Veterinary Surgery Technician Jobs for OPT Students
Veterinary Surgery Technician jobs on OPT require hands-on clinical authorization, so your EAD card must be active before you begin work. Most roles fall under STEM-adjacent healthcare, and some employers have sponsored H-1B or TN visas for credentialed technicians, making this a viable long-term path.
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Get Access To All JobsVeterinary Surgery Technician
The Animal Emergency & Referral Associates in West Caldwell, NJ is hiring a dedicated and enthusiastic Certified Veterinary Technician to join our Surgery team!
At Animal Emergency & Referral Associates (AERA), excellence isn’t just a goal—it’s who we are. As an AAHA-accredited hospital, AERA represents the gold standard in veterinary medicine and patient care. We are proud recipients of the 2024 Neighborhood Fave award, recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Animal Hospitals of 2025, and honored with the dvm360 Hospital Design Merit Award for our innovative, state-of-the-art facility. In addition, AERA has been recognized as a Distinguished Kindness Workplace, reflecting our deep commitment to a supportive, respectful, and people-first culture.
With comprehensive services including 24/7 emergency care, advanced anesthesia, diagnostics and radiology, internal medicine, orthopedic and soft-tissue surgery, and radiation oncology, AERA stands at the forefront of specialty and emergency veterinary medicine—where advanced clinical expertise meets genuine compassion for patients, clients, and each other.
Position Overview:
The purpose of the position is to provide primary support to the Specialist with diagnostics, treatments, and procedures, while ensuring the best quality of care possible for our patients. The Veterinary Nurse must pay attention to detail and maintain very high standards of cleanliness and care. They must be able to communicate well with doctors and coworkers to ensure overall accuracy and satisfaction.
Compensation:
- Credentialed Veterinary Technicians: $29-$41 hourly
- Veterinary Technician Specialists: $42-$46 hourly
- We offer the highest industry-standard differentials for weekend and overnight shifts!
- Sign On Bonus offered to qualified candidates!
Anticipated Schedule:
- Full Time
- Monday – Friday
- 5x8 or 4x10 hour shifts available
Key Responsibilities:
- Practice “Fear Free” standards and protocols
- Understand the organization and operations of the department
- Ability to manage the daily OR schedule timely and efficiently
- Ensuring the safety and set-up of each induction station and OR scheduled for the day
- Completing pre-operative testing required for anesthesia (blood draws, radiographs, etc)
- Preparing drugs, fluids, and CRIs for the next surgery
- Pre-medicating patients, setting IVC, and preparing patients for induction
- Assisting Anesthetist with completion of pre-op checklist, induction, and intubation of patient
- Monitoring patient under good anesthetic plane during surgical preparation and local/regional block administration
- Having the knowledge and ability to identify normal vs abnormal vitals and communicating concerns to the anesthetist
- Documenting vitals, recording problems and interventions, ensuring completion of 2nd check list
- Carry out orders from the anesthetist (i.e. changes in anesthesia, drug administration, etc)
- Knowledge of proper surgical scrubbing, gowning, and gloving to assist surgeon in OR
- Instrument and equipment care: cleaning, maintenance, packing, and sterilization
- Complete post-operative diagnostics and other orders
- Recover each patient smoothly with the ability to intervene if delirium, dysphoria, and/or pain is displayed
- Ability to properly assess pain, assign pain score, and treat pain if present
- Knowing, understanding, and ensuring the surgery scheduling protocols are followed
- Ability to communicate effectively and put both clients and patients at ease
- Monitoring the appointment schedule and put appointments in rooms at their scheduled time
- Ensuring the doctors stay on time, and have ability to gently and tactfully move things along
- Assist doctors with restraint/handling, suture removals, and medication refills
- Facilitate bandage changes and radiographs for outpatient rechecks
- Provide basic client education on nutrition, home care, zoonotic diseases, medication administration, post-operative care, and all other hospital recommendations/protocols, as directed by the Specialist
- Re-stock and maintain cleanliness of specialty department area, exam rooms, and all other areas of hospital
- Train less experienced staff members on proper policies, procedures, technical skills, and medical information
- Cross-train to assist in other areas of the hospital as needed work
Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Credentialed Veterinary Technician required (LVT, CVT, RVT)
- 2 years’ experience working as a veterinary technician in an emergency or specialty setting
- Knowledge of safety procedures and acceptable sanitation/sterilization practices
- Comprehension of commonly used medical terminology and equipment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to calculate accurate dosages and injections
- Familiarity with CPR and rescue breathing
- Ability to take direction from a variety of people under various situations and accurately follow instructions
- Capability of anticipating needs of Doctors and Nurses and show initiative
- Ability to react quickly and appropriately during emergency situations, and remain calm under pressure
- Excellent communication/people skills
- Good grooming and hygiene
- Must have team-oriented attitude and promote positive culture
- Considerable tact and diplomacy in dealing with clients affected by a variety of problems
- Ability to work with and without direct supervision
- Fluent English skills (speaking & reading) are required for the role; fluency in multiple languages a plus!
Benefits Include:
- 401(k) with matching
- Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA) / Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Life and Disability insurance
- Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays
- Employee Assistance Program and Discounts (including Pet Discount)
- Professional development
- CE Allowance
- Uniform stipend
- Access to VetBloom for RACE-approved continuing education and training
Why Choose AERA?
- Work alongside a compassionate and talented team dedicated to excellence in veterinary care.
- Make a meaningful impact by being an advocate for pets and their families.
- Enjoy a dynamic, fast-paced environment that keeps you engaged and challenged.
- Be part of a workplace that values your contributions and supports your growth.
- Ongoing opportunities for continued education such as lunch and learns hosted by various vendors and entities.
If you’re ready to take on a rewarding role that combines communication, organization, and compassion, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and become an essential part of a team where your efforts truly make a difference—one pet and one family at a time!
Ethos Veterinary Health is at the forefront of innovation and world-class medicine. As the premier network of over 140 specialty and emergency hospitals across North America, Ethos brings together a dedicated community of more than 1,500 specialized doctors providing care for nearly 2 million pets annually. The integrated and collaborative network of veterinary professionals utilize state-of-the-art technology and a scientific, evidence-based approach to deliver compassionate, unparalleled care and rewarding careers. Committed to revolutionizing veterinary medicine, Ethos sets the standard in veterinary excellence.
Ethos Veterinary Health offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees. The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process. For positions based in Colorado, Ethos provides eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and public health emergency leave in accordance with the requirements of Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.
Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.
Veterinary Surgery Technician
The Animal Emergency & Referral Associates in West Caldwell, NJ is hiring a dedicated and enthusiastic Certified Veterinary Technician to join our Surgery team!
At Animal Emergency & Referral Associates (AERA), excellence isn’t just a goal—it’s who we are. As an AAHA-accredited hospital, AERA represents the gold standard in veterinary medicine and patient care. We are proud recipients of the 2024 Neighborhood Fave award, recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Animal Hospitals of 2025, and honored with the dvm360 Hospital Design Merit Award for our innovative, state-of-the-art facility. In addition, AERA has been recognized as a Distinguished Kindness Workplace, reflecting our deep commitment to a supportive, respectful, and people-first culture.
With comprehensive services including 24/7 emergency care, advanced anesthesia, diagnostics and radiology, internal medicine, orthopedic and soft-tissue surgery, and radiation oncology, AERA stands at the forefront of specialty and emergency veterinary medicine—where advanced clinical expertise meets genuine compassion for patients, clients, and each other.
Position Overview:
The purpose of the position is to provide primary support to the Specialist with diagnostics, treatments, and procedures, while ensuring the best quality of care possible for our patients. The Veterinary Nurse must pay attention to detail and maintain very high standards of cleanliness and care. They must be able to communicate well with doctors and coworkers to ensure overall accuracy and satisfaction.
Compensation:
- Credentialed Veterinary Technicians: $29-$41 hourly
- Veterinary Technician Specialists: $42-$46 hourly
- We offer the highest industry-standard differentials for weekend and overnight shifts!
- Sign On Bonus offered to qualified candidates!
Anticipated Schedule:
- Full Time
- Monday – Friday
- 5x8 or 4x10 hour shifts available
Key Responsibilities:
- Practice “Fear Free” standards and protocols
- Understand the organization and operations of the department
- Ability to manage the daily OR schedule timely and efficiently
- Ensuring the safety and set-up of each induction station and OR scheduled for the day
- Completing pre-operative testing required for anesthesia (blood draws, radiographs, etc)
- Preparing drugs, fluids, and CRIs for the next surgery
- Pre-medicating patients, setting IVC, and preparing patients for induction
- Assisting Anesthetist with completion of pre-op checklist, induction, and intubation of patient
- Monitoring patient under good anesthetic plane during surgical preparation and local/regional block administration
- Having the knowledge and ability to identify normal vs abnormal vitals and communicating concerns to the anesthetist
- Documenting vitals, recording problems and interventions, ensuring completion of 2nd check list
- Carry out orders from the anesthetist (i.e. changes in anesthesia, drug administration, etc)
- Knowledge of proper surgical scrubbing, gowning, and gloving to assist surgeon in OR
- Instrument and equipment care: cleaning, maintenance, packing, and sterilization
- Complete post-operative diagnostics and other orders
- Recover each patient smoothly with the ability to intervene if delirium, dysphoria, and/or pain is displayed
- Ability to properly assess pain, assign pain score, and treat pain if present
- Knowing, understanding, and ensuring the surgery scheduling protocols are followed
- Ability to communicate effectively and put both clients and patients at ease
- Monitoring the appointment schedule and put appointments in rooms at their scheduled time
- Ensuring the doctors stay on time, and have ability to gently and tactfully move things along
- Assist doctors with restraint/handling, suture removals, and medication refills
- Facilitate bandage changes and radiographs for outpatient rechecks
- Provide basic client education on nutrition, home care, zoonotic diseases, medication administration, post-operative care, and all other hospital recommendations/protocols, as directed by the Specialist
- Re-stock and maintain cleanliness of specialty department area, exam rooms, and all other areas of hospital
- Train less experienced staff members on proper policies, procedures, technical skills, and medical information
- Cross-train to assist in other areas of the hospital as needed work
Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Credentialed Veterinary Technician required (LVT, CVT, RVT)
- 2 years’ experience working as a veterinary technician in an emergency or specialty setting
- Knowledge of safety procedures and acceptable sanitation/sterilization practices
- Comprehension of commonly used medical terminology and equipment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to calculate accurate dosages and injections
- Familiarity with CPR and rescue breathing
- Ability to take direction from a variety of people under various situations and accurately follow instructions
- Capability of anticipating needs of Doctors and Nurses and show initiative
- Ability to react quickly and appropriately during emergency situations, and remain calm under pressure
- Excellent communication/people skills
- Good grooming and hygiene
- Must have team-oriented attitude and promote positive culture
- Considerable tact and diplomacy in dealing with clients affected by a variety of problems
- Ability to work with and without direct supervision
- Fluent English skills (speaking & reading) are required for the role; fluency in multiple languages a plus!
Benefits Include:
- 401(k) with matching
- Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA) / Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Life and Disability insurance
- Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays
- Employee Assistance Program and Discounts (including Pet Discount)
- Professional development
- CE Allowance
- Uniform stipend
- Access to VetBloom for RACE-approved continuing education and training
Why Choose AERA?
- Work alongside a compassionate and talented team dedicated to excellence in veterinary care.
- Make a meaningful impact by being an advocate for pets and their families.
- Enjoy a dynamic, fast-paced environment that keeps you engaged and challenged.
- Be part of a workplace that values your contributions and supports your growth.
- Ongoing opportunities for continued education such as lunch and learns hosted by various vendors and entities.
If you’re ready to take on a rewarding role that combines communication, organization, and compassion, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and become an essential part of a team where your efforts truly make a difference—one pet and one family at a time!
Ethos Veterinary Health is at the forefront of innovation and world-class medicine. As the premier network of over 140 specialty and emergency hospitals across North America, Ethos brings together a dedicated community of more than 1,500 specialized doctors providing care for nearly 2 million pets annually. The integrated and collaborative network of veterinary professionals utilize state-of-the-art technology and a scientific, evidence-based approach to deliver compassionate, unparalleled care and rewarding careers. Committed to revolutionizing veterinary medicine, Ethos sets the standard in veterinary excellence.
Ethos Veterinary Health offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees. The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process. For positions based in Colorado, Ethos provides eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and public health emergency leave in accordance with the requirements of Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.
Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Veterinary Surgery Technician
Lead with your clinical credentials
Veterinary technician certifications like VTS (Surgery) or state licensure directly address employer hiring concerns. Listing these prominently signals that you meet the hands-on competency bar, which matters more than visa status in most hiring decisions.
Target specialty and referral hospitals
Specialty veterinary hospitals and university teaching clinics hire surgical technicians regularly and often have HR infrastructure to handle OPT paperwork. General practice clinics are less likely to have experience verifying EAD work authorization.
Address OPT timing upfront with recruiters
Tell recruiters your EAD expiration date and whether you qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension early in conversations. Employers need enough runway to justify training investment, so more time remaining on your EAD strengthens your application.
Emphasize rare surgical specializations
Technicians with experience in orthopedic, soft tissue, or neurosurgery cases are harder for employers to replace. Specificity about your surgical subspecialty experience makes OPT sponsorship feel like a retention investment, not a compliance burden.
Prepare documentation before your first interview
Have your EAD card, I-20 with OPT authorization, and employment authorization letter from your DSO ready to share. Organized documentation reduces employer hesitation and shows you understand what I-9 verification requires from both sides.
Ask about future visa sponsorship during offer negotiation
Once an employer is invested in hiring you, ask directly whether they have sponsored H-1B or other work visas for technicians before. This conversation is far more productive at the offer stage than during initial screening.
Veterinary Surgery Technician jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Veterinary Surgery Technician on OPT?
Yes, as long as your OPT is authorized for a field directly related to your degree. If you studied veterinary technology or a closely related science, surgical technician roles qualify. Your EAD card must be active before your start date, and the position must align with the field listed on your I-20.
Does a Veterinary Surgery Technician job qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree's CIP code. If your program was classified under a STEM-designated field, such as veterinary biomedical sciences or animal health sciences, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO, since the degree classification, not the job title, determines eligibility.
How do I find Veterinary Surgery Technician employers who are open to OPT?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for OPT-friendly employers, so you can focus your search on roles where hiring managers are already familiar with work authorization requirements. Specialty veterinary hospitals and academic veterinary medical centers are also worth targeting directly, as they tend to have HR teams experienced with international employees.
What happens to my OPT status if a Veterinary Surgery Technician job ends?
You enter a 60-day grace period after your authorized employment ends, during which you cannot work but can search for a new position. If you secure another qualifying role before the grace period expires, you can resume working. Gaps in employment longer than 90 days during standard OPT can jeopardize your status, so act quickly.
Do Veterinary Surgery Technician employers typically sponsor H-1B visas after OPT?
Some do, particularly large specialty hospital groups and university veterinary programs that have invested in training you. The H-1B classification for this role depends on whether the position qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a specifically related bachelor's degree. An immigration attorney can assess your specific job description and degree combination before the H-1B lottery in March.
See which Veterinary Surgery Technician employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
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