Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is an emergency veterinary technician and how to become one
Emergency veterinary technicians are responsible for performing medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in treating and diagnosing diseases in animals. They prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases, with the ability to comfort, handle, and restrain large and small pets. They also handle surgical equipment, applying casts or bandages, and taking blood samples when needed. Emergency veterinary technicians earn a median sum of $33,000 annually or $16 per hour.
Emergency veterinary technicians are credentialed professionals who are tasked with helping all types of animals live healthy and joyous lives. They use medical knowledge and clinical skills to provide routine and emergency nursing care under a veterinarian's direction. They also support veterinarians in meeting the diagnostic and treatment needs of sick and healthy animals.
Emergency veterinary technicians typically hold a bachelor's or associate's degree in medical assisting services, nursing, or other related fields. They are expected to have some years of experience as a veterinary technician or in a similar role. Some employers prefer candidates with manual dexterity and a keen eye for detail. They need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to succeed in the field.
What general advice would you give to an emergency veterinary technician?
Elyse Zavar PhD
Associate Professor, University of North Texas
Avg. Salary $38,689
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 20%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.27%
Asian 2.06%
Black or African American 2.66%
Hispanic or Latino 10.86%
Unknown 6.84%
White 77.31%
Genderfemale 72.00%
male 28.00%
Age - 31American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 31Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Emergency veterinary technician career paths
Key steps to become an emergency veterinary technician
Explore emergency veterinary technician education requirements
Start to develop specific emergency veterinary technician skills
Skills Percentages Patients 21.10% PET 9.20% Catheter 6.41% Phlebotomy 5.80% CPR 5.59% Complete relevant emergency veterinary technician training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New emergency veterinary technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an emergency veterinary technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real emergency veterinary technician resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming an licensed emergency veterinary technician usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed emergency veterinary technician in most of states. 35 states require emergency veterinary technicians to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Kentucky Specific course required Third-party exam required Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Maryland Degree required Third-party exam required EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (PARAMEDIC) AND CARDIAC RESCUE Alabama - - Registered Intermediate Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Alaska Specific course required State exam required Emergency Medical Technician Arkansas Specific course required Third-party exam required Emergency Medical Technician Research emergency veterinary technician duties and responsibilities
- Place intravenous catheters manage iv lines and medication administration.
- Perform EKG's, apply splints, administer wind care, and assist during CPR under direction of physicians.
- Monitor anesthesia for endoscopic procedures (Upper/lower GI scope, Rhinoscopy, Bronchoscopy, Cystoscopy, FB retrieval scopes etc . )
- Charge with setting up and cleaning endoscopy equipment as well as operating biopsy equipment.
Prepare your emergency veterinary technician resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your emergency veterinary technician resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an emergency veterinary technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable emergency veterinary technician resume templates
Build a professional emergency veterinary technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your emergency veterinary technician resume.
Apply for emergency veterinary technician jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an emergency veterinary technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first emergency veterinary technician job
Are you an emergency veterinary technician?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average emergency veterinary technician salary
The average emergency veterinary technician salary in the United States is $38,689 per year or $19 per hour. Emergency veterinary technician salaries range between $29,000 and $49,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do emergency veterinary technicians rate their job?
Emergency veterinary technician reviews
Nothing
Working with animals
Low wages for the amount of work we put in Angry / disrespectful clients Long and unpredictable hours of work
Updated January 8, 2025
