Veterinary Assistant

Salary : $55,099.20 - $74,131.20 Annually
Location : Orange County
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 5151GE-0726-012 (O)
Department: OC Community Resources
Opening Date: 07/16/2026
Closing Date: 7/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


CAREER DESCRIPTION
VETERINARY ASSISTANT
SALARY INFORMATION
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Veterinary Assistant vacancies within OC Community Resources/OC Animal Care. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.
DEADLINE TO APPLY
Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM (PT).
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.
OC ANIMAL CARE
mission is to provide refuge and care for animals, foster the human-animal bond and promote safety in our community to ensure a safe compassionate community for all. OC Animal Care promotes responsible pet ownership; health and safety of people and animals and spay/neuter programs. OC Animal Care provides temporary shelter and medical care for lost, owned, or stray animals and opportunities for adoption for these animals.


OC Animal Care (OCAC) was founded in 1941 in the City of Orange in Orange County, California as a rabies control center with only 25 dog kennels. Since then, OCAC has expanded to play an important role in Orange County's animal care community. OCAC serves 15 cities and the unincorporated areas of Orange County with its expanded programs and services.


OCAC's goal is to deliver prompt, temporary care, and refuge to homeless animals, reunite animals with their owners, facilitate adoption, ensure public safety, and enhance the human-animal bond in the community. The shelter is designed to provide a positive experience for animals and people alike and is the backdrop for the adaptive animal programming continually developed by OC Animal Care to provide enrichment, engagement and adoption services for the animals in its care.

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THE OPPORTUNITY
The Veterinary Assistant is responsible for assisting in the care and treatment of ill and/or injured animals at Orange County Animal Care. Examples of job duties include but are not limited to:

• Under the direction of the Veterinarian and supervision of the Registered Veterinary Technician, provides medical care to animals, assists in conducting physical examinations; and assists with admissions, discharges, and surgical releases.
• Assists with surgeries by ensuring correct equipment and instruments are at hand and monitors anesthetic machines.
• Maintains records of animal treatments and monitor feeding, care, and physical conditions of animals.
• Maintains effective interactions with the public.
• Answers routine animal care questions.
• Humanely euthanizes impounded animals by the injection of appropriate substances when medical conditions or behavioral defects adversely affect the animal or public safety.

OC Animal Care provides service 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Incumbents should be prepared to work rotating shifts, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Incumbents may be drafted for mandatory overtime in the event of an emergency, disaster, or during periods of unexpected staffing shortages.


DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
In addition to the training and experience requirements for Veterinary Assistant, the ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge and/or experience in the core competencies below:


Technical Knowledge | Experience

• Performing euthanasia by injection
• Understanding and application of animal husbandry to handle and care for animals in a humane manner
• Working with animals in a shelter or similar environment
• General knowledge of surgical nursing and medical nursing

Communication Skills

• Communicating with outside veterinary clinics about animals impounded and laws and regulations that govern the agency
• Conveying information clearly and articulately in person or over the phone
• Presenting a positive and professional demeanor when speaking with others
• Reading, understanding, and following oral and written instructions

SPECIAL PERMIT/CERTIFICATION
Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP): Must be able to obtain a Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP) issued by the California Veterinary Medical Board within six (6) months of appointment. Note: Must be able to maintain a valid VASCP for the duration of employment. Incumbents are required to pass a comprehensive background investigation to the satisfaction of the California Veterinary Medical Board to obtain a VACSP. Incumbents will be reimbursed for the cost associated with applying for and obtaining the VACSP. Click to learn more about the application of VACSP.

Tranquilization/Humane Euthanasia: Assignments in this classification require incumbents to perform or assist with the tranquilization/humane euthanasia of sick or injured animals; or animals that are unable to survive on their own. Incumbents are required to successfully complete training in compliance with California Business and Professions Code §4827(d) in order to obtain a certificate to perform humane euthanasia in the State of California, within six (6) months of appointment.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Two years of experience as an Animal Care Attendant is required. Completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter units in Animal Health, Animal Science, Zoology, or related animal studies or completion of a related technical training program such as Regional Occupational Program (ROP) may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience.


Or
One year of experience working directly with animals in a private animal care clinic or similar public animal care facility.

Click to learn more about the minimum qualifications for the Veterinary Assistant classification as well as the physical and mental requirements and the environmental and working conditions.


RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.
Structured Oral Interview | SOI (Weighted 100%) Candidates will be interviewed and rated by an oral interview panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on to the eligible list.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.


Eligible List Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
Veterans Employment Preference The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click to review the policy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EMAIL NOTIFICATION Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.


NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "oc.gov." If your email address should change, please update your profile at


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Click for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Jenny Kim at View phone number on click.appcast.io or by email at View email address on click.appcast.io

EEO INFORMATION
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Please note that Extra Help employees are not eligible for the benefits listed.
Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
01


Which of the below work experience and education do you possess?

• One (1) year of experience working directly with animals in a private animal care clinic or similar public animal care facility
• Two (2) years or more of Animal Care Attendant experience
• One (1) year of Animal Care Attendant experience and 30 semester or 45 quarter units in Animal Health, Animal Science, Zoology, or related animal studies or completion of a related technical training program such as a Regional Occupational Program (ROP)
• I do not possess any of the experiences listed above

02


If using education as a substitution for your work experience, please indicate all accredited college or university courses completed in animal health, animal science, zoology, or related animal studies. Specifically list the title of the class, number of units, and whether units were semester or quarter units. Example: "Animal Biology, 3 semester units". If none, please type "N/A". Note: Transcripts should be attached to your application and Official Transcripts will be required upon a job offered.
03


Do you currently possess or are you willing to obtain a VACSP within 6 months of appointment?

• Yes, I possess a VACSP - Please attach a copy of your Permit to your application.
• I am willing to obtain a VACSP within 6 months of appointment.
• No

04


Do you currently possess or are you willing to obtain a Euthanasia Certificate within six months from date of appointment?

• Yes, I possess a Euthanasia Certificate - Please attach a copy of your Certificate to your application.
• I am willing to obtain a Euthanasia Certificate within 6 months of appointment
• No

05


Please describe your experience working in an animal shelter or veterinary clinic. Please specify the role and specific activities in which you were responsible. Your response should include your employer, job title, level of responsibility, and length of time in the position. If you do not have any related experience, please type "N/A".
06


OC Animal Care may require employees to work rotating shifts, including days, evenings, weekends, holidays and occasional mandatory overtime in the event of an emergency, disaster, or during periods of unexpected staffing shortages. Please type "Yes" to acknowledge.
Required Question