Entry Level Certified Veterinary Technician Jobs
New grad certified veterinary technician jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where hands-on clinical internships or externship hours often carry more weight than a lengthy resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Animal Care & Pet Services, with employers like Ethos Veterinary Health, NVA, and VCA Animal Hospitals hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 23+ Entry Level Certified Veterinary Technician jobs
- Veterinarians and Vet Services
- R383270
- Full time
- Not Remote
- 2204 S. Harlem Ave., North Riverside, IL 60546 United States
Want to help pets live their best lives?
We’re proud to be where the pets go and where the pet people go. If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you
Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what’s right for pets and people.
Pet First – Protect & Empower. All pets should Live their Best Life. We put the needs of pets and pet parents at the center of everything we do.
Foster the Fun – Connect & Bond. Our Passion for pets brings us together! We celebrate the journey of pet parenthood through district experiences, products, and services.
Position Purpose:
The purpose of this Veterinarian Technician position inherently involves providing excellent veterinary care to our Vetco Total Care full-service hospital patients and phenomenal customer care to their owners. The Veterinary Technician represents the mission and values to all clients and partners. Our Veterinary Technicians set the tone for the technical and customer support team in the hospital, and are responsible, like all team members, for fostering cohesion and motivation within the hospital partners.
All hospital partners are responsible for performing duties in a way that creates an environment in which:
The patient’s needs always come first.
Every team member understands that they have the power to do what it takes to create an exceptional customer and patient experience.
contentious issues are dealt with and resolved as they occur when possible, or as soon as is possible.
exceptional teamwork and commitment to shared goals benefits the entire organization.
Essential Job Functions:
The incumbent must be able to perform all the following duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation:
Greet clients and patients arriving for appointments or walk-ins and escort into an exam room, obtain weight and vital signs (temperature, pulse, respirations, pain score, body condition score), record all in the electronic medical record, and begin documentation of the patient visit in the electronic medical record by obtaining and recording a thorough patient history.
Assist veterinarian with appointments (routine and emergency), surgery, dentistry, and euthanasia's, taking direct supervision from the veterinarian(s) and the Hospital Office Manager or Hospital Leader on Duty.
Perform patient restraint, obtain and process laboratory samples, handle and dispense medications at the direction of the veterinarian, and maintain the electronic medical record.
Schedule appointments, communicate with and educate clients, relay test results to doctor and clients, maintain and update inventory as well as client/patient records, and manage accounts receivable.
Prepare patients for surgical and dental procedures, safely support induction and monitoring of anesthetized patients including checking and recording vital parameters (under direction of the veterinarian), monitor patients during recovery, and prepare them for discharge to owner or transfer to an overnight care facility as needed.
Provide in-hospital treatments for sick patients including giving injectable and oral medications as well as intravenous therapies; keep patients clean, watered, and fed (when indicated and directed by veterinarian), and safely walk canine patients when necessary for elimination.
Participate in the training of new staff members and general dissemination of knowledge as required.
Keep hospital environment neat and clean; perform regular cleaning of environment based on necessity as well as based on a pre-determined maintenance schedule.
Other Duties and Responsibilities:
Perform additional duties as assigned.
Provide backup phone and front desk support as needed.
Nature of Supervision:
In all activities related to the care of patients, the Veterinary Technician will take direct supervision from the veterinarians as well as the Hospital Office Manager or Hospital Leader on Duty. For purposes of overall supervision, the Veterinary Technician takes direction from the Hospital Office Manager.
Planning and Problem Solving:
Like all team members, the Veterinary Technician plays a crucial role in ensuring that day-to-day operation of the hospital is efficient and provides an optimal experience for our patients and clients.
Impact:
This position will impact the organization by contributing to the growth of a productive practice while focusing on a high-quality standard of care. From an overall hospital organizational standpoint, this position in critical to ensuring that we have a cohesive, well-trained, and motivated technical team. The desired result is the creation of an optimal environment that ensures employee retention, patient well-being, and customer satisfaction.
Supervisory Responsibility:
This position has no immediate supervisory duties.
Education/Experience:
College or college-equivalent education (completed) as required in becoming a Credentialed Veterinary Technician in the state in which the hospital is located.
Must have at least 1-year previous experience as a Veterinary Technician or working in a veterinary practice.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Must be compassionate and sympathetic and be able to maintain a professional attitude and demeanor during emotional and stressful situations.
Must have telephone and computer skills.
Must be a team player willing to learn new techniques and treatments, offer creative ideas, and accept change.
Work Environment:
The majority of job duties are conducted in the Vetco Total Care full-service hospital. Position requires bending, kneeling, lifting (up to 30 pounds, as necessary) and standing for long periods of time. A large amount of this partner’s time will be spent in direct contact with clients and their pets.
Contacts:
This position will regularly communicate with clients, veterinary specialists, and companies that provide products and/or services that the practice utilizes.
The pay ranges outlined below are presented in accordance with state-specific regulations. These ranges may differ in other areas and could be subject to variation based on regulatory minimum wage requirements. Actual pay rates will depend on factors such as position, location, level of experience, and applicable state or local minimum wage laws. If the regulatory minimum wage exceeds the minimum indicated in the pay range below, the regulatory minimum wage will be the minimum rate applied.
Salary Range: $18.00 - $28.50
Hourly or Salary Range will be reflected above. For a more detailed overview of Petco Total Rewards, including health and financial benefits, 401K, incentives, and PTO - see https://careers.petco.com/us/en/key-benefits
About Petco:
We’re proud to be "where the pets go" to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years – from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood – the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we’re here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way. We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet-human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. In 1999, we founded Petco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and have helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.
- Veterinarians and Vet Services
- R383270
- Full time
- Not Remote
- 2204 S. Harlem Ave., North Riverside, IL 60546 United States
Want to help pets live their best lives?
We’re proud to be where the pets go and where the pet people go. If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you
Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what’s right for pets and people.
Pet First – Protect & Empower. All pets should Live their Best Life. We put the needs of pets and pet parents at the center of everything we do.
Foster the Fun – Connect & Bond. Our Passion for pets brings us together! We celebrate the journey of pet parenthood through district experiences, products, and services.
Position Purpose:
The purpose of this Veterinarian Technician position inherently involves providing excellent veterinary care to our Vetco Total Care full-service hospital patients and phenomenal customer care to their owners. The Veterinary Technician represents the mission and values to all clients and partners. Our Veterinary Technicians set the tone for the technical and customer support team in the hospital, and are responsible, like all team members, for fostering cohesion and motivation within the hospital partners.
All hospital partners are responsible for performing duties in a way that creates an environment in which:
The patient’s needs always come first.
Every team member understands that they have the power to do what it takes to create an exceptional customer and patient experience.
contentious issues are dealt with and resolved as they occur when possible, or as soon as is possible.
exceptional teamwork and commitment to shared goals benefits the entire organization.
Essential Job Functions:
The incumbent must be able to perform all the following duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation:
Greet clients and patients arriving for appointments or walk-ins and escort into an exam room, obtain weight and vital signs (temperature, pulse, respirations, pain score, body condition score), record all in the electronic medical record, and begin documentation of the patient visit in the electronic medical record by obtaining and recording a thorough patient history.
Assist veterinarian with appointments (routine and emergency), surgery, dentistry, and euthanasia's, taking direct supervision from the veterinarian(s) and the Hospital Office Manager or Hospital Leader on Duty.
Perform patient restraint, obtain and process laboratory samples, handle and dispense medications at the direction of the veterinarian, and maintain the electronic medical record.
Schedule appointments, communicate with and educate clients, relay test results to doctor and clients, maintain and update inventory as well as client/patient records, and manage accounts receivable.
Prepare patients for surgical and dental procedures, safely support induction and monitoring of anesthetized patients including checking and recording vital parameters (under direction of the veterinarian), monitor patients during recovery, and prepare them for discharge to owner or transfer to an overnight care facility as needed.
Provide in-hospital treatments for sick patients including giving injectable and oral medications as well as intravenous therapies; keep patients clean, watered, and fed (when indicated and directed by veterinarian), and safely walk canine patients when necessary for elimination.
Participate in the training of new staff members and general dissemination of knowledge as required.
Keep hospital environment neat and clean; perform regular cleaning of environment based on necessity as well as based on a pre-determined maintenance schedule.
Other Duties and Responsibilities:
Perform additional duties as assigned.
Provide backup phone and front desk support as needed.
Nature of Supervision:
In all activities related to the care of patients, the Veterinary Technician will take direct supervision from the veterinarians as well as the Hospital Office Manager or Hospital Leader on Duty. For purposes of overall supervision, the Veterinary Technician takes direction from the Hospital Office Manager.
Planning and Problem Solving:
Like all team members, the Veterinary Technician plays a crucial role in ensuring that day-to-day operation of the hospital is efficient and provides an optimal experience for our patients and clients.
Impact:
This position will impact the organization by contributing to the growth of a productive practice while focusing on a high-quality standard of care. From an overall hospital organizational standpoint, this position in critical to ensuring that we have a cohesive, well-trained, and motivated technical team. The desired result is the creation of an optimal environment that ensures employee retention, patient well-being, and customer satisfaction.
Supervisory Responsibility:
This position has no immediate supervisory duties.
Education/Experience:
College or college-equivalent education (completed) as required in becoming a Credentialed Veterinary Technician in the state in which the hospital is located.
Must have at least 1-year previous experience as a Veterinary Technician or working in a veterinary practice.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Must be compassionate and sympathetic and be able to maintain a professional attitude and demeanor during emotional and stressful situations.
Must have telephone and computer skills.
Must be a team player willing to learn new techniques and treatments, offer creative ideas, and accept change.
Work Environment:
The majority of job duties are conducted in the Vetco Total Care full-service hospital. Position requires bending, kneeling, lifting (up to 30 pounds, as necessary) and standing for long periods of time. A large amount of this partner’s time will be spent in direct contact with clients and their pets.
Contacts:
This position will regularly communicate with clients, veterinary specialists, and companies that provide products and/or services that the practice utilizes.
The pay ranges outlined below are presented in accordance with state-specific regulations. These ranges may differ in other areas and could be subject to variation based on regulatory minimum wage requirements. Actual pay rates will depend on factors such as position, location, level of experience, and applicable state or local minimum wage laws. If the regulatory minimum wage exceeds the minimum indicated in the pay range below, the regulatory minimum wage will be the minimum rate applied.
Salary Range: $18.00 - $28.50
Hourly or Salary Range will be reflected above. For a more detailed overview of Petco Total Rewards, including health and financial benefits, 401K, incentives, and PTO - see https://careers.petco.com/us/en/key-benefits
About Petco:
We’re proud to be "where the pets go" to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years – from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood – the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we’re here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way. We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet-human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. In 1999, we founded Petco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and have helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.
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- Animal Care & Pet Services
Entry Level Certified Veterinary Technician Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level certified veterinary technician job?
Employers hiring at the entry level look for candidates who have completed an accredited veterinary technology program and hold or are pursuing CVT certification. Externship experience in a clinic, animal hospital, or specialty practice gives new candidates a clear edge. Highlighting hands-on skills, such as venipuncture, radiology, and anesthesia monitoring, in your resume and cover letter signals readiness for day-one patient care.
Which companies hire entry level certified veterinary technicians?
Companies hiring entry level certified veterinary technicians right now include Ethos Veterinary Health, NVA, and VCA Animal Hospitals, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At the entry level, hiring comes from a mix of general practice clinics, specialty and emergency hospitals, and corporate veterinary groups that have structured onboarding programs for new graduates.
Are there remote entry level certified veterinary technician jobs?
Yes, though most roles in this field are hands-on and on-site by nature. About 0% of entry level certified veterinary technician openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, typically in areas such as veterinary telehealth support, medical records coordination, or client education roles that don't require direct patient contact.
Are these new grad certified veterinary technician jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior certified veterinary technician roles. A posting is generally new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts externship or clinical rotation hours in place of paid work history, or explicitly states that recent graduates are encouraged to apply. A strong externship record and completed CVT credentials are what most of these employers prioritize.
Which industries hire the most entry level certified veterinary technicians?
Entry Level certified veterinary technician roles concentrate in Animal Care & Pet Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive entry level hiring because they rely on a steady pipeline of newly credentialed technicians to support growing patient volumes and expand clinical team capacity.