Emergency Veterinarian Training Program (2026/ 2027 Graduates) at Veterinary Emergency Care, PLLC – Apex, North Carolina

Peak Paws Advanced Veterinary Hospital is seeking 2026/ 2027 graduates for our emergency clinician training program. We are privately owned, with a 24/7 emergency service and full-service rehabilitation practice. Our hospital works to foster a team approach between the emergency clinicians, emergency service staff, owners, primary veterinarians, and specialists including focusing on

• Excellent client education – we want the owners to understand their pet’s condition and treatment options, with personalized discharge instructions for each visit

• Utilizing frequent feedback from our staff and clients for continual improvement

• Developing effective working relationships and professional discussion of cases

About Us

We moved to our current location in June 2025, but have been in the Triangle since 1998, with our previous location in the Quartet building. Our new hospital has a full Heska laboratory suite, top-notch digital radiography, ultrasound with Doppler, upper GI endoscopy, LASER, multiple types of vital monitors including Bluetooth, and electronic medical records & treatment sheet. We have space for specialists to come on site, currently utilizing locum surgery, radiology/ultrasound, and cardiology. The ER medical director and hospital owner are on-site and responsive to the concerns and requests of the doctors and staff. We have an excellent clientele in both our referring hospitals and clients that appreciate our service-based approach.

Located in Apex, North Carolina, we are close to Research Triangle Park and the Raleigh/Durham metro area. Our area offers a wide array of cultural and outdoor activities for individuals and families, and both the beach and the mountains are within a short drive. Our area and towns are consistently rated within the Top 5 places to live in the United States. Our facility was finished in June 2025, with state-of-the-art equipment and designed for stress free patient visits.

Prospective veterinarians

The ideal candidate will have a commitment to learning in a practical, private practice environment with opportunities to see various communication styles from multiple ER clinicians. Our practice focuses on maintaining a positive attitude in a very collaborative environment. The training is designed to help the candidate become a competent emergency clinician, including developing the ability to triage multiple patients at once, employ effective client education, skills in emergency procedures and surgery, and confidence in interpretation of diagnostic imaging and laboratory results. Training will start with seeing patients alongside our ER Medical Director and will be tailored to the new graduate veterinarian through a combination of on-site training, continuing education like the FVECC Certificate program, and hands-on training in surgery, ultrasound, radiology interpretation, and other modalities as needed.

Candidates will be expected to work 36-40 hours weekly; shifts will vary, including overnights, swing, and day shifts to fulfill the training goals. Compensation for full-time employees includes medical/dental/vision/life/ADD insurance, 401K matching, national & state licenses/memberships including VECCS, paid time off, and CE allowances. With this training position, the salary will be graduated throughout a 2 year commitment, progressing to full ER clinician salary as goals are met, with a planned salary progression every 3-6 months.

Candidates must be able to work in a fast-paced environment. They must be able to obtain a license in good standing from the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, stoop, crouch, lay prone, bend over, and walk. Employees must have the physical strength and flexibility to restrain dogs and cats in sitting and prone positions safely, while kneeling, sitting, or standing. Employees must have the physical strength and ability to lift and carry a pet or other object weighing up to 50 pounds without assistance and must be able to assist in lifting patients or other objects weighing more than 50 pounds.

Working Conditions

Work is nearly always performed inside a veterinary hospital building and occasionally outside or at veterinary/animal events. Level of noise varies depending on number of patients and can often be a loud work environment. Temperature is generally controlled, but often must be outside to walk patients in all types of weather conditions.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.