How to hire a certified veterinary technician

How to hire a certified veterinary technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step certified veterinary technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a certified veterinary technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new certified veterinary technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your certified veterinary technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a certified veterinary technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect certified veterinary technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents certified veterinary technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Certified Veterinary Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Certified Veterinary Technician	Veterinary technologists and technicians perform medical tests under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian to assist in diagnosing the injuries and illnesses of animals.	$14-25
   Pharmacy Internship	When it comes to a pharmacy internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to observe pharmacy operations and develop efficient communication skills as most of the tasks will revolve around customer service, such as providing instructions on when to take medications and what could be the side effects. Moreover, working as a pharmacist requires excellent attention to detail, ensuring that all customers receive the correct type and amount according to their prescriptions... Show more	$21-66
   Laboratory Aide	A laboratory aide is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while performing support tasks for scientists. Their duties revolve around arranging specimens and samples, transporting materials from one laboratory to another, preparing apparatuses and machines, and storing them accordingly... Show more	$9-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • Patients
   • Anesthesia
   • Patient Care
   • Exam Rooms
   • Catheter
   • Venipuncture
   • Catheter Placement
   • Radiology
   • Compassion
   • CVT
   • Laboratory Tests
   • Educate Clients
   • IV

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Place intravenous catheters manage iv lines and medication administration.
   • Skil in catheter placement, blood transfusions, bandaging, and all areas of animal nursing.
   • Qualify in anesthesia, surgical preparation, monitoring patients under anesthesia & preparing & sterilizing surgical packs.
   • Perform CPR and assist with other high pace emergencies.
   • Perform triage of emergency cases, follow-through with treatments and care including discharges.
   • Execute responsibilities such as patient treatments, triage, discharges, and client updates.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your certified veterinary technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A certified veterinary technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, certified veterinary technicians' average salary in arkansas is 47% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level certified veterinary technicians 40% less than senior-level certified veterinary technicians.
   • Certifications. A certified veterinary technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a certified veterinary technician's salary.

   Average certified veterinary technician salary

   $40,449yearly

   $19.45 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level certified veterinary technician salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 16, 2026

4. Writing a certified veterinary technician job description

   A certified veterinary technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a certified veterinary technician job description:

   Certified veterinary technician job description example

   Partridge Animal Hospital is located in St. Petersburg, Florida and has been serving the community for many years. We are a full-service animal hospital providing veterinary care to dogs and cats and offer services such as routine medical, surgical, and dental care. Our team is committed to excellence. Our knowledgeable, compassionate staff combines cutting-edge veterinary technology with decades of experience to provide the highest level of care for our clients. If you are a passionate and caring team player, please apply today!
   
   Southern Veterinary Partners is a veterinarian owned and managed network of 300+ animal hospitals with the common goal of providing the highest quality veterinary care to companion animals with exceptional client experiences.
   
   We are seeking a Credentialed Veterinary Technician to join our growing team and help ensure we are providing those great experiences. When you join our organization as a Veterinary Technician, you gain access to a peer network of over 5000 individuals, CE allowance, and Learning & Development programs to help you meet your career goals. Whether you are just now starting your journey as a Veterinary Technician or are looking to make a change, SVP provides you with the resources you need to have a rewarding, enjoyable, and balanced career.
   Patient examinations, auscultation of heart and lung sounds, determine normal/abnormal TPRs and QATS Professional client communication and education obtaining medical histories and symptoms Laboratory procedures including but not limited to: hematology, cytology, urinalysis, microbiology, blood chemistry, and fecals Diagnostic imaging and implementing safety protocols of fellow staff members Surgical assisting; preparing and maintaining the surgical environment in order to ensure an asepsis environment for both patient and personal safety. Anesthesia monitoring and endotracheal intubation Nursing skills including: restraining patients, administering medications PO/IV/SUBQ/IM, applying and maintaining bandages, providing high quality physical and psychological needs of the patient during any hospitalization stay or visit Proficient in dental prophylaxis Pharmacy and pharmacology knowledge including: preparing and dispensing medications, calculating dosages, recognizing adverse reactions, knowledge of regulations regarding the safe handling of biohazardous materials Veterinary Technician Certification or Licensure (CVT, RVT, LVT, or LVMT). Flexible schedule including some weekend and holiday shifts. Must possess strong communication skills, good judgment and be able to manage stressful situations. Ready to help us WAG?
   
   We live out our WAG Values on a daily basis, but don't just take our word for it. Check out the video below to hear directly from some of our teammates on what our WAG Values mean to them. Pay range of $20.00-$35.00/hour based on experience Benefits
   
   Our team members enjoy an extensive, comprehensive benefits package. When you're on our team, we've got you covered.
   
   YOUR HEALTH - COVERED. Health Insurance Dental Insurance Paid Time Off Vision Insurance Critical Illness Insurance Mental Health Counseling Hospital Indemnity Insurance Life & Accident Insurance Long & Short-term Disability Insurance Teledoc- FREE doctor access 24/7
   YOUR FAMILY - COVERED. Caring for Elderly Family Returning to Work After a Baby Divorce Moving to a New Community Grieving for a Lost Loved One Military Family Matters Job Relocation Buying or Selling a Home
   YOUR FINANCES - COVERED. Sign-on Bonuses Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Budgeting and Financial Guidance Teammate Referral Program Discounted Veterinary Care Retirement Planning Will and Testament Planning Tax Issues Identify Theft Recovery Legal Counseling Teammate Assistance Program
   About Southern Veterinary Partners
   
   SVP pursues partnerships with like-minded veterinarians to build this growing network of compassionate, service-oriented animal hospitals. We're based in Birmingham, AL, but the heartbeat of our organization is in our 300+ local animal hospitals across the country.
   
   Our team's continuous dedication has rewarded us with remarkable growth, and Southern Veterinary Partners now employs more than 5,000 employees nationwide. The organization's success has not gone unnoticed, landing us recognition among Inc. 5000's List of "Fastest Growing Companies in America" (2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021), Birmingham Business Journal's "FastTrack 30" of the Fastest Growing Companies in Birmingham (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021), and Birmingham Business Journal's "Best Places to Work" (2021).
   
   You + SVP Amazing Together
   Let's talk about your amazing future. Start the conversation with our teams today.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find certified veterinary technicians for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your certified veterinary technician job on Zippia to find and recruit certified veterinary technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting certified veterinary technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new certified veterinary technician

   Once you've found the certified veterinary technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new certified veterinary technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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