Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Licensed Veterinary Technician

🎯 Role Definition

A Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT/CVT/RVT) is a credentialed clinical professional who supports veterinarians in medical, surgical and emergency care of companion and/or large animals. The LVT performs patient assessment, anesthesia and surgical nursing, diagnostic testing, radiography, dental procedures, client education, medication administration, and accurate medical record documentation while maintaining compliance with state veterinary board regulations and controlled substance protocols. Ideal candidates demonstrate strong technical clinical skills (anesthesia monitoring, IV catheter placement, lab diagnostics, digital radiography), proficiency with practice management software (Avimark, Cornerstone, ImproMed), and excellent communication and client-education abilities.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Veterinary Assistant progressing after on-the-job training and certification.
Recent graduate from an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology associate degree program.
Licensed LVT/CVT relocating from another state or returning from military veterinary technician work.

Advancement To:

Lead/Head Veterinary Technician or Shift Supervisor
Veterinary Practice Manager or Hospital Administrator
Specialty Technician (ER/ICU, ECC, Anesthesia, Dentistry)
Clinical Instructor / Veterinary Technology Program Instructor

Lateral Moves:

Emergency & Critical Care Technician
Surgical Technician (specialty practice)
Veterinary Client Care Coordinator
Veterinary Pharmaceutical/Biotech Field Representative

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform comprehensive patient triage and nursing assessments, document vital signs, pain scores, physical exam findings and behavioral observations in the medical record to support diagnostic and treatment planning by the veterinarian.
Prepare, induce, maintain and recover patients under general anesthesia using appropriate anesthetic protocols, oxygen delivery, ventilatory support, analgesia and continuous physiologic monitoring (ECG, pulse oximetry, capnography, blood pressure, temperature).
Assist in surgical procedures as a sterile scrub technician: prepare surgical packs, instrument sets, perform surgical scrub, maintain aseptic technique, pass instruments, assist with suture patterns and wound management and ensure surgical counts.
Place and maintain IV catheters and administer fluid therapy (CRI and bolus), monitor central and peripheral lines, detect complications (phlebitis, infiltration) and document fluid balance accurately.
Conduct diagnostic imaging including digital radiography and basic ultrasound support: position patients, set exposure parameters, apply radiation safety (ALARA), process and evaluate images for diagnostic quality.
Perform dental prophylaxis and dental radiography: ultrasonic scaling, polishing, charting periodontal disease, taking intraoral radiographs, assisting with extractions and providing postoperative dental care instructions to clients.
Collect, prepare and process laboratory specimens (blood, urine, cytology, fecal) for in-house diagnostics and external reference labs; run and interpret automated CBC/chemistry analyzers, blood smears, urinalysis strips and microscopy.
Administer prescribed medications (oral, IM, SQ, IV), maintain accurate MARs, educate clients on medication administration at home and ensure compliance with controlled substance logging and DEA/state regulations.
Execute emergency triage and stabilization for trauma, toxin exposure and critical illness: initiate CPR, advanced life support protocols, oxygen therapy, emergency drug administration and continuous monitoring in the ER/ICU setting.
Provide compassionate euthanasia support under veterinarian direction: prepare medications, monitor patient comfort, communicate sensitively with clients, complete associated documentation and properly dispose of medical waste.
Perform phlebotomy, pack and label blood samples for transfusion compatibility testing, and support veterinary blood transfusion procedures including monitoring for reactions and recording transfusion events.
Maintain accurate, timely medical records and SOAP notes in practice management software (Avimark, Cornerstone, ImproMed), including lab results, anesthesia records, surgical reports and discharge instructions for SEO-friendly documentation.
Execute wound care and bandaging: perform wound debridement under direction, apply appropriate dressings, manage drains, change bandages, monitor for infection and instruct owners on home care.
Monitor hospitalized patients’ pain management plans, adjust nursing care per pain assessments, administer multimodal analgesia and record outcomes to support recovery and quality-of-life decisions.
Assist with cytology preparation, staining and interpretation (FNA smears, ear cytology, exfoliative cytology) and escalate abnormal or urgent findings to the veterinarian for diagnostic follow-up.
Manage isolation and infection control protocols: enforce biosecurity, clean/disinfect kennels and treatment areas, process infectious waste and educate staff on zoonotic precautions and PPE usage.
Operate and troubleshoot common clinic equipment (autoclave, anesthesia machines, suction units, oxygen concentrators), perform sterilization and preventive maintenance routines and escalate repairs as needed.
Triage and counsel clients: explain diagnostic results and procedures in lay terms, deliver pre- and post-operative care instructions, discuss preventive care (vaccination, parasite control, nutrition) and document client communications.
Conduct quality assurance on lab results, anesthesia logs and sterilization indicators, participate in morbidity/mortality reviews and implement corrective actions to improve patient safety and clinic compliance.
Lead patient flow and scheduling support during busy shifts: prioritize urgent cases, coordinate with veterinarians and support staff to optimize throughput and client satisfaction.
Participate in inventory management: order medical and surgical supplies, track lot numbers and expirations (including vaccines and controlled drugs), reconcile invoices and manage vendor relationships to ensure uninterrupted clinical operations.
Train and mentor junior technicians, veterinary assistants and new hires on clinical protocols, safety procedures, equipment use and best practices to raise clinic standards and reduce errors.
Support practice marketing and community outreach by representing the clinic at health fairs, vaccination clinics and educational programs while providing clear, professional information about veterinary services and preventive care.
Ensure compliance with state veterinary board requirements and maintain licensure/continuing education documentation; coordinate license renewals, CE tracking and competency assessments as required.

Secondary Functions

Assist with periodic audit tasks (medical record audits, controlled substances audits) and contribute corrective action plans to address compliance gaps.
Support practice management initiatives including workflow optimization, protocol standardization and implementation of electronic medical record templates to improve clinical efficiency.
Help maintain the clinic’s OSHA and safety programs by participating in staff training sessions, equipment safety checks and incident reporting.
Collect and analyze operational data (turnaround times, patient volumes, inventory usage) to provide actionable recommendations to practice management.
Participate in case reviews and client follow-ups by calling clients post-procedure to monitor recovery, reinforce home care and identify complications early.
Contribute to staff cross-training programs and scheduling flexibility to cover emergency shifts, weekend rotations and on-call duties as part of a resilient clinical team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Licensed/certified Veterinary Technician credential (LVT, CVT, RVT) in good standing with the state veterinary board.
Proficient anesthesia monitoring and management: induction, intubation, CRIs, ventilator basics, capnography, pulse oximetry, blood pressure management.
Surgical nursing and aseptic technique: instrument handling, sterile field maintenance, knot-tying assistance and postoperative wound management.
Diagnostic imaging skills: digital radiography positioning and exposure, basic ultrasound assistance, dental radiography.
Phlebotomy, IV catheter placement and fluid therapy competence, including catheter care and monitoring for complications.
Clinical laboratory proficiency: CBC, blood chemistry, urinalysis, cytology preparation and interpretation, fecal exams and point-of-care testing.
Dental prophylaxis and oral surgery assistance, including dental charting and intraoral radiograph acquisition.
Emergency and critical care protocols: triage, oxygen therapy, CPR, emergency drug administration, transfusion monitoring.
Practice management software experience (Avimark, Cornerstone, ImproMed, HippoIMS) and electronic medical record documentation best practices.
Controlled substance handling and record-keeping (DEA/state logs), medication reconciliation and inventory control.
Sterilization and infection control techniques: autoclave operation, sterilization indicators, PPE use and isolation procedures.
Client communication and discharge instruction preparation with an emphasis on compliance and patient outcomes.

Soft Skills

Compassionate client communication and emotional intelligence when delivering difficult news or end-of-life care.
Strong teamwork and collaboration skills across veterinarians, technicians and support staff to maintain high-quality patient care.
Exceptional attention to detail for accurate charting, medication dosing and lab result interpretation.
Effective time management and prioritization in a fast-paced, high-acuity clinical environment.
Problem-solving and critical thinking under pressure during emergencies and complex cases.
Teaching and mentoring aptitude to onboard and upskill junior staff and peers.
Adaptability and resilience: ability to handle schedule variability, emergencies and emotionally challenging situations.
Professionalism and ethical judgment in patient care, confidentiality and compliance with regulatory standards.
Customer service orientation focused on client education, retention and satisfaction.
Initiative to identify process improvements and contribute to clinic quality assurance.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate degree in Veterinary Technology from an AVMA-accredited program or equivalent, plus current state LVT/CVT/RVT licensure.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, or related field; specialty certifications (e.g., VTS in Emergency/Critical Care, Dentistry, Anesthesia) are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Veterinary Technology / Animal Health
Biology, Animal Science, Pre-Veterinary Studies
Emergency & Critical Care (specialty training or certificates)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years in general practice for entry-to-mid level roles; 3–7+ years preferred for lead, specialty or emergency technician positions.

Preferred:

Prior experience in small animal general practice, emergency/critical care, surgery or dental services.
Demonstrated competency in anesthesia, surgical nursing, radiography, laboratory diagnostics and client communication.
Experience with practice management software, inventory systems and DEA/compliance procedures.
Participation in continuing education and active pursuit of specialty credentialing or advanced clinical skills.