animal Planet.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
She is NOT a veterinarian, but a veterinary ASSISTANT.
To become a veterinarian one needs a 4 yr degree PLUS 4 years of veterinary school to be granted a DOCTORATE of veterinary medicine.
She took an online veterinary ASSISTANT course.
I’m appalled that reporters would not get their facts straight while reporting this story. I admire this young girl’s accomplishments and dedication, but it’s sad that the general public as well as degreed journalists (most do have a 4-yr degree, do they not?) would think that becoming a veterinarian is as simple as taking an online course and working with a mentor.
In the future, please do your research before reporting. Thanks.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
If you read it, I think the story says she’s a veterinary assistant and took an on line course to become a vet assistant. In the future, please read before getting your panties in a wad.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Derek, read the headline. It says VET.
I realize she’s an assistant. But many of these articles and videos are proclaiming she’s’ a veterinarian.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:46 pm
She doesn’t have a College Degree. That is not true. She has a certificate as a veterinary assistant: nothing more. The girl herself is seen to tell a porky about it on the ABC interview. Look for yourself. It is clearly not true.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Ok well just to clarify only 1 person (komo 4) has actually interviewed her and she is just a vet assistant so if you want the real story look it up there cause any other story about her situation at the moment is not right if they are calling her a DVM she volunteers once a week and is supervised by her mother she does not touch the animals only her own she just ASSISTS by handling tools and of sort. I personally know her and sat right there during her 1 and only intereview at southbay.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:09 am
wow, does anyone read? It clearly says vet assistant. It also looks like the above story was sourced, and that story is calling it “college work.” I thought this was interesting until I read the comments. Now I just think it’s funny. Give the girl some props. No one is trying to discredit you veterinarians that are obviously mad no one is doing a story on you, CC.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I cannot believe the level of ignorance on the part of the reporters. Well, is probably not ignorance but pure hunger for reader’s attention. This bright and hard working girl is clearly not a vet. A veterinarian is a doctor, which clearly she is NOT. I am dissapointed in the way they destroyed a nice story.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
can you send me the course that you took for the vet assistant
im planning on becoming a vet myself
please reply
February 14th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Dear everyone,
We feel that it is important to make everyone aware of the difference between a vet assistant, a vet tech, and a veterinarian. A veterinary assistant does not need proper certification. Anyone can be hired for a period of time such as a summer job to be a vet assistant. Some tasks that are performed by veterinary assistants include the sterilization of surgical instruments, restrainig animals during routine exams and paperwork. Vet assistants who are full time have more responsibilties.
A veterinary technician is similar to a registered nurse at a human hospital. They go through two years of college/community college in order to earn their vet tech diploma. In the work place, a veterinary technician would assist with surgery (not actually performing the surgery), run blood work, and other more “medical” procedures than a veterinary assistant would do.
Lastly, there is the veterinarian. To be a veterinarian, one must first begin an undergraduate degree at university. It is not necessary to complete this degree, but generally at least two years is required. Following that, after applying and successfully gaining acceptance into a veterinary school, it takes four years to graduate. A veterinarian actually performs surgical procedures, diagnoses illnesses and prescribes medication.
Courtney’s opportunity to volunteer at such a young age at a veterinary clinic is a wonderful learning experience for her. However, being a vet assistant does not mean that you progress to a vet tech and then to a vet. They are different jobs. The media does not help with this matter because many articles mention that she is a vet…which she is not.
For those of you who wrote that you want to be a vet when you grow up, the suggestions we have are not to bother with a vet assistant diploma, but to focus on your grades in school, and take courses in school (like science and math) that will give you good groundwork on which you can build. Other than that, gain animal experience wherever you can, whether it be small animals or large animals. Becoming a vet is a long hard (but ultimately rewarding) path to follow and it is important that you understand what this job entails. It isn’t just “playing” with animals all day.
March 29th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
how did you become a veterinarian