Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Licensed Veterinary Technician

🎯 Role Definition

A Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) is a credentialed clinical professional who supports veterinarians by performing medical, diagnostic, and patient-care duties under supervision. The LVT is responsible for patient triage, anesthesia and surgical assistance, dental procedures, laboratory testing, medication administration, radiography, client education, and maintaining compliance with state regulations and clinic policies. This role combines technical expertise with excellent client communication, compassion for patients, and meticulous recordkeeping to ensure high-quality veterinary care and smooth clinic operations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Veterinary Assistant or Animal Care Attendant
Recent graduate of an accredited Veterinary Technology program
Military Veterinary Specialist or civilian animal care experience

Advancement To:

Lead or Senior Veterinary Technician
Specialty Veterinary Technician (e.g., anesthesia, emergency/critical care, dentistry)
Practice Manager or Clinic Operations Manager
Veterinary Technologist or Clinical Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Veterinary Reception or Client Services Manager
Shelter Medicine Technician or Rescue Coordinator
Veterinary Sales or Pharmaceutical Technical Representative

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Triage patients on arrival, obtain comprehensive medical histories, perform focused physical examinations, record vitals, and prioritize cases by medical urgency while communicating findings to the attending veterinarian.
Prepare patients for procedures by placing IV catheters, securing vascular access, calculating and administering premedications, induction and maintenance anesthetic agents, and continuously monitoring anesthetic depth and physiologic parameters using manual assessment and electronic monitors.
Provide intraoperative surgical assistance including sterile instrument handling, patient positioning, surgical site preparation, suction and retraction support, suture handling, and accurate surgical counts to support aseptic technique and patient safety.
Perform dental prophylaxis and oral surgery support: scale and polish teeth, apply fluoride, place dental radiographs, chart periodontal disease, and assist veterinarian with extractions and other dental procedures.
Collect and process diagnostic samples (blood, urine, cytology, feces, swabs), conduct in-house laboratory testing (CBC, chemistry, urinalysis, cytology, SNAP tests), and prepare samples for external reference labs with proper labeling and documentation.
Obtain and interpret digital radiographs and basic imaging (positioning, exposure settings, and preliminary image evaluation), perform ultrasound assistance, and ensure safe radiation protocols and recordkeeping.
Administer medications, IV fluids, and blood products under veterinarian direction; calculate dosages, prepare and label medications, maintain controlled substances logs, and follow storage and disposal regulations for pharmaceuticals.
Provide emergency and critical care support including CPR, triage stabilization, continuous monitoring of critical patients, wound management, chest tube care, and coordinating rapid diagnostics and interventions during emergencies.
Educate clients on treatment plans, preventive care, medication administration, postoperative home care, nutrition, behavior, and zoonotic disease risks; document conversations and ensure client understanding and adherence.
Maintain accurate and timely medical records in the practice management system (SOAP notes, anesthesia records, surgical logs, laboratory results), ensuring legal and regulatory compliance and effective communication among clinical team members.
Perform comprehensive patient monitoring post-anesthesia and post-procedure: pain assessment, wound checks, bandage changes, drain management, feeding support, and step-down care until discharge criteria are met.
Prepare, sterilize, and maintain surgical instruments and equipment using appropriate cleaning, sterilization, and storage protocols; troubleshoot equipment and report malfunctions to management.
Execute dental and surgical radiography quality control and image archiving; optimize imaging protocols and ensure adherence to radiation safety standards (dosimetry, shielding, personnel safety).
Manage inventory for medical, surgical, diagnostic and pharmacy supplies: order, receive, stock, rotate, monitor expiration dates, and reconcile invoices and controlled substance counts to minimize waste and ensure readiness.
Lead and participate in clinic infection control programs, isolation protocols, biohazard disposal, and OSHA/Bloodborne Pathogen compliance to reduce nosocomial risk and protect staff and patients.
Assist in euthanasia procedures with compassionate handling, technical support (sedation, injection), proper documentation, and guidance to grieving clients, ensuring dignity and regulatory compliance.
Train, mentor, and supervise non-licensed staff and veterinary assistants: demonstrate clinical procedures, assess competencies, and provide feedback to maintain high standards of patient care.
Support quality improvement projects by collecting clinical data, implementing new protocols (e.g., pain scoring, anesthesia checklists), and auditing adherence to standard operating procedures.
Prepare and administer outpatient treatments and in-hospital therapies (wound care, bandage changes, nebulization, oxygen therapy) while documenting responses and reporting concerns to the veterinarian.
Maintain and calibrate monitoring equipment (ECG, capnography, pulse oximetry, blood pressure monitors), perform routine maintenance checks, and coordinate preventative maintenance with vendors.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing controlled substances, medical records retention, and veterinary licensing; prepare documentation for inspections and audits as requested.

Secondary Functions

Support clinic training initiatives: develop in-service materials, lead team huddles, and maintain competency checklists for clinical tasks.
Participate in client outreach and community education events promoting preventive medicine (vaccination clinics, microchipping, spay/neuter campaigns).
Assist with clinic marketing or educational content by contributing clinical expertise to social media posts, blogs, or client handouts.
Coordinate patient flow and communicate effectively with the front desk to optimize appointment scheduling and reduce wait times.
Collaborate with practice management on inventory analytics, vendor negotiations, and identifying cost-savings for medical supplies.
Contribute to the development and revision of clinical protocols, vaccine schedules, pain management plans, and emergency response procedures.
Participate in morbidity and mortality reviews and case debriefs to identify clinical learning opportunities and system improvements.
Support telemedicine initiatives by collecting patient history, preliminary photos, and preparing case summaries for remote veterinarian evaluation.
Maintain continuing education records and assist management with tracking staff license renewals and certifications.
Assist with shelter or outreach medical days including setup, triage, vaccination, and documentation for mobile or pop-up clinics.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Licensed Veterinary Technician credential (LVT, CVT, RVT) in good standing with current state registration or certification; thorough knowledge of state practice acts and scope of practice.
Proficient anesthesia and analgesia management: pre-anesthetic assessment, drug calculations, induction/recovery protocols, local/regional anesthesia, and pain scoring.
Venipuncture, blood collection, IV catheter placement, fluid therapy, and blood transfusion support with sterile technique and complication management.
Diagnostic laboratory skills: proficiency with CBC/chemistry analyzers, urinalysis, cytology preparation and interpretation, SNAP/point-of-care testing, and sample triage for external labs.
Dental skills including dental charting, cleaning (scaling/polishing), periodontal probe use, intraoral and extraoral dental radiography, and post-operative dental care.
Radiography competence: patient positioning, exposure settings, digital radiography acquisition, safety protocols, and basic image critique.
Emergency and critical care techniques: triage, CPR (BLS for small animals), oxygen therapy, wound stabilization, chest tube management, and monitoring unstable patients.
Experience with practice management software (e.g., Avimark, Cornerstone, ImproMed, eVetPractice) and electronic medical record documentation.
Controlled substance handling, accurate narcotic logs, pharmaceutical inventory control, and familiarity with DEA/controlled substances procedures as applicable.
Sterilization and instrument processing knowledge including autoclave operation, ultrasonics, instrument inspection, and sterile packaging techniques.
Basic imaging and monitoring device operation and interpretation: ECG, capnography, pulse oximetry, blood pressure monitoring, and body temperature regulation.

Soft Skills

Exceptional client communication and empathy: explain medical conditions, treatment options, and post-care instructions in clear, compassionate language.
Strong multitasking and time-management abilities to triage cases, manage concurrent patients, and prioritize urgent interventions in a fast-paced environment.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to recognize changes in patient status, anticipate complications, and escalate concerns to the veterinarian promptly.
Team leadership and mentorship: coach junior staff, delegate tasks, and foster a collaborative clinic culture focused on patient safety and learning.
Attention to detail and documentation accuracy to ensure legal compliance, medication safety, and continuity of patient care.
Emotional resilience and stress management for handling euthanasia, emergencies, and high-acuity caseloads with professionalism.
Adaptability and continuous learning orientation to adopt new protocols, technologies, and evidence-based practices.
Professionalism and ethical judgment when dealing with client confidentiality, consent, and medical decision-making.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology from an AVMA-accredited program (or equivalent) and active state licensure/registration as a Veterinary Technician (LVT/RVT/CVT).

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, or related biological science; additional certifications (e.g., Fear Free, VTS specialty track, credentialing in dentistry or anesthesia) are highly valued.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Veterinary Technology / Veterinary Nursing
Animal Science or Biology
Pre-Veterinary Medicine / Life Sciences

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of clinical veterinary technician experience for general practice roles; 3+ years preferred for lead or specialty positions.

Preferred:

Prior experience in emergency/critical care, dentistry, or surgical services; leadership or supervisory experience; demonstrated competence with in-house diagnostics, anesthesia monitoring, and client education.
Active BLS/CPR certification for animals and documented continuing education hours in clinical areas relevant to the practice.