Licensed Veterinary Technician, Surgery

ethosveterinaryhealth; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 85,962,000 - 114,616,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus up to $5,000

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Shift differentials: $3/hr weekend day

401(k) retirement plan

CE budget and anesthesia credentialing

Job summary

Summit Veterinary Referral Center in Tacoma, WA seeks a Licensed Veterinary Technician for our Surgery department. This full-time role offers a fast-paced, high-acuity surgical setting with access to advanced imaging, board-certified specialists, and a generous CE budget.

Ideal candidates have WA LVT licensure, at least 2 years of experience, and strong anesthesia skills. Join a collaborative team delivering exceptional patient care in a thriving referral hospital.

Qualifications

• Active Washington LVT license or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Minimum 2 years of experience as a licensed veterinary technician.
• Surgical or specialty experience preferred; VTS in Anesthesia encouraged to apply.
• Strong anesthesia monitoring, venipuncture, catheter placement, and medication administration.
• Collaborative, calm, adaptable, and team-focused in a fast-paced surgical environment.

Responsibilities

• Induce, monitor, and recover patients under general anesthesia for surgical procedures.
• Provide direct surgical suite support — patient prep, draping, and post-op recovery.
• Perform venipuncture, IV and urinary catheter placement, and fluid therapy.
• Administer medications via PO, SQ, IM, and IV routes.
• Assist with advanced imaging including CT, MRI, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and X-ray.
• Educate pet owners on post-operative and at-home care instructions.
• Collaborate across specialty departments, including internal medicine, neurology, oncology, and cardiology.
• Work closely with veterinarians, technicians, and support teams.

Skills

LVT license

2+ years experience

Surgical experience

Anesthesia monitoring

Team collaboration

Education

LVT license in WA

Tools

CT imaging

MRI imaging

Fluoroscopy

Ultrasound

X-ray

Job description

Licensed Veterinary Technician - Surgery

Summit Veterinary Referral Center

$30–$40/hour + Shift Differentials + Sign-On Bonus Up to $5,000

Full-time opportunity in Tacoma / South Puget Sound, WA

Schedule: 3 × 12-hour shifts or 4 × 10-hour shifts. On-call shifts required.

Summit Veterinary Referral Center, the largest emergency and specialty hospital in the South Puget Sound, is hiring experienced surgical LVTs to join our surgery department. If you're a licensed veterinary technician who wants to work in a high-acuity surgical environment with access to advanced imaging, board-certified specialists, and a genuine CE budget, this is the role.

Why Join Summit Veterinary Referral Center

At Summit Veterinary Referral Center, part of Ethos Veterinary Health, you'll be part of the largest emergency and specialty veterinary referral center in the South Puget Sound, with 13 years in the region. We operate 7 surgical suites with CT, MRI, fluoroscopy, endoscopy, echocardiography, telemetry, digital radiography, and ultrasound. Daily grand rounds and around-the-clock specialist availability set us apart, and we have real structures in place to support long-term career sustainability.

In your day-to-day, you will:

• Induce, monitor, and recover patients under general anesthesia for surgical procedures
• Provide direct surgical suite support — patient prep, draping, and post-op recovery
• Perform venipuncture, IV and urinary catheter placement, and fluid therapy
• Administer controlled and non-controlled medications via PO, SQ, IM, and IV routes
• Assist with advanced imaging including CT, MRI, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and X-ray
• Educate pet owners on post-operative and at-home care instructions
• Collaborate across specialty departments, including internal medicine, neurology, oncology, and cardiology
• Work closely with veterinarians, technicians, and support teams
• Contribute to a positive, team-focused hospital culture

What You Bring

• Active Washington LVT license (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire)
• Minimum 2 years of experience as a licensed veterinary technician
• Specialty or surgical veterinary experience preferred, but not required; VTS in Anesthesia (or currently pursuing) strongly encouraged to apply
• Strong technical skills in anesthesia monitoring, venipuncture, catheter placement, and medication administration; calm, adaptable, and collaborative in a fast-paced surgical environment
• A collaborative mindset and commitment to exceptional patient care

Perks & Benefits

Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance

• Competitive compensation, including shift differentials ($3/hr weekend day, $4/hr weekday night, $7/hr weekend night)
• Sign-on bonus up to $5,000
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Continuing education budget: CE, dues, license fees, and uniform allowances covered, plus VTS support and anesthesia credentialing pathways
• Paid time off
• Retirement savings options (401(k))
• Employee assistance program with a focus on mental health, and real systems built for long-term career sustainability

Location Highlight

Tacoma sits at the gateway to the South Puget Sound, offering easy access to Mount Rainier, Puget Sound waterways, and a revitalized downtown with a growing food and arts scene. With Seattle just 30–40 minutes north, you get small-city affordability and character alongside big-city amenities.

About Ethos Veterinary Health

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.

Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery.

Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally.

At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.

Join Us

At Ethos, this isn't just a job, it's an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level and help shape the future of veterinary care.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.