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Veterinary Care Assistant Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Anesthesia Veterinary Assistant

Raleigh, NC

$13.75 - $17.25/hr

... Veterinary Assistant Anticipated Hiring Range $40,000 - $43,200 Work Schedule Daytime-TBD Job ... The VH provides compassionate care, state of the art specialty health care, expert clinical ...

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Veterinary Care Assistant information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$9

$16

$23

How much do veterinary care assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for veterinary care assistant in Raleigh, NC is $16.76, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.71 and $18.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a veterinary care assistant?

Veterinary Care Assistants (VCAs) are support staff in veterinary practices who help veterinarians and veterinary nurses care for animals. Their duties typically include feeding and exercising animals, cleaning kennels, assisting with routine procedures, and maintaining equipment and supplies. VCAs play a vital role in ensuring the well-being of animal patients and the smooth operation of the clinic. They do not diagnose or prescribe treatments but are essential team members who assist with day-to-day animal care tasks.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a veterinary care assistant?

To thrive as a Veterinary Care Assistant, you need basic animal care knowledge, manual dexterity, and often a relevant qualification such as an animal care certificate. Familiarity with veterinary practice management software, animal restraint techniques, and sterilization equipment is commonly required. Compassion, patience, and strong communication skills help you support both animals and their owners effectively. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring animal welfare, smooth clinic operations, and positive client experiences.

What are some common challenges veterinary care assistants face, and how can they effectively manage them?

Veterinary Care Assistants often juggle multiple responsibilities, such as assisting with animal handling, maintaining cleanliness, and supporting veterinary staff during procedures. A common challenge is managing the emotional demands of caring for sick or injured animals while maintaining professionalism with clients. Effective time management, clear communication with team members, and developing coping strategies for emotional stress are key to success in this role. Many clinics also offer mentorship and training to help assistants build resilience and grow their skills.

What is the difference between Veterinary Care Assistant vs Veterinary Technician?

AspectVeterinary Care AssistantVeterinary Technician
CredentialsTypically no formal certification required, on-the-job trainingRequires certification or associate degree in veterinary technology
Work EnvironmentAssist with basic animal care, cleaning, and client communicationPerform diagnostic tests, administer medications, assist in surgeries
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly employed in clinics, animal hospitals, sheltersOften work alongside veterinarians in similar settings

The main difference between a Veterinary Care Assistant and a Veterinary Technician lies in their qualifications and responsibilities. Veterinary Care Assistants typically have less formal training and focus on basic animal care and support tasks. Veterinary Technicians have specialized training and perform more complex medical procedures. Both roles are essential in veterinary practices, but Veterinary Technicians usually have a broader scope of practice and responsibilities.

Can I be a veterinary care assistant with no experience?

Veterinary care assistants often do not need prior experience, as on-the-job training is common. Basic skills such as animal handling, communication, and a willingness to learn are important, and some employers may prefer candidates with related certifications or coursework. Entry-level positions typically focus on supporting veterinary staff and gaining practical experience.

How do you become a veterinary care assistant?

To become a veterinary care assistant, individuals typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and may pursue on-the-job training or certification programs. Relevant skills include animal handling, basic medical knowledge, and good communication, with some employers preferring prior experience or certification in animal care or veterinary assisting.

Where do veterinary care assistants make the most money?

Veterinary care assistants tend to earn higher salaries in regions with a higher cost of living and greater demand for veterinary services, such as urban areas or states with a strong pet care industry. Salary levels can also be influenced by experience, certifications, and the size of the veterinary practice or hospital.

What are the most commonly searched types of Veterinary Care jobs in Raleigh, NC?

The most popular types of Veterinary Care jobs in Raleigh, NC are:

What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Veterinary Care Assistant jobs?

Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Veterinary Care Assistant job openings:

Infographic showing various Veterinary Care Assistant job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $34,856 per year, or $16.8 per hour.

Urgent Care Veterinary Shift Lead

American Veterinary Group

Raleigh, NC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago


American Veterinary Group rating

5.4

Company rating: 5.4 out of 10

Based on 27 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

41st of 56 rated veterinary


Job description

Urgent Care Veterinary Shift Lead
Department: UrgentVet Hospitals
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: UrgentVet - North Raleigh
Reporting To: Practice Manager
Description
UrgentVet bridges the gap between daytime general practice and emergency/overnight care, offering after-hours care for canine and feline patients without the additional expense of emergency clinic fees. Our hospitals offer care for common urgent cases, including wound management, ear infections, vomiting/diarrhea, and euthanasia. Each of our paperless clinics is specially designed to deliver efficient care and equipped with cloud-based EMR, digital x-ray, and a full suite of IDEXX in-house lab equipment.
Are you looking for an opportunity to make an impact in your community while tackling a challenging, variety of tasks and the ability to helps animals among a great team of people? Our clinic is seeking a Full-time Shift Lead to help provide outstanding patient care, team leadership, and client service in a fast-paced, state-of-the-art urgent care clinic.
The primary purpose of the Shift Lead is to perform the duties of a Senior Veterinary Assistant or Veterinary Technician (if applicable) and provide operational support across all shifts. You will work to provide consistent leadership during each shift to support clients, coordinate paraprofessional staff, and to steward hospital leadership goals by maximizing productivity and profitability. The Shift Lead will direct, plan, coordinate, and perform a variety of duties concerned with animal health and client education to ensure consistent, efficient, quality care for our patients. The Shift Lead will partner with the Practice Manager and Lead DVM to ensure effective communication with clients, hospital team members, Field Leadership, and AVG/UV Support Center departments.
Click here to take a virtual tour of our clinic!
Ideal Candidate
  • Demonstrates professionalism, dependability, healthy and positive communication skills, and the ability to multi-task in a hands-on environment
  • Energetic people-and-pet person with excellent work ethic and social and organizational skills
  • Willing to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays
  • Prior customer service experience
  • Prior experience working with animals in a hospital setting
  • Supporting the Practice Manager in hospital labor management, including adjusting team schedules.
  • Helping to create an environment for delivering quality, efficient, and effective veterinary care while fostering a positive and engaging team environment.
  • Ensuring effective communication between staff, clients, hospital leadership, and the Support Center.
  • Assigning cases to veterinary assistants and ensure clarity of responsibilities and identifying and resolving bottlenecks in medical operations.
  • Assisting with client resolution decisions, invoice adjustments, and client experience exceptions.
  • Training and mentoring new paraprofessional staff.
  • Addressing broken equipment issues and assist in inventory management.
  • Performing other duties as assigned.
  • Must be able to lift 40 lbs
  • This position requires regular on-site presence as an essential function of the role. Due to the nature of veterinary hospital operations, in-person attendance is necessary to support patient care, respond to time-sensitive needs, collaborate with clinical teams, and maintain the safety and well-being of patients, clients, and staff. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and will consider requests for reasonable accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable laws

Skills, Knowledge, & Expertise
  • Two years of experience in healthcare, veterinary profession, or service-type industry required.
  • Medical background with medical terminology training required.
  • Associate degree or veterinary technician certification/licensure preferred.
  • Six months of prior experience in a management position strongly preferred.
  • Animal handling experience including patient restraint, sample collection, and monitoring
  • Clinical skills including phlebotomy, catheter placement, laboratory analysis, and drug calculation

Benefits
  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision Options)
  • 401k Match
  • Generous paid time off (PTO)
  • Paid Parental Leave + Paid Maternity Leave
  • One (1) Work/Life Balance day off
  • Short-term and long-term disability options
  • Supplemental insurance options
  • Discounted Veterinary Care
  • Scrub allowance
  • Hands-on and E-training
  • Professional growth opportunities
  • Tuition assistance for prospective Veterinary Technician Students
  • Tuition reimbursement for Credentialed/Registered Veterinary Technicians

What American Veterinary Group employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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American Veterinary Group logo

About American Veterinary Group

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Founded in 2015, American Veterinary Group (AVG) owns and operates a network of 120+ veterinary practices throughout the South that treat and protect over 75,000 pets annually. Our goal is to provide ongoing, in-person support to ease the burden of the day-to-day operations of veterinary practices, including in-office staff training, educational and marketing tools, and back office support. We deliver high touch practice management solutions to help veterinarians focus on the needs of their patients, instead of the needs of their business. We are animal lovers above all else, and operate with the motto, "pet first, client first".

Industry

Hospitals

Company size

201 - 500 Employees

Headquarters location

Tampa, FL, US

Year founded

2015

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