Animal Care Technician Jobs in Virginia
Animal Care Technician jobs in Virginia are consistently active, with steady demand across veterinary clinics, research institutions, animal shelters, and zoological facilities serving both the dense Northern Virginia corridor and the Hampton Roads region. Richmond, Northern Virginia, and Virginia Beach are the state's strongest hiring metros, where established employers like the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Smithsonian's National Zoo, and PetVet Care Centers maintain ongoing staffing needs. Lab animal care, veterinary assisting, and shelter medicine support are the most in-demand specialties across Virginia postings. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Animal Care Technician
Love animals and interested in growing your skills in the veterinary field? This position offers hands-on experience caring for shelter animals while learning valuable skills that can help build a future career in veterinary medicine or animal care.
Our Animal Care Technicians provide daily care for dogs and cats while working alongside experienced staff and under the supervision of our veterinarian. This is a fast-paced, hands-on position for someone who isn't afraid to jump in, get dirty, and learn something new.
What You'll Do & Learn:
· Provide daily feeding, enrichment, exercise, and care for shelter animals
· Perform intensive daily cleaning and sanitation of kennels, cages, and animal areas
· Safely and humanely restrain animals for exams and procedures
· Read medication instructions and accurately administer medications as directed under the supervision of our veterinarian
· Use basic math to understand dosages and medication calculations
· Learn hands-on skills such as blood draws, nail trims, basic medical procedures, and proper animal restraint
· Observe animals for medical or behavioral concerns
· Accurately document medications, treatments, and observations
· Use basic computer programs to maintain animal records
We're Looking for Someone Who:
Is dependable, detail-oriented, comfortable with basic math and computers, and genuinely eager to learn. Previous veterinary experience is helpful but not required for the right candidate with a strong willingness to learn.
Please note: This is a highly intensive cleaning position. Candidates must be comfortable working around urine, feces, vomit, blood, strong odors, and animals of different sizes and temperaments.
If you're looking for more than just a job and want an opportunity to build real animal-care and veterinary skills while making a difference, we encourage you to apply!
Duties
-Follows established protocols to provide a high level of care to all shelter animals which includes daily feeding, watering, medicating, and cleaning/sanitization of housing areas.
-Feeds shelter animals to observe who is eating and how much
-Provides all weekly and weekend cleaning and care
-Conducts rounds throughout the day to keep all animal housing areas clean and neat.
-Participates in stress and disease reduction efforts through shelter enrichment, socialization, and compassionate handling of animals in the shelter environment.
-Promotes adoptable animals through appealing photographs of each animal and descriptions on the animal management database.
-Observes animal behavior, appearance, and activity and monitors for indicators of illness, disease or discomfort; immediately reports any behavior or temperament issues to Chief Operations Officer and Supervising Veterinarian and starts medications according to the veterinarian’s established protocols.
-Assists with and completes animal intakes, monitors animal behavior and health, and ensures all prescribed medical treatments are administered and documented according to established protocols.
-Operates laundry, cleaning, dishwashing and other equipment and assists in cleaning of general areas within and around the facility. This includes ancillary areas such as Wellness Clinic, bathrooms, kitchens, mechanical rooms, etc.
-Builds positive relationships with customers, employees, volunteers, and vendors, and assists prospective adopters in finding the animal companion that best fits their household, lifestyle, and expectations.
-Assists customers with the pet adoption process by facilitating customer/animal interactions to ensure a safe and pleasant experience, accurately answering questions and providing guidance.
-Demonstrates punctual, regular, and reliable attendance.
Qualifications:
-High School Diploma preferred.
-Animal care experience preferred.
-Ability and willingness to work directly with all animals.
-Must be highly motivated and detail oriented.
-Ability to use computer software such as email and word document forms.
-Exhibits a professional, positive, and upbeat manner.
-Conveys compassion, patience, and understanding with all animals in shelter care.
- Must be a team player and self-starter, able to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision, and display strong communication skills.
-Drug free.
-Valid Virginia Driver’s License.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment:
-Ability to lift and transport materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
-Must be comfortable dealing with a wide array of animal behaviors and personalities.
-The ability to bend and squat repeatedly.
-The ability to stand for significant periods of time.
-Exposure to disinfectant solutions.
-Consistently exposed to animals and animal allergens.
-Rabies (pre-exposure) inoculations are required after 90 days or must be waived for medical reasons. (paid for by SPCA)
-Candidates must be available to work a flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Pay: From $15.00 per hour
Application Question(s):
- Do you have a valid Driver's License?
- Are you 18 years of age or older?
Ability to Commute:
- Martinsville, VA 24112 (Required)
Work Location: In person
See All 17 Animal Care Technician Jobs in Virginia
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Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Animal Care Technician Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in animal care technician jobs across Virginia.
- AALAS certification at ALAT, LAT, or LATG level preferred or required by employers
- Experience handling and restraining multiple animal species safely in clinical or lab settings
- High school diploma or GED with relevant coursework in animal science or biology
- Familiarity with cage sanitation protocols, feeding schedules, and environmental enrichment
- Ability to maintain accurate records in electronic animal management or veterinary software
- Physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for extended periods during shifts
Animal Care Technician Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an animal care technician in Virginia?
Virginia does not require a state-issued license specifically for animal care technicians, but most employers expect or strongly prefer certification through the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, known as AALAS. The entry-level credential is the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician designation. Candidates typically need a high school diploma, hands-on animal handling experience, and to pass the AALAS certification exam. Research institutions and universities in Virginia are the most common path into the field.
Which companies hire animal care technicians in Virginia?
Companies currently hiring animal care technicians in Virginia include Pet Supplies Plus, Virginia Tech, and PetVet Care Centers, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Virginia's concentration of federal research facilities, university veterinary programs, and multi-location veterinary clinic groups keeps hiring relatively consistent throughout the year.
Which Virginia cities have the most animal care technician jobs?
Blacksburg, Williamsburg, and Virginia have the most animal care technician openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia and the Washington D.C. corridor drive volume through federal research contractors and large biomedical institutions, while Richmond's university presence and Virginia Beach's robust veterinary clinic market account for strong demand outside the D.C. suburbs.
Are there remote animal care technician jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're rare. Animal care technician work is fundamentally hands-on, requiring direct contact with animals in clinics, labs, or shelters, so the role does not translate well to remote arrangements. About 0% of animal care technician openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those postings are almost exclusively in training coordination, animal welfare consulting, or administrative support roles adjacent to direct care.
How can I get hired as an animal care technician in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is volunteering or working part-time at a Virginia animal shelter or humane society, such as the Richmond SPCA or the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, before applying to clinic or lab roles. Large research universities like Virginia Tech and George Mason University occasionally offer entry-level animal care aide positions that provide supervised experience. Completing the AALAS Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician exam, even before your first full-time role, signals seriousness to Virginia hiring managers and meaningfully improves your chances.
Where can I find and apply to animal care technician jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to animal care technician jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the roles that fit your experience level and location, and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 17 Animal Care Technician Jobs in Virginia
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