Free veterinary assistant job description template
Fill in the [brackets] and cut anything that doesn’t fit your job. Unlock one-tap copy and PDF download free with your email.
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Veterinary Assistant job description template · Fill in the [brackets]
Veterinary Assistant
About the job
[Business name] is hiring a Veterinary Assistant who helps the veterinary team care for animals by handling feeding, cleaning, restraint and treatment support. [One or two sentences about your business and why someone would want to work there.]
What you’ll do
- Feed, bathe and exercise animals
- Clean and disinfect cages, kennels and exam and surgery rooms
- Restrain animals during examinations and procedures
- Maintain and sterilize surgical instruments and equipment
- Monitor and care for animals after surgery
- Help give first aid to sick and injured animals
- Give medication or immunizations that veterinarians prescribe
What you need
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Comfortable and calm around animals of all sizes
- Able to lift [weight] and handle animals safely
- Willing to work [weekends, evenings or holidays]
Nice to have
- Veterinary or kennel experience
- Animal care certification [optional]
How to apply
[Apply link, email or phone], by [date].
[Business name] is an equal opportunity employer.
✓ Unlocked. Use the buttons above the template to copy it or save it as a PDF.
Example: the template filled in for a small business
Hypothetical example for Willow Bend Animal Clinic, a two-veterinarian small-animal clinic.
Willow Bend Animal Clinic is hiring a full-time Veterinary Assistant (Tuesday to Saturday, 8 to 5). You'll restrain pets during exams, clean kennels and exam rooms, prepare instruments and comfort animals recovering from surgery. We'll train you on our procedures.
Notice what makes it work: real hours, the actual tools, who they report to, and one honest reason to want the job. That’s the difference between a blank template and a job description that gets the right applicants.
What a veterinary assistant does
A veterinary assistant helps the veterinary team care for animals by handling feeding, cleaning, restraint and treatment support. Typical duties include:
- Feed, bathe and exercise animals
- Clean and disinfect cages, kennels and exam and surgery rooms
- Restrain animals during examinations and procedures
- Maintain and sterilize surgical instruments and equipment
- Monitor and care for animals after surgery
- Help give first aid to sick and injured animals
Duties adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Requirements, training and licenses
A high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training are typical. Certification is not mandatory, although it lets workers demonstrate competency in animal husbandry.
Training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How much does a veterinary assistant make?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median means half earned more and half earned less. Pay in your area may be higher or lower; check postings for similar jobs near you. A growing number of states and cities require a pay range in job postings, so check your local rules before you post.
Before you set the rate, run the free hiring cost calculator. It adds payroll taxes and other costs and shows how much work the hire needs to bring in to pay for itself.
Free template or written for you?
| Free template | Job Description $30 | Hiring Kit $299 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written for | Any business | Your business | Your business |
| Duties and schedule | Typical, with blanks | Yours, filled in | Yours, filled in |
| Pay | National figure | Set for your local market | Set for your local market |
| State rules | “Check your state” | Checked for your state | Checked for your state |
| Ready to post | No, you edit it | Yes | Yes, plus the job posting |
| Performance review form | — | Included free | Included |
| Interview guide and 30-60-90 day plan | — | — | Included |
| Use the template | Have us write it | Get the Hiring Kit |
Free template
- Typical duties with blanks to fill in
- National pay figure
- You edit it before posting
Job Description · $30
- Written for your business: your duties, schedule and pay
- Checked for your state’s rules
- Ready to post
- Free matching performance review form
Hiring Kit · $299
- Everything in the $30 job description
- The job posting
- Interview guide
- 30-60-90 day plan for the new hire
Fixed prices. See what’s included in Job Description Writing and the Hiring Kit.
Common questions
What can a veterinary assistant do without a license?
Duties that need a license are set by your state's veterinary practice rules, and they differ. Many assistant tasks, such as feeding, cleaning, restraint and instrument care, do not need one. Check your state veterinary board before you assign medical tasks.
Can I use this template for free?
Yes. Copy it, edit it and post it. It's a starting point written for any business, so fill in the brackets and adjust the duties to your actual job. If you'd rather have it written for your business, ready to post, our Job Description service is $30.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is general information. Requirements for some roles, especially in healthcare, vary by state. Check your state's rules, and talk to an employment attorney if you're unsure.
Published by Groundwork Business Advisory. Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Pay data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage estimates.