Remote Veterinary Jobs: What They Are & Where to Find Them

As with all industries, the number of remote veterinary jobs has increased significantly since the onset of the COVID pandemic. Although many of these positions are returning to in-person as conditions allow, there continues to be remote veterinary jobs available. This is due to several factors, including a tight labor market and already having the necessary technologies and processes in place to support virtual workers.

Overall, the veterinary healthcare industry and veterinary services industry will grow about 11% worldwide from 2021 to 2022. This growth indicates a recovery from the series of challenges brought on by the COVID pandemic. These challenges include supply chain issues and reduced demand due to lockdowns and trade restrictions. Many individuals working in the industry saw jobs temporarily disappear or were sent home to work remotely.

Veterinary Job Outlook

While the situation is improving, there are still challenges facing the industry, including a shortage of qualified workers. This shortage is compounded by employment of veterinarians projected to grow 17% from 2020 to 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A rate that is much faster than the average for all occupations.

There is also strong growth in related career tracks, including veterinary assistants and veterinary technologists and technicians, with 14% and 15% expansion respectively. Driven by growth and lack of applicants, there are a growing variety of remote veterinary job opportunities available.

Training & Education Requirements for the Veterinary Industry

Becoming a veterinarian is very similar to becoming a medical doctor. Candidates must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree at a 4-year college of veterinary medicine. Gaining admission is competitive, and most applicants already have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. In addition, veterinarians must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination and pass a state licensing exam.

If training to be a veterinarian is not appealing, interested individuals can become veterinary technicians or technologists. These positions require either a 2-year or a 4-year bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology. Once complete, most candidates need to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.

Requiring the least amount of education, veterinarian assistants typically only need a high school diploma and on-the-job training. However, although not mandatory, certification can be helpful in obtaining good positions. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) offers the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) designation for veterinary assistants. Laboratory animal caretakers become certified through the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS).

Types of Remote Veterinary Jobs

Many positions in the veterinary industry require location dependence. These include veterinarian practices that examine and operate on animals, where they are boarded, researched, or used for educational purposes, such as zoos. However, there are also a wide variety of positions that are remote. In addition, while many remote positions in the veterinarian industry require specific training and experience, there are also many remote positions available that serve to support veterinary products and services.

Below is a description of the types of remote veterinary jobs that are available. With patience and an open mind to new opportunities, you can find the perfect remote veterinary job.

Telemedicine Remote Veterinary Jobs

In some instances, telemedicine systems took hold during the pandemic to allow licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians to assess, examine, and diagnose animal health remotely. This trend may continue for a variety of reasons, including customer convenience and as a method to mitigate the shortage of clinical professionals. In addition, new software applications are being developed for veterinary customers that include telemedicine features.

Field-Based Remote Veterinary Jobs

Another way for licensed veterinarians to stay out of the office is to secure a field position. These positions involve travel to farms, ranches, and other commercial livestock operations. Food animal jobs involve treating ill and injured animals and testing for and vaccinating against disease. A related career track is food safety and inspection veterinarians. These positions are charged with inspecting and testing livestock and animal products for major animal diseases.

Technician Remote Veterinary Jobs

Veterinary technicians usually work in private clinical practices conducting diagnostic tests, educating animal owners, and providing nursing services as needed. However, with the right credentials and a little on-site experience, there are remote veterinary jobs available for technicians as well. These can include providing specialized customer support for companies that provide a variety of veterinary products and services. Support activities can vary from informing and educating customers to responding to potential adverse events related to animal health products.

Pet Health Insurance Remote Veterinary Jobs

Another area of growth in the veterinary healthcare industry is in pet insurance. This sector is going to experience annual growth of over 16% between 2022 to 2030. Major drivers of this growth include increasing vet costs and pet populations. Remote positions for pet insurance companies do not usually require veterinary credentials, however if you want to engage in sales, you need an active property and casualty sales license. Other remote pet insurance positions might include call center agents and supervisors. Licenses may not be required for these positions.

IT Remote Veterinary Jobs

As with all market sectors, technology is making inroads into improving business efficiencies for veterinary service providers and consumers. Remote technology positions include working for veterinary product and service providers to manage their computing systems and networks. Remote positions can also be found with technology companies developing enterprise management systems or creating consumer applications that make pet care personalized and accessible.

Administration Remote Veterinary Jobs

Administrative support personnel are the backbone of all businesses, and veterinary businesses are no exception. There are a variety of administrative positions that are offered remotely, including virtual assistants, receptionists, medical transcription, bookkeeping, and appointment scheduling, to name a few. Most of these positions will not require veterinary credentials, but they may require prior experience.  

Management Remote Veterinary Jobs

For experienced virtual leaders in the veterinary industry there are a wide variety of opportunities. From leading remote technology teams, supervising call centers, or managing product development, the veterinary industry offers opportunities for senior-level specialists in a variety of fields.

Sales and Marketing Remote Veterinary Jobs

For individuals with a creative bent or that enjoy sales, there are lots of jobs in the veterinary industry that can be performed remotely. On the B2B sales end, there are jobs such as virtual account managers and sales agents for veterinary product producers and distributors. There are also many marketing and promotional opportunities for those with a passion for pets. These can include creative directors, graphic designers, copywriters, social media coordinators, and many other options.

Use Virtual Vocations to Get a Leg Up on the Competition

As can be seen from the categories above, there are a wide variety of remote positions available in the veterinary industry. While most jobs are still requiring an on-site presence, the number of remote positions has increased and should continue to increase as a way to attract qualified candidates. So, if your dream is to secure a remote position in the veterinary industry, keep checking the Virtual Vocations jobs database to find all the latest veterinary jobs.

What attracts you to remote veterinary jobs? What factors are important for you when deciding on a career path? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your thoughts and tips. We’d love to hear from you!