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Veterinary Technician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted Experts

Dr. James Roush,

Shea Porr Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical veterinary technician skills. We ranked the top skills for veterinary technicians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 24.9% of veterinary technician resumes contained pet as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a veterinary technician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 veterinary technician skills for your resume and career

1. PET

Here's how veterinary technicians use pet:

Assisted veterinarian during exams, including properly restraining animals as required and educating pet owners.
Demonstrated strong and communication skills within this teamwork environment including interaction with pet s owner.

2. Patients

Here's how veterinary technicians use patients:

Cared for patients in association with Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians Maintained and filed medical records Assisted Clients in examination rooms, and
Administered inoculations, subcutaneous fluids, offered varied treatments and dispensed medication for patients and other boarding animals.

3. Anesthesia

Anesthesia is a treatment done to prevent or relieve the feeling of pain during a procedure like a tooth extraction, minor and major surgery, giving birth, and others. Typically, an anesthesiologist, doctors, nurses, and other health professionals use it. Depending on the so that their patients will be in a state of control or lose their sensation.

Here's how veterinary technicians use anesthesia:

Assisted in surgical preparation of patients and maintained status during surgical procedures including monitoring and adjusting anesthesia based on patient status.
Developed anesthesia and general nursing protocols, and established a reputation for veterinary excellence in small animal and exotic species medicine.

4. Catheter

Here's how veterinary technicians use catheter:

Provide specialized nursing care, administer treatments to hospitalized patients, catheter placement and provide post operative care.
Assist Veterinarians in emergency workups, including patient assessment, intravenous catheter placement, and ultrasound procedures.

5. Exam Rooms

An exam room in a hospital is a place where patients are examined by medical representatives. In several cases, the exam room distinguishes the doctor-patient relationship and is a critical component of the overall care process.

Here's how veterinary technicians use exam rooms:

Ushered clients into exam rooms and assisted Veterinarian during patient examinations.
Re-organized exam rooms and treatment area to increase efficiency.

6. Patient Care

Patient care entails the diagnosis, recovery, and control of sickness as well as the maintenance of physical and emotional well-being through the use of healthcare providers' services. Patient care is described as services provided to patients by health practitioners or non-professionals under guidance.

Here's how veterinary technicians use patient care:

Record patient care, medications, significant events and other portent information required for effective patient management.
Induced and monitored anesthesia, assisted veterinarians during surgeries, and provided post-operative patient care and recovery.

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7. Venipuncture

Venipuncture, or also known as venapuncture, venepuncture, or venupuncture, is collecting blood directly from a vein, which is done mainly for laboratory purposes. It is typically performed by a phlebotomist.

Here's how veterinary technicians use venipuncture:

Performed veterinary laboratory techniques including: radiography, venipuncture, maintenance procedures, subcutaneous injections, and medication administration.
Skilled at venipuncture, IVC placement, anesthetic delivery/monitoring, surgical recovery, x-ray, laboratory, dentistry.

8. Catheter Placement

Catheter placement is the process of inserting a catheter into a patient's bladder, bowel, or urinary tract to freely drain and collect fluids or gases in an attached bag or container, and to perform a variety of other tasks, depending on the type of catheter.

Here's how veterinary technicians use catheter placement:

Conducted proper intravenous catheter placement in cats and dogs for surgery and emergency.
Conducted IV catheter placement for surgery and emergency.

9. Radiology

Radiology means a division of medicine that concentrates on the use of radiant energy or any other radioactive material in the process of diagnosis and ailment treatments. It deals specifically with X-rays and radiations bearing high-energy, used in medicine and diagnosis.

Here's how veterinary technicians use radiology:

Assisted veterinarian in surgery and radiology*Maintained surgical equipment and instruments*Prepared laboratory samples*Processed prescriptions
Assisted staff veterinarians in all medical procedures, including surgical preparations, laboratory functions, radiology, and medical device operations.

10. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how veterinary technicians use customer service:

Attended continuing education seminars in medical topics, animal behavior and training, customer service, practice management and inventory control
Maintained records, scheduled appointments and executed billing and collections * Provided customer service to clients and performed occasional tech duties

11. Compassion

Here's how veterinary technicians use compassion:

Administered injections and medications to hospitalized animals and treated animals with care and compassion.
Provided compassion and competent nursing care to patients requiring specialty medicine.

12. Lab Tests

A laboratory test is a practice in which a health care provider uses a sample of urine, blood, and other bodily fluid/tissue to get information about an individual's health. Lab tests lay a solid foundation for the diagnostics, screening, or monitoring specific diseases or conditions. Tests can help determine a treatment plan, access if a designated treatment is working, or monitor the situation of acute diseases.

Here's how veterinary technicians use lab tests:

Rotated within busy animal hospital as surgical assistant, performing in hospital lab tests, administering treatments, medications and immunizations.
Assisted in surgery and routine examinations of small animals, performed lab tests, prepared prescription medications and administered vaccinations

13. IV

Here's how veterinary technicians use iv:

Maintain hospitalized patients- monitor vitals, place IV catheters, monitor fluid therapy, and administer scheduled medication/treatments.
Placed IV catheters, administered anesthetics during surgery and monitored vital signs.

14. Animal Handling

Here's how veterinary technicians use animal handling:

Executed proper animal handling techniques and generated a safe working environment for veterinarian.
Ensured successful patient recoveries due to safely exercising proper animal handling protocols.

15. Triage

Triage is a method of prioritizing a patient or a group depending on the severity, diagnosis, and condition of the disease needing immediate medical care. It is often to determine a condition and identifying the appropriate destination before assessing where the patient will be going. A triage nurse commonly performs it.

Here's how veterinary technicians use triage:

Maintained quality animal care, monitored patients, administered medications and practiced triage in a fast paced environment.
Gained experience in emergency triage and the hospitalization of critically ill patients.

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What skills help Veterinary Technicians find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on Veterinary Technician resumes?

Dr. James Roush

Doughman Professor, Small Animal Surgery, Interim Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Affairs, Kansas State University

Experience in veterinary practices from externships, preceptorships, and other opportunities, and b) evidence of focused study in areas that the employer is seeking help for. That focus depends on the practice, but can include experience or advanced education with exotic pets, avian patients, or feline medicine for example, or in disciplines such as dentistry, dermatology, and oncology. Veterinary employers want to see evidence that prospective employees are able to bring advanced skills to the practice and attract new patients.

What Veterinary Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Shea Porr Ph.D.

Department Head, Animal/Equine Science, Associate Professor, Equine Science, Murray State University

Any of what are being commonly called "soft skills" would be very useful. This includes things like communication, both writing and speaking; problem solving, both in a team and as an individual; and the ability to prioritize and accomplish tasks in a timely manner. One of the best ways to do some of these is to get involved in an internship. Many of those pay, and they're often designed to help students get a better feel for that company's particular part of the industry. If they're working a job for that gap year, step into leadership positions, even if it's something like being a shift lead. Get involved with a community organization-don't just be a member, but participate and really get involved. Many of the skills that aren't directly related to working with or managing animals are highly valuable to any employer and you can work on those skills in nearly any setting.

What type of skills will young Veterinary Technicians need?

Marília Chiavegato Ph.D.

Assistant Professor - Agroecosystem Management for Food System Resilience, Ohio State University

This year has shown us the importance of adaptability and collaboration. Young graduates will need to be creative in changing environments, adaptable to different scenarios and requirements, and motivated to find quick, simple solutions to small and big problems.

Collaborative personality is also key. The problems we face currently in the world are complex, they need different perspectives and approaches. In Animal Sciences specifically, graduates need to keep in mind the relationships between animals, plants, and especially the environment. It is important that young graduates are able to find reliable sources of information and avoid disseminating false concepts and generalizations. They need to understand that decisions regarding animals' management affect plants, water quality, soil quality, and the atmosphere. There are plenty of opportunities to use animals to preserve and enhance environmental sustainability.

Working in groups is essential. Being able to lead different people or groups is a big differential. The ability to lead diverse groups of people is indissociable from the ability to listen and engage respectfully, despite difference in opinions.

Do you want to know more?

List of veterinary technician skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a veterinary technician resume and required skills for a veterinary technician to have include:

PET
Patients
Anesthesia
Catheter
Exam Rooms
Patient Care
Venipuncture
Catheter Placement
Radiology
Customer Service
Compassion
Lab Tests
IV
Animal Handling
Triage
Surgical Procedures
Phlebotomy

Work Ethic
Administer Medications
Scheduling Appointments
Emergency Situations
Medical Procedures
Surgery Prep
IM
Vital Signs
Critical Care
Medical Care
CPR
Physical Exams
Patient History
Animal Restraint
Drawing Blood
ICU
Intubation

Client Communication
Blood Pressure
Surgical Prep
Cornerstone
SQ
Dental Procedures
Laboratory Procedures
Surgical Instruments
Diagnostic Tests
DVM
Front Desk
VET Tech
Client Education
Blood Samples
Surgical Equipment

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Veterinary Technician Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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