Veterinary Technician, ER

ethosveterinaryhealth; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, disability, &

life insurance

401(k)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Three weeks PTO

Uniform allowance

CE allowance

RVT license reimbursement

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Ethos Veterinary Health in Santa Barbara is seeking a Day Shift Emergency Veterinary Technician to provide hands‑on nursing care for emergency, ICU, and critically ill patients alongside experienced veterinarians and board‑certified specialists. You’ll triage, administer meds, assist with anesthesia, and communicate with pet owners.

Two years of ER/ICU experience and strong nursing skills are preferred; California RVT license is desirable.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least 2 years of clinical veterinary hospital experience.
• Emergency, ICU or specialty experience strongly preferred.
• Strong nursing and technical skills including triage, venipuncture, IV catheter, meds and monitoring.
• Experience with anesthesia and anesthetic monitoring preferred.
• Ability to calculate drug dosages, CRIs, estimates, and invoices.
• Excellent communication, organization, multitasking, and client service.
• California RVT license preferred; VACSP required within 60 days of hire unless waived.

Responsibilities

• Triage, assess, stabilize, and monitor emergency and critically ill patients.
• Administer medications, IV fluids, CRIs, and prescribed treatments.
• Assist Emergency veterinarians with diagnostics, procedures, surgery, sedation, and anesthesia.
• Perform venipuncture, IV catheter placement, sample collection, and in‑house labs.
• Monitor vital signs, changes in patient condition, and maintain EMR records.
• Provide wound care, post‑operative nursing, and ongoing ICU care.
• Communicate compassionately with owners regarding care and discharge.
• Collaborate with team to deliver exceptional patient care.

Skills

Emergency nursing

ICU/critical care

Anesthesia monitoring

Medication administration

Venipuncture

Client communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

California RVT license preferred

Job description

Emergency Veterinary Technician – Day Shift – ER/ICU

$26.00–$35.00/hour (DOE)
$1,000 Sign-On Bonus
$4.00/hr differential for any hours worked between 6pm-6am
$2.00/hr weekend differential

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.