Veterinary Technician, ER

Socket.dev; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Flexible Spending Account

401(k)

Employee Assistance Program

three weeks of accrued paid time off

uniform allowance

CE allowance

RVT license reimbursement

Job summary

Advanced Veterinary Specialists in Santa Barbara, CA, is seeking a Day Shift Emergency Veterinary Technician to join our ER/ICU team. You will aid critically ill patients, work with veterinarians and specialists, and expand skills in anesthesia, critical care, and emergency nursing.

The role offers a $1,000 sign-on bonus, four 10‑hour or three 12‑hour shifts, and a $26.00–$35.00/hour pay range depending on experience. This is a full-time position at a premier emergency veterinary hospital.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of clinical veterinary hospital experience.
• RVT license preferred; VACSP within 60 days of hire if applicable.
• Strong nursing/technical skills in emergency and critical care.
• Ability to calculate drug dosages, CRIs, estimates and invoices.

Responsibilities

• Triage, assess, stabilize, and monitor emergency and critically ill patients.
• Administer medications, IV fluids, CRIs, and prescribed treatments.
• Assist veterinarians with diagnostics, procedures, surgery, sedation, and anesthesia.
• Perform venipuncture, IV catheter placement, sample collection, and in-house labs.
• Monitor vitals, maintain EMR, and communicate with pet owners.
• Provide wound care, postoperative nursing, and ICU patient care.

Skills

Emergency nursing

Triage & monitoring

Medication administration

IV therapy

Venipuncture

Anesthesia monitoring

Education

High school diploma

California RVT license preferred

Tools

Anesthesia monitoring equipment

In-house lab equipment

Job description

Emergency Veterinary Technician – Day Shift – ER/ICU

$26.00–$35.00/hour (DOE)
$1,000 Sign-On Bonus
Full-time opportunity in Santa Barbara, California
Schedule: Day Shift | Four 10-hour shifts or three 12-hour shifts

Build your Emergency & Critical Care veterinary career with Advanced Veterinary Specialists (AVS). As a Day Shift Emergency Veterinary Technician, you'll provide hands‑on nursing care for emergency, ICU, and critically ill patients while working alongside experienced emergency veterinarians and board‑certified specialists.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Emergency Veterinary Technician, ER Vet Tech, RVT, ICU Veterinary Technician, or Critical Care Veterinary Technician who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and wants to expand their skills in emergency medicine, critical care, anesthesia, and advanced patient care.

Why Join Advanced Veterinary Specialists

Advanced Veterinary Specialists is a 24-hour specialty and emergency veterinary hospital in Santa Barbara. Our multidisciplinary team includes board‑certified specialists in Surgery, Oncology, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Dentistry alongside highly skilled Emergency veterinarians.

You’ll manage diverse and complex emergency cases while working in a collaborative environment focused on clinical excellence, mentorship, continuing education, and professional growth.

In Your Day-to-Day, You Will

• Triage, assess, stabilize, and monitor emergency and critically ill patients.
• Administer medications, IV fluids, continuous rate infusions (CRIs), and prescribed treatments.
• Assist Emergency veterinarians with diagnostics, emergency procedures, surgery, sedation, and anesthesia.
• Perform venipuncture, IV catheter placement, sample collection, and in‑house laboratory testing.
• Monitor vital signs, recognize changes in patient condition, and maintain accurate electronic medical records.
• Provide wound care, post‑operative nursing, and ongoing care for hospitalized and ICU patients.
• Communicate compassionately with pet owners regarding patient care and discharge instructions.
• Collaborate with Emergency veterinarians, specialists, Veterinary Technicians, and support teams to deliver exceptional patient care.

What You Bring

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of two years of clinical veterinary hospital experience.
• Emergency, Critical Care, ICU, or Specialty veterinary experience strongly preferred.
• Strong veterinary nursing and technical skills, including emergency triage, venipuncture, IV catheter placement, medication administration, and advanced patient monitoring.
• Experience with anesthesia and anesthetic monitoring preferred.
• Ability to accurately calculate drug dosages, CRIs, estimates, and invoices.
• Excellent communication, organization, multitasking, and client service skills.
• Current California Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) license preferred.
• California Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit (VACSP) required within 60 days of hire unless waived by a current California RVT license.
• Interest in pursuing a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) credential welcomed.

Perks & Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401(k)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• three weeks of accrued paid time off
• uniform allowance
• annual Veterinary Technician/RVT CE allowance
• VetBloom access with RACE-approved continuing education and training
• RVT license application and renewal reimbursement
• and professional development and career advancement opportunities.

Location Highlight

Build your Emergency Veterinary Technician career in beautiful Santa Barbara, with access to beaches, mountains, hiking, dining, and year‑round outdoor recreation. AVS is accessible to veterinary professionals throughout Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Montecito, Summerland, Ventura, Oxnard, and surrounding Central Coast communities.

About Ethos Veterinary Health

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

Across our network of more than 140 specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You’ll work alongside respected veterinary professionals in hospitals designed for learning, collaboration, and clinical excellence.

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 help advance veterinary medicine—together.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ethos Veterinary Health 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 applicable law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.