Onboarding plan
Veterinary Assistant Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new veterinary assistant from first day to full productivity.
Veterinary Assistant onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: NAVTA Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA), Fear Free certification (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: leashes and muzzles; cleaning supplies; autoclaves; scales
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Veterinary Assistant training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Use proper restraint and muzzles
- Wear gloves for cleaning
- Wash hands to prevent zoonotic disease
- Lift animals with help
- Shadow an experienced veterinary assistant through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: clean a kennel
- Supervised practice: restrain a cat safely
- Supervised practice: sterilize surgical packs
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Restrain animals for exams and procedures: independently
- Clean kennels and exam rooms: independently
- Feed, water and walk animals: independently
- Sterilize instruments: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, NAVTA Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA))
- Discuss the career path: Kennel Assistant → Veterinary Assistant → Veterinary Technician
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean a Kennel | |||
| Restrain a Cat Safely | |||
| Sterilize Surgical Packs | |||
| Animal restraint | |||
| Kennel sanitation | |||
| Instrument sterilization | |||
| Basic animal care |
How to measure onboarding success
- Time to independent work
- Injuries and equipment damage
- Quality checks, client complaints or animal outcomes
- Seasonal return rate
How Veterinary Assistant training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Veterinary Assistant Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Veterinary Assistant Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Veterinary Assistant Career
- Final Knowledge Check