VCA Animal Hospitals: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

VCA was founded in 1986 by Neil Tauber and brothers Robert and Arthur Antin, three healthcare company executives who set out to build a network of veterinary hospitals. The name VCA originally stood for Veterinary Centers of America, though the company no longer uses the full name. VCA acquired its first veterinary clinic, West Los Angeles Veterinary Hospital, in 1987, and grew steadily over the following decades through both organic growth and a series of acquisitions, including Sound Technologies in 2004 and Eklin Medical Systems in 2009, both of which supplied digital radiology and diagnostic imaging equipment to veterinary hospitals. VCA is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

VCA traded publicly on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol WOOF until January 2017, when Mars, Incorporated announced an agreement to acquire the company for approximately $9.1 billion. The acquisition, completed later that year following Federal Trade Commission clearance (which required divesting 12 hospitals to preserve market competition), brought VCA into the Mars Petcare family alongside other veterinary brands including Banfield Pet Hospital and BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospitals. VCA continues to operate as a distinct business unit within Mars Veterinary Health and remains headquartered in Los Angeles.

VCA's workforce includes veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and client service representatives who support day-to-day hospital operations, along with specialists in fields such as surgery, oncology, and emergency medicine at its larger specialty hospitals. The company employs more than 4,500 veterinarians and over 17,000 total pet care providers across its network.

Company culture and employee programs: VCA describes itself as a family of "hometown" animal hospitals, emphasizing local community connection alongside the resources of a large national network. The company has built out extensive internship and mentorship programs, including what it describes as the world's largest small animal private practice post-graduate education program for veterinarians. Benefits, training, and advancement opportunities can vary by hospital and role, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the veterinary healthcare industry, including VCA, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

VCA is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for veterinary healthcare employers, particularly given access to controlled substances used in animal medicine and direct interaction with clients and their pets.

The hiring process for veterinary roles at VCA typically includes an application, one or more interviews with hospital leadership, verification of any required veterinary licenses or certifications, and a background check prior to a final offer.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a veterinary hospital role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role, particularly for positions with access to controlled substances used in veterinary medicine. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements. Veterinary roles typically also require verification of relevant state licensure.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what VCA Animal Hospitals may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to VCA Animal Hospitals or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.