Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) – Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Department: Veterinary Technicians

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Hickory, North Carolina

Compensation: $26.00 - $30.00 / hour

Description

Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency Hospital (CASE) is seeking a Full-Time Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) to join our growing specialty and emergency veterinary team in Hickory, North Carolina.
We are especially interested in technicians with a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Emergency & Critical Care, or Anesthesia & Analgesia, or experienced RVTs actively pursuing specialization.
If you are a credentialed veterinary technician who thrives in advanced anesthesia, complex case management, and referral-level medicine, this is your opportunity to practice at the top of your license in a collaborative specialty hospital environment.
CASE is a 24-hour emergency and multi-specialty veterinary referral hospital providing advanced medical and surgical care to pets across Western North Carolina.

• 24-Hour Emergency & Critical Care
• Internal Medicine
• Advanced Soft Tissue & Orthopedic Surgery
• Veterinary Anesthesia Support
• Behavioral Medicine
• Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine
• Radioactive Iodine (I-131) Therapy

Our 12,000-square-foot specialty veterinary hospital was purpose-built to support advanced veterinary medicine and high-level patient care.

Our facility includes:

• Dedicated ICU with advanced oxygen therapy and Snyder cages
• High-flow oxygen therapy
• Computed Tomography (CT)
• Digital radiology and fluoroscopy
• Color flow Doppler ultrasound
• Advanced endoscopy, bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy, and cystoscopy
• Comprehensive in-house diagnostic laboratory (CBC, chemistry, blood gas, Sedivue, Imagyst, telecytometry)
• Access to board-certified radiology and pathology consultation
• Multiple surgical suites with minimally invasive surgical equipment
• Isolation suite
• Radioactive iodine therapy for hyperthyroidism

Full rehabilitation suite including:

• Underwater treadmill
• Exercise treadmill
• K-Laser therapy
• E-Stim therapy

This is a hospital designed for veterinary technicians who want to grow, specialize, and lead in specialty veterinary medicine.

The Role: Specialty Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) VTS Preferred

This position is ideal for:

• Veterinary Technician Specialists (VTS) in Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Surgery, or Anesthesia
• Experienced RVTs pursuing VTS certification
• Technicians seeking a leadership role in specialty veterinary medicine

You will serve as a technical leader within your department, supporting complex cases, mentoring technicians, and collaborating with board-certified veterinary specialists.

Key Responsibilities

• Respond to critical and life-threatening patient situations
• Monitor and manage hospitalized ICU patients
• Perform advanced catheter placement (central lines, urinary, specialty lines)
• Provide advanced patient monitoring and nursing care
• Maintain detailed medical record documentation
• Coordinate treatment plans with veterinary specialists

• Advanced diagnostic sample collection and handling
• Assist with endoscopy procedures
• Support management of chronic and complex medical cases
• Monitor hospitalized internal medicine patients
• Maintain detailed treatment documentation

• Support advanced anesthesia protocols
• Perform anesthesia monitoring for complex procedures
• Assist with mechanical ventilation
• Support arterial line placement and invasive monitoring
• Maintain sterile surgical preparation
• Manage post-operative pain control and recovery

• Mentor and train junior veterinary technicians
• Support improvements in clinical workflow and SOP development
• Collaborate with board-certified veterinary specialists
• Maintain high standards for patient care and medical records

Here is What You Will Bring to the Position:

Required

• Active Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) license
• 3+ years of specialty, referral, or advanced emergency veterinary experience
• Advanced anesthesia monitoring skills
• Strong knowledge of internal medicine or surgical workflows

• Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) certification
• RVTs actively pursuing VTS specialization
• Experience in emergency & critical care, surgery, anesthesia, or internal medicine

Compensation & Benefits for Veterinary Technicians

We recognize that specialty veterinary technicians are clinical leaders and offer a competitive compensation and benefits package.

• Highly competitive hourly pay for RVTs
• Additional pay for VTS specialization
• Career advancement opportunities

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays

• Paid veterinary technician license fees
• Continuing Education (CE) allowance
• VTS specialization support
• Tuition reimbursement for accredited veterinary technology programs
• Leadership development opportunities

• Mental wellness programs
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Legal assistance resources
• Employee pet care discounts

Hickory offers an ideal balance of career opportunity and quality of life for veterinary professionals.

Benefits of living in Hickory:

• Affordable cost of living
• Close to Charlotte and Asheville
• Access to the Blue Ridge Mountains
• Strong veterinary referral community
• Outdoor recreation and hiking
• Family-friendly community

At Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency Hospital, we believe in:
✔ Clinical Excellence
✔ Compassionate Veterinary Care
✔ Technician Empowerment
✔ Advanced Veterinary Medicine
✔ Long-Term Career Growth

If you are a Registered Veterinary Technician passionate about Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Surgery, or Anesthesia, we encourage you to apply and grow your career in specialty veterinary medicine.

Apply Today
Take the next step in your veterinary technician career and join a collaborative specialty veterinary hospital dedicated to advanced patient care and professional development.