Veterinary Technician Resume examples & templates

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Copyable Veterinary Technician Resume examples

Ever wondered what it's like to be the right-hand person to a veterinarian? Vet techs are the unsung heroes of animal healthcare—they're the ones monitoring anesthesia during surgeries, calming anxious pets (and sometimes their equally anxious owners!), and often juggling five tasks while drawing blood from a squirmy cat. It's a career that combines technical medical skills with genuine compassion, and it's growing fast. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the vet tech field is projected to grow 19% between 2021 and 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

What makes this career particularly interesting right now is the shift toward specialization. More vet techs are focusing on areas like dentistry, emergency care, or exotic animal medicine. There's also been a noticeable push toward better work-life balance in the field—something that's been a struggle historically. Many clinics are moving away from the old-school "work till you drop" mentality and implementing more sustainable scheduling. As telehealth options expand in veterinary medicine, techs are finding new roles in this virtual frontier too. The profession is evolving, and there's never been a more exciting time to join the ranks of animal healthcare professionals.

Junior Veterinary Technician Resume Example

MADISON REYES

Denver, CO 80219 • (720) 555-8142 • madison.reyes@email.com
www.linkedin.com/in/madisonreyes • Available for weekend shifts

Recent Veterinary Technology graduate with hands-on clinical experience and genuine passion for animal care. Skilled in laboratory procedures, surgical assistance, and client communication. Calm presence during emergency situations and meticulous attention to medication administration. Looking to grow my technical skills while providing compassionate care to all patients.

EXPERIENCE

Veterinary Technician – Mountain View Animal Hospital, Denver, CO
March 2023 – Present

  • Assist with 12-15 daily appointments including wellness exams, sick visits, and minor procedures
  • Perform laboratory tests including CBCs, chemistry panels, urinalysis, and fecal flotations
  • Prepare and maintain surgical equipment, ensuring sterile environment for all procedures
  • Monitor anesthesia for routine surgeries, tracking vital signs and reporting abnormalities
  • Provide post-op care instructions to pet parents, improving compliance by 27%

Veterinary Assistant – Happy Tails Veterinary Clinic, Boulder, CO
June 2022 – February 2023

  • Restrained animals safely during examinations and treatment procedures
  • Cleaned and disinfected kennels, exam rooms, and treatment areas
  • Managed inventory of medical supplies and medications
  • Assisted in taking and developing radiographs under supervision
  • Helped with front desk duties including appointment scheduling and client check-in

Kennel Attendant (Part-time) – Paws & Claws Pet Resort, Denver, CO
September 2021 – May 2022

  • Provided care for up to 35 dogs and cats daily in boarding facility
  • Administered medications to boarding animals following precise instructions
  • Monitored eating habits and reported behavioral changes to supervisor
  • Maintained detailed records of animal activities and interactions

EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology
Front Range Community College, Westminster, CO
Graduated: May 2022 • GPA: 3.76

Certifications:

  • Colorado Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) – June 2022
  • Pet CPR & First Aid Certification – March 2022
  • Fear Free Certified Professional – Level 1 – August 2022

SKILLS

  • Venipuncture (cephalic, jugular, saphenous)
  • Anesthesia monitoring
  • Laboratory procedures (hematology, parasitology)
  • Surgical preparation and assistance
  • Dental prophylaxis
  • Digital radiography
  • IV catheter placement
  • Cornerstone Practice Management Software
  • Client education and communication
  • Animal restraint techniques

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Volunteer, Denver Animal Shelter (2021-Present) – Assist with socializing shelter animals and basic care during weekend shifts

Mid-level Veterinary Technician Resume Example

Melissa Hernandez, CVT

Portland, OR 97214 • (503) 555-8742 • melissa.hernandez@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melissahernandez-vet

Certified Veterinary Technician with 5+ years of experience in small animal practices and emergency medicine. Known for calm handling of critical cases and building rapport with anxious pet owners. Skilled in laboratory procedures, anesthesia monitoring, and dental prophylaxis. Seeking to leverage technical expertise and compassionate care approach in a specialty veterinary setting.

EXPERIENCE

Lead Veterinary Technician | Eastside Animal Hospital | Portland, OR | March 2021 – Present

  • Supervise team of 4 vet techs and 3 assistants, creating weekly schedules and conducting performance reviews
  • Assist in 6-8 surgical procedures daily, monitoring anesthesia and preparing patients for operations
  • Reduced medication errors by 37% by implementing barcode scanning system for dispensary
  • Perform dental procedures including scaling, polishing, and dental radiographs on 40+ cases monthly
  • Train new hires on clinic protocols, equipment usage, and patient restraint techniques

Veterinary Technician | Portland Emergency Animal Hospital | Portland, OR | June 2019 – February 2021

  • Worked rotating emergency shifts including overnights and weekends in fast-paced critical care environment
  • Placed IV catheters, administered medications, and collected samples from critical patients
  • Assisted with CPR and stabilization of trauma cases during peak hours (handled 12+ emergencies per shift)
  • Communicated with distressed pet owners during emotional situations, providing updates and comfort
  • Maintained detailed medical records for transfer to primary veterinarians for follow-up care

Veterinary Assistant | Happy Paws Veterinary Clinic | Eugene, OR | August 2018 – May 2019

  • Restrained animals for examination and treatment while keeping them calm
  • Prepared examination rooms, sterilized surgical instruments, and maintained clinic cleanliness
  • Assisted technicians with blood draws, nail trims, and basic laboratory work
  • Processed payments and scheduled appointments using Cornerstone practice management software

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Associate of Applied Science, Veterinary Technology
Portland Community College | Portland, OR | 2018
GPA: 3.8/4.0 – Dean’s List all semesters

Certifications:

  • Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) – Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board (2018)
  • Fear Free Certified Professional – Level 2 (2020)
  • Basic Life Support Certification – RECOVER Initiative (2019, renewed 2022)
  • Dental Radiology Certification – Portland Veterinary Dental Training (2021)

SKILLS

  • Venipuncture & catheter placement
  • Laboratory diagnostics (CBC, chemistry, urinalysis, fecal)
  • Anesthesia monitoring & recovery
  • Dental prophylaxis & radiography
  • Wound care & bandaging
  • Client education & communication
  • Digital radiography & ultrasound assistance
  • Medication administration (PO, SC, IM, IV)
  • Software: Cornerstone, IDEXX, eVetPractice, SmartFlow
  • Surgical prep & monitoring

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
Oregon Veterinary Technician & Assistant Association (OVTAA)

Senior / Experienced Veterinary Technician Resume Example

MELISSA SANCHEZ, CVT, VTS (ECC)

msanchez.vet@gmail.com | (612) 555-8742 | Portland, OR 97211
linkedin.com/in/melissasanchezvet

Licensed Veterinary Technician with 9+ years of progressive experience in emergency, critical care, and specialty medicine settings. Recognized for exceptional patient care skills and ability to remain composed in high-stress situations. Advanced expertise in anesthesia monitoring, fluid therapy, and critical nursing care with a track record of mentoring junior staff and implementing improved clinical protocols.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Emergency & Critical Care Technician
Pacific Northwest Veterinary Specialists | Portland, OR | June 2019 – Present

  • Lead emergency technician for Level 1 trauma center handling 35+ critical cases weekly, maintaining 97% positive client satisfaction ratings
  • Developed and implemented updated triage protocols that reduced initial assessment times by 3.5 minutes per patient
  • Serve as anesthesia technician for complex surgical cases, monitoring 200+ critical patients annually with zero preventable anesthetic complications
  • Train and mentor new veterinary technicians, creating comprehensive skills checklist that improved onboarding efficiency by 27%
  • Coordinate blood donor program serving 5 regional clinics, increasing blood product availability by 43% over 2 years

Veterinary Technician
Blue Sky Animal Hospital | Eugene, OR | March 2016 – May 2019

  • Managed treatment area for 4-doctor practice, ensuring timely delivery of patient care and maintaining accurate medical records
  • Performed dental cleanings and radiographs for 8-12 patients weekly, identifying pathology requiring veterinarian intervention
  • Assisted in developing hospital formulary that reduced pharmaceutical costs by $14,760 annually while maintaining quality of care
  • Implemented Fear Free techniques that decreased patient stress scores by 31% based on in-clinic assessment tools

Veterinary Assistant/Technician Trainee
Northside Veterinary Clinic | Minneapolis, MN | August 2014 – February 2016

  • Assisted DVMs with examinations, restraint, and sample collection for 25+ daily appointments
  • Monitored hospitalized patients, administered medications, and maintained treatment sheets
  • Performed laboratory procedures including CBC, chemistry panels, urinalysis, and fecal analysis
  • Trained 3 new veterinary assistants on clinic protocols and patient handling techniques

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) in Emergency & Critical Care – 2021
Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians

Associate of Applied Science, Veterinary Technology – 2014
Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Minneapolis, MN
Graduated with honors (3.87 GPA)

Certifications:

  • Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) – Oregon, 2016-present
  • Basic Life Support Instructor – 2020
  • Fear Free Certified Professional (Elite Level) – 2018
  • Advanced Anesthesia Monitoring Certificate – 2017

TECHNICAL SKILLS

  • Advanced anesthesia monitoring & ventilator management
  • Emergency triage & shock stabilization
  • Placement of central lines, peripheral catheters & feeding tubes
  • Digital radiography & ultrasonography assistance
  • Fluid therapy & transfusion medicine
  • Laboratory diagnostics & cytology
  • Electronic medical records (Cornerstone, ezyVet, IDEXX)
  • Client communication & grief counseling
  • Staff training & protocol development

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society (VECCS)
  • National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
  • Oregon Veterinary Technician & Assistant Association

How to Write a Veterinary Technician Resume

Introduction

Landing your dream job as a vet tech starts with a resume that showcases your skills and passion for animal care. Whether you're just starting out or you've been drawing blood and monitoring anesthesia for years, your resume needs to speak directly to hiring managers at veterinary practices. I've helped hundreds of vet techs revamp their resumes, and I can tell you firsthand that the difference between getting an interview and being overlooked often comes down to how well you present your experience with animals, technical abilities, and medical knowledge.

Resume Structure and Format

Keep your resume clean and organized — just like you'd keep a treatment area! Most vet tech resumes should be 1-2 pages max, with newer techs sticking to one page. Veterinary practices are busy places, and practice managers typically spend less than 30 seconds scanning each resume.

  • Use a clean, professional font (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman work well)
  • Include clear section headings to make scanning easier
  • Use bullet points rather than paragraphs for experience
  • Leave enough white space (don't cram everything together)
  • Save your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting

Profile/Summary Section

Start with a punchy summary that highlights your experience level, technical specialties, and what makes you valuable. This is your elevator pitch! Mention your certification level (CVT, RVT, LVT) right away and any specialized skills like emergency medicine or exotic animal experience.

Don't just say you're "passionate about animals" — every vet tech is! Instead, mention specific skills like "experienced in feline handling techniques" or "proficient in dental prophylaxis procedures."

Professional Experience

This is where the magic happens. When listing your work history, focus on what you DID, not just your responsibilities. Veterinary practices want to know your hands-on skills!

  • Start bullets with strong action verbs: Administered, Monitored, Performed, Assisted
  • Include numbers when possible: "Drew blood samples from 25+ patients daily" or "Maintained anesthesia for 187 surgical procedures in 2022"
  • Highlight technical skills: venipuncture, catheter placement, dental cleaning, lab work
  • Mention specific equipment: digital radiography, in-house analyzers, ultrasound
  • Include client communication experience (a huge plus for many practices!)

Education and Certifications

List your vet tech degree, VTNE status, and any continuing education that's relevant. This section is particularly important for new grads who have less practical experience.

  • Your veterinary technology degree (AAS, BS) and school
  • Your credentials: CVT, RVT, LVT with license number
  • Related certifications: Fear Free, CPR, specialty certifications
  • Recent CE courses, especially those with hands-on components

Keywords and ATS Tips

Many larger practices and hospitals use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes. To get past these digital gatekeepers, your resume needs to include relevant keywords from the job description. Look for terms like "venipuncture," "anesthesia monitoring," "client education," and equipment names mentioned in the posting. Don't just stuff these words in randomly — integrate them naturally into your experience bullets.

Industry-specific Terms

Speaking the language of veterinary medicine shows you belong in the field. Include terminology like:

  • Technical procedures: cystocentesis, endotracheal intubation, IV catheterization
  • Diagnostic equipment: CBC, chemistry analyzer, digital radiography
  • Software: Cornerstone, ezyVet, ImproMed, AVImark
  • Treatment protocols: fluid therapy, wound management, post-op care

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using vague descriptions ("helped with surgeries" instead of "monitored anesthesia, prepared surgical sites, and assisted in patient recovery")
  • Focusing on loving animals instead of technical skills (they already know you love animals!)
  • Forgetting to list your state license number or certification status
  • Including irrelevant jobs without connecting transferable skills
  • Typos! (Would you trust someone to calculate medication doses who can't proofread?)

Before/After Example

Before: "Responsible for helping the vet with appointments and taking care of animals."

After: "Assisted DVM with 15-20 daily appointments, efficiently collecting patient histories, restraining animals for examinations, and administering prescribed medications. Performed in-house lab work including CBCs, chemistry panels, and fecal analyses with 97% accuracy rate."

See the difference? The second version shows exactly what you can do and how well you do it. That's what gets you interviews!

Soft skills for your Veterinary Technician resume

  • Client communication – explaining medical procedures to pet owners who are often stressed or emotional about their animals
  • Team coordination during emergency situations (worked with 4-person team during critical animal stabilizations)
  • Compassion fatigue management – developed personal strategies after 5 years in emergency medicine
  • Conflict resolution between staff members with different treatment approaches
  • Adaptability to clinic workflow changes (adjusted to 3 different patient management systems)
  • Mentoring junior techs – trained 7 new hires in blood draw techniques and monitoring protocols

Hard skills for your Veterinary Technician resume

  • Venipuncture & IV catheter placement in small animals (dogs, cats) and exotics
  • Dental prophylaxis including ultrasonic scaling, polishing & dental radiography
  • Proficient with Cornerstone PIMS & ImproMed Infinity practice management systems
  • Emergency triage & CPR/CPCR protocols according to RECOVER guidelines
  • Laboratory procedures including CBC, chemistry panel interpretation, urinalysis & cytology
  • Anesthesia monitoring using multi-parameter units (Cardell, SurgiVet)
  • Digital radiography positioning & technique for small animals (CR/DR systems)
  • Surgical instrument sterilization & maintenance of autoclaves
  • Administration of chemotherapy under veterinary supervision