Certified Veterinary Technician ICU

VCA Animal Hospitals; West Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Continuing education allowance

NAVTA membership

Vet tech scholarships

Pet discounts

Uniforms provided

Job summary

VCA Veterinary Specialists of CT in West Hartford, CT seeks a Certified Veterinary Technician to join a full‑service ICU team. You will perform exams, assist with anesthesia, surgery, and patient care using modern diagnostics.

This hands-on role emphasizes learning and growth within a collaborative culture, offering opportunities for ongoing education and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Must be a CVT with current license.
• Experience in anesthesia induction, monitoring and recovery.
• Proficient in diagnostic procedures and patient records.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative ICU.

Responsibilities

• Performs exams, gathers histories, and records vitals.
• Administers vaccines, medications, and treatments with accurate dosing.
• Places IV catheters and manages fluid therapy.
• Inducts, maintains, and monitors anesthesia for routine and surgical procedures.
• Assists in surgery, including spay/neuter and instrument prep.
• Performs radiography and basic diagnostic lab work (bloodwork, urinalysis, etc.).
• Provides dental care support, including cleanings and dental radiographs.
• Educates clients on preventive care and at-home instructions.
• Maintains accurate medical records and communicates with veterinarians and the care team.
• Supports patient comfort and handling across cases.

Skills

Certified Veterinary Technician

Job description

Credentialed Veterinary Technicians don't come along every day — and we know it.

VCA Veterinary Specialists of CT is looking for a compassionate, experienced Certified Veterinary Technician to join a team that values your skills, respects your expertise, and gives you the tools to actually use them. This is a hands-on role where your skills and experience will be put to real use — patient care, treatment support, anesthesia, surgery assisting, and everything in between.

As a CVT at VCA Veterinary Specialists of CT, you'll be part of a full-service ICU team in West Hartford, CT, gaining hands-on experience across diagnostics, and surgical procedures, and ICU nursing — working alongside experienced veterinarians and a dedicated care team using modern diagnostic technology in a hospital built on excellence, high-quality patient care, and a collaborative, team-based approach to medicine. It's an environment made for CVTs who want to keep learning, stay challenged, and grow their technical skills across the full spectrum of small animal medicine.

Compensation: $30.00 - $40.00 / hr based on skill set, experience and licensure status.

Schedule: Full time (3) 12 hour shifts, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Certified Veterinary Technician Responsibilities

• Performs and assists with physical exams, gathering patient histories and vitals for the veterinary team
• Administers vaccines, medications, and treatments as directed, with accurate dosing and documentation
• Places IV catheters, performs venipuncture, and manages fluid therapy
• Inducts, maintains, and monitors anesthesia for routine and surgical procedures, tracking vitals throughout
• Assists in surgery, including spay/neuter and other routine procedures, along with instrument prep and sterilization
• Performs radiography and basic diagnostic imaging, along with in-house lab work (bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal exams, etc.)
• Provides dental care support, including cleanings, polishing, and dental radiographs
• Educates clients on preventive care, nutrition, medications, and at-home care instructions
• Maintains accurate medical records and communicates clearly with veterinarians and the care team
• Supports patient comfort and handling across a wide variety of routine and more involved cases

We're looking for someone positive, motivated, and ready to bring ideas to the table — our team meets frequently, and your input genuinely shapes how we grow. We protect our culture fiercely, and that means hiring people with the determination to rise above obstacles, wear multiple hats, and show up for their team.

VCA Total Rewards Benefits Package:

Career Growth & Education

• $750 / year continuing education allowance for CrVTs
• Up to 16 paid continue education hours per year
• VCA-sponsored Veterinary Technician National Exam + employer-paid test prep
• Paid yearly NAVTA membership & state credential renewal
• VCA-sponsored scholarships and generous discounts to Penn Foster's Veterinary Technician Program
• Woof University: free, RACE-approved CE, training and job support webinars on demand
• Free subscriptions to Vetfolio and Plumb's online formulary, plus substantial VETgirl savings
• Unlimited access to Mars Veterinary Health library (2,000+ journals, 600+ textbooks)
• Nationwide hospital transfer opportunities

Time Off & Family Support

• Paid vacation (2 weeks for CrVTs) and paid sick days
• Paid parental leave & fertility benefits
• Paid bereavement days

Health & Wellness

• Free mental health support through the Cigna Life Assistance Program & Lyra
• Free Headspace subscription (meditation and sleep support)

Perks for You & Your Pets

• Generous hospital discounts for your personal pets, including free vaccines
• Discounted Hills or Royal Canin pet food delivered to your home
• 3 pairs of scrubs per year

Compensation & Financial Security

• 401(k) retirement savings with employer contribution
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA/FSA options
• Multiple, flexible health insurance plans to fit your needs
• 100% employer-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Employer-paid basic life insurance

…and more!

Take a moment to watch what life as a veterinary technician at VCA looks like, straight from a technician's point of view: 684755121/10c909cb5

Why VCA

VCA is one of the largest networks of animal hospitals in the country — but you'd never know it from the way we operate. Every hospital keeps its own identity, its own team, and its own culture, while giving you access to the resources, mentorship, and career opportunities of a national organization behind you. You get the best of both: the tight-knit feel of a local practice and the backing, benefits, and growth potential of an industry leader.

We're genuinely invested in your career — not just your job. From continuing education to credential support to nationwide transfer opportunities if life takes you somewhere new, we build the kind of support system that helps technicians build real, lasting careers, not just punch a clock. This is a place where your work is seen, your growth is prioritized, and your future in this field actually matters to us.

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com