What is a veterinarian technician?
A veterinarian technician—commonly called a vet tech—is a trained medical professional who assists veterinarians in providing healthcare to animals. Vet techs handle a variety of tasks, from conducting lab tests and preparing animals for surgery to providing nursing care and educating pet owners on proper animal care.
For small businesses like veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, or pet boarding facilities, hiring skilled veterinarian technicians is crucial to maintaining high-quality care and smooth day-to-day operations. If you’re looking to simplify how you hire and onboard veterinary technicians, sign up for Homebase to streamline job postings, applicant tracking, and new hire paperwork.
What does a veterinarian technician do?
The role of a vet tech is hands-on and varies depending on the type of practice and the needs of the patients. Some of the key responsibilities include:
- Assisting veterinarians during exams, procedures, and surgeries
- Monitoring animals under anesthesia
- Collecting samples for lab tests (blood, urine, etc.) and performing diagnostic testing
- Administering medications and vaccinations
- Providing wound care and post-operative monitoring
- Recording patient histories and updating medical charts
- Communicating with pet owners about care instructions, medications, and follow-up visits
- Maintaining a clean, safe, and sterile work environment
Vet techs are often the first point of contact for pet owners and play a critical role in both patient care and customer service.
Required skills and qualifications for veterinarian technicians
Most veterinarian technician roles require:
- Associate degree in veterinary technology from an accredited program
- Certification, licensing, or registration (varies by state), such as Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), or Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)
- Strong understanding of animal health, anatomy, and medical terminology
- Proficiency in handling animals safely and compassionately
- Attention to detail and precision in administering treatments
- Excellent communication skills for interacting with both pet owners and team members
Soft skills like patience, empathy, and the ability to stay calm under pressure are just as important as technical training in this role.
Why hiring great vet techs matters for veterinary clinics and animal care businesses
In any veterinary practice, the vet tech is an essential part of the team. A well-trained, compassionate vet tech helps your business:
- Deliver high-quality care and improve patient outcomes
- Reduce the workload on veterinarians, allowing them to focus on diagnosis and treatment planning
- Improve client satisfaction through clear, empathetic communication
- Keep daily operations running smoothly and efficiently
- Support safety and compliance with animal care regulations
Vet techs can also play an important role in educating pet owners, which helps strengthen client relationships and promotes preventive care.
Tips for hiring the right veterinarian technician
When writing your job description, be sure to include:
- Required certifications and licensing (depending on your state)
- Specific skills like anesthesia monitoring, diagnostic testing, or surgical assistance
- Preferred experience level (entry-level, mid-career, specialty areas like exotic pets or equine care)
- Availability for shifts, weekends, or emergency on-call hours if applicable
During interviews, ask questions like:
- Can you describe a time when you helped calm a nervous pet owner?
- How do you handle high-stress situations, such as medical emergencies?
- What’s your approach to monitoring animals under anesthesia?
- How do you ensure clear communication with both veterinarians and clients?
These questions help you assess both technical competence and the interpersonal skills that are vital in a client-facing healthcare environment.
How Homebase helps you hire and manage vet techs
Homebase makes it easy for veterinary practices and animal care businesses to find and manage skilled veterinarian technicians. With Homebase, you can:
- Post jobs to top boards and collect applications automatically
- Track applicants, schedule interviews, and stay organized through every hiring stage
- Send offer letters and collect digital onboarding forms
- Manage staff schedules, availability, and time-off requests
- Stay compliant with labor laws and employee documentation requirements
Explore Homebase’s hiring and onboarding tools to simplify how you hire and support your vet tech team—so you can focus on what matters most: providing exceptional care to your patients.