Veterinary Technicians have a range of different skill sets and technical ability, so Roo has created a 4 Tier System to help you quickly indicate what skills will be required for your shift and ensure you receive support from a qualified Veterinary Technician. Our goal is to make every shift a success, and that starts with setting clear expectations for what skills you’d like your Relief Technician to have.
Tier 1 includes Veterinary Assistants, so we recommend posting a shift for Tier 2 Techs or above if you require a licensed, registered, or certified Technician.
You’ll also have the option to require only licensed Technicians for any shift you post.
Tech Tiers can vary by state, so make sure you are looking at the correct tier list if you are posting shifts in California or Ohio.
Technician Tiers
Below are our standard Technician Tiers for every state except California and Ohio. Assistants and Technicians at each tier level will be proficient in ALL the skills you see listed, and their qualifications are verified by our Tech Coordinator team.
Tier 1: Assistant/Technician
- Vaccine protocols and administration
- Safe animal handling and restraint
- Perform SQ, IM and IV injections/IV catheter placement and venipuncture
- Patient discharge (Rooms)
- Sample collection/in-house labs
- Ability to reconstitute Meds
Tier 2: Skilled Technician
Capable of all skills above plus:
- Surgical prep, pre-op, and post op care
- Routine animal care
- Dental prophylaxis
- Client education (products and services)
- Non-dental radiographs
- Application and/or removal of casts, bandages, and splints
- In house laboratory competency in reading all samples (fecals, blood, urine)
Tier 3: Lead Technician
Capable of all skills above plus:
- Anesthetic induction, monitoring, and recovery
- Spaying and neutering
- Orthopedic surgery
- Grade 3-4 dentistry and dental radiographs
- Patient Triage (some ER experience)
Tier 4: Specialty/ER Tech
Capable of all skills above plus:
- Emergencies and/or complex surgeries
- Specialty experience
- Critical animal care and nursing (2+ years experience)
- Inpatient nurse (ICU) experience
- Calculate and administer CRIs
- Manage a central line
California Tech Tiers
Due to California legal requirements, all Roo Relief Technicians are Registered Veterinary Technicians.
Tier 1: RVT
- Assisting the vet in elective and dental surgeries.
- Surgery prep; anesthetic induction, monitoring, and recovery; fluids administration in elective surgical procedures.
- Dental Prophylaxis
- Understands all common vaccinations and vaccination protocols.
- Can proficiently position for and perform image capture of full body
radiographs. - Diagnostic sample collection and prep; use of in-house lab
equipment. - IV catheter placement.
- Routine animal care and nursing.
Tier 2: Seasoned RVT
Capable of all skills above plus:
- Perform dental extractions
- Perform SQ, IM and IV injections (with or without IV port)
- Perform surgical closure of skin wounds
- Can perform ultrasound guided cystocentesis
- Urinary catheter placement
- Comfortable recognizing emergencies and performing CPR
- Advanced knowledge of common medical conditions and their treatments
Tier 3: ER/Specialty RVT
Capable of all skills above plus:
- Assisting Vet in emergencies or complex surgical procedures
- Use of an anesthesia ventilator
- Perform advanced medical drug dose calculations and CRIs
- Critical animal care and nursing
- Can place arterial and jugular catheters in the most difficult patients
Tier 4: Seasoned Specialty/EM RVT
Capable of all skills above plus:
- Placement and care of PICC lines and multi-lumen central lines
- Chemotherapy treatment
- CVP measurement
Ohio & Canada Tech Tiers
Tier 1: Assistant/Technician
- Vaccine protocols and administration
- Safe animal handling and restraint
- Perform SQ, IM and IV injections/IV catheter placement and venipuncture
- Patient discharge (Rooms)
- Sample collection/in-house labs
- Ability to reconstitute Meds
Tier 2: Skilled RVT
Capable of all skills above plus:
- Surgical prep, pre-op and post op care
- Routine animal care
- Dental prophylaxis
- Client education (products and services)
- Non-dental radiographs
- Application and/or removal of casts, bandages, and splints
- In house laboratory competency in reading all samples (fecals, blood, urine)
Tier 3: Lead RVT
Capable of all skills above plus:
- Anesthetic induction, monitoring, and recovery
- Spaying and neutering
- Orthopedic surgery
- Grade 3-4 dentistry and dental radiographs
- Patient Triage (some ER experience)
Tier 4: Specialty/ER RVT
Capable of all skills above plus:
- Emergencies and/or complex surgeries
- Specialty experience
- Critical animal care and nursing (2+ years experience)
- Inpatient nurse (ICU) experience
- Calculate and administer CRIs
- Manage a central line