Veterinary Assistant Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

A Veterinary Assistant plays an integral role in the veterinary industry by providing essential support to Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians. They are responsible for a wide range of tasks including maintaining medical records, cleaning and sanitizing animal cages, providing post-operative care, preparing samples for laboratory examinations, feeding and bathing animals, and assisting during patient examinations. Veterinarian Assistants often communicate with pet owners, so strong interpersonal and communication skills are paramount. Knowledge of animal behavior and medical terminology is also vital.

Before becoming a Veterinary Assistant, a person could have roles such as an Animal Caretaker, Pet Groomer, or Kennel Attendant. These roles provide valuable experience in handling and caring for animals. It's not mandatory, but advantageous to have a certificate or diploma in Veterinary Assistance. These programs usually cover anatomy, animal behavior, and veterinary office practices, and are typically completed in a year or less. A certification like the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) designation is recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), and can enhance employment prospects.

1-12 of 12 Jobs

Veterinary Assistant

  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 1 day ago
  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 1 day ago

The Veterinary Assistant works full time, 5 days a week, working open to close. Veterinary Assistants are expected to come to work excited and help patients get the care they need....

Veterinary Assistant

  • Capitola, CA (12 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 9 days ago
  • Capitola, CA (12 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 9 days ago

Position Overview: As a Registered Veterinary Technician/Veterinary Assistant at Santa Cruz GP, you are expected to work in a professional and efficient manner....

Veterinary Assistant #1418

  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 13 days ago
  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 13 days ago

You will use your technical skills on a daily basis, within state practice acts and as outlined in the NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties....

Seasonal Oncology and Cardiology Veterinary Assistant

  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 15 days ago
  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 15 days ago

We are looking for: Seasonal Medical Oncology & Cardiology Veterinary Assistant Schedule: Week 1: Monday-Thursday 8am-6pm, Week 2: Sunday 8am-6pm Monday 8am-6pm Tuesday 8am-6pm Thursday 8am-6pm Compensation...

Seeking Full Time Veterinary Assistant - Willing to train

  • Campbell, CA (18 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 26 days ago
  • Campbell, CA (18 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 26 days ago

Description We are seeking an experienced, but also willing to train the right candidate to join our team as a Veterinary Assistant....

Veterinary Assistant T2

  • Aptos, CA (15 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 27 days ago
  • Aptos, CA (15 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 27 days ago

Position Overview : The veterinary assistant provides support to the veterinarians and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding, exercising and grooming patients...

Seasonal Veterinary Assistant -Variable Hours

  • Mountain View, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago
  • Mountain View, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago

MedVet is a fast-growing Emergency and Specialty provider with practices nationwide. We help our patients receive advanced medical treatments and innovations. Things like chemotherapy and...

Veterinary Assistant #5212

  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago
  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago

You will use your technical skills on a daily basis, within state practice acts and as outlined in the NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties....

Veterinary Assistant

  • Santa Cruz, CA
  • 30+ days ago
  • Santa Cruz, CA
  • 30+ days ago

Veterinary Assistant Careers at Banfield Pet Hospital For those who want to put their love of pets into action, there are few jobs more rewarding than that of Vet Assistant....

Full Time Experienced Vet Assistant

  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 60+ days ago
  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 60+ days ago

The successful candidate will be a believer in the possibilities of high quality veterinary medicine and patient care-with the expertise and technical know-how to make them happen. In this...

Animal Care Asst II (4 Vacancies)

  • Stanford, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 90+ days ago
  • Stanford, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 90+ days ago

addition to the qualifications described for the Animal Care Assistant I level the Animal Care Assistant IIs should have: Familiarity with NIH guidelines, Stanford animal care and use policies, and...

Animal Care Assistant II (Monday Friday, 8:00 am 5:00 pm)

  • Stanford, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 90+ days ago
  • Stanford, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 90+ days ago

addition to the qualifications described for the Animal Care Assistant I level the Animal Care Assistant IIs should have: Familiarity with NIH guidelines, Stanford animal care and use policies, and...

Demographic Data for Santa Cruz, CA

Moving to Santa Cruz, CA? Find some basic demographic data about Santa Cruz, CA below.


Local
National
101,449
2,927
Medium/Lg

Veterinary Assistant Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireVeterinary curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Practice
Vets and human health professionals both have a responsibility to address the challenge of antimicrobial stewardship. Veterinary nurses, surgeons and pharmacists need the skills to prescribe...
Virtual Work Experience and Exploring the Veterinary Profession
The COVID-19 pandemic means that many potential vet students cannot undertake animal handling work experience. On this course, youll get insight into the reality of life as a vet so that you can...
Veterinary Support Assistant Training
As an essential member of the veterinary team, a veterinary support assistant (VSA) helps veterinarians and other veterinary professionals with their daily duties. They handle administrative...

Salary for Veterinary Assistant Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireVeterinary research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Veterinary Assistant positions.



Highest Education Level

Veterinary Assistants in Santa Cruz, CA offer the following education background
Bachelor's Degree
30.5%
High School or GED
26.0%
Associate's Degree
19.6%
Vocational Degree or Certification
12.5%
Master's Degree
3.4%
Some College
3.4%
Doctorate Degree
2.8%
Some High School
1.9%

Average Work Experience
Here's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Veterinary Assistants in Santa Cruz, CA
Less than 1 year
43.4%
None
35.2%
4-6 years
9.7%
2-4 years
8.8%
1-2 years
2.9%


Other Career Titles

Here are some other career titles that require similar skills



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