Veterinary Assistant

Marsveterinary; Portsmouth (VA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental + vision

Paid vacation

401(k) with company match

Pet discounts

Career development opportunities

Job summary

VCA Airline Boulevard Animal Hospital in Portsmouth, VA is seeking a Veterinary Assistant to join our AAHA-accredited facility. The role supports veterinarians and technicians with exams, patient histories, and in-house diagnostics, while delivering exceptional client service in a compassionate team setting.

We offer a full-time schedule with compensation in the $16–$17 per hour range, determined by license, skill set, and experience.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a veterinary setting.
• A passion for animals and a desire to learn and grow in the veterinary field.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Comfortable handling dogs and cats of all sizes and temperaments.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Responsibilities

• Assist veterinarians and technicians with exams and procedures.
• Take patient histories and perform TPRs (temperature, pulse, respiration).
• Restrain animals safely and compassionately.
• Prepare and clean exam rooms.
• Assist with radiographs, lab sample collection, and basic in-house diagnostics.
• Maintain accurate medical records and support charting.
• Provide client education and ensure excellent service during visits.
• Support surgery prep and recovery as needed.
• Help maintain a clean, stocked, and organized hospital environment.

Skills

Veterinary experience

Communication

Teamwork

Dog and cat handling

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Seeking a Veterinary Assistant!

Location: 615 Airline Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23707

Schedule: Full- time opportunity.

Compensation : $16 - $17/hr and the starting range is determined by license, skill set, and years of experience in the field.

Join Our Amazing Team at VCA Airline Boulevard Animal Hospital ! We’re currently seeking a Veterinary Assistant to join our dedicated and compassionate team.

About Us:

In our AAHA-accredited facility at VCA Airline Boulevard Animal Hospital, we help pets live long, healthy and happy lives. We work hard to deliver the best medical care for pets, as well as the best experience for clients.

Why VCA

We are passionate about supporting veterinary assistant and are committed to your personal career development. VCA is a community of dedicated professionals that will encourage you to explore everything a veterinary technician career has to offer. We are committed to equity, inclusion, and diversity, and strive to be a place where a talented mix of people want to come, stay, and do their best work. We support a work environment where you can focus on your career, your happiness, and the patients you serve. Below are some of the many benefits of joining the VCA team!

Career Support

• Access to the people and resources of a large veterinary community

• Advancement and leadership opportunities

• Internal CE and development opportunities

• Free NAVTA membership, access to VetFolio, Plumbs App, and more

• Tuition assistance including Veterinary Technology Associates, Bachelors completion and more

Health & Well Being

• Medical, dental & vision insurance, a variety of additional coverage options

• Free mental health care through Lyra Health (up to 12 sessions a year)

• Access to free counseling through Cigna Life Assistance program

• Access to Headspace app

• Fully employer-paid life, long-term and short-term disability insurance

• Paid vacation, paid sick time, holiday pay

• Paid parental leave

• Fertility coverage, gender affirmation services

• Growing network of onsite social workers

Other Perks

• Generous hospital discounts for your pets, a variety of other discounts including cellular service, apparel, computer equipment, etc.

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match

• Referral bonus opportunities

• Practice management software with digital innovations for streamlined practice flow and client communication

Why We Want You!

As a member of VCA Airline Boulevard , you will support technician and doctor teams by creating a positive, low-stress atmosphere for our clients and patients. Your mission will be to win the confidence of every pet parent—by delivering an outstanding client experience—so we can provide exceptional care to every patient.

You have worked hard to gain experience and we want you to use the knowledge that you have invested your time and talent in.

What You'll Do (Day-to-Day Responsibilities):

• Assistveterinarians and technicians with exams and procedures

• Take patient histories and perform TPRs (temperature, pulse, respiration)

• Restrain animals safely and compassionately

• Prepare and clean exam rooms

• Assistwith radiographs, lab sample collection, and basic in-house diagnostics

• Maintainaccuratemedical records and support charting

• Provide client education and ensure excellent service during visits

• Support surgery prep and recovery as needed

• Helpmaintaina clean, stocked, and organized hospital environment

Qualifications:

• Previousexperience in a veterinary setting

• A passion for animals and a desire to learn and grow in the veterinary field

• Excellent communication and teamwork skills

• Comfortable handling dogs and cats of all sizes and temperaments

• High school diploma or equivalent required

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!

The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)

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