Associate Veterinarian | Exotic Animal Mentorship | New Grads Welcome

Veterinarian 9.2 Work-LifeNo callNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$120k-$200k

Listing transparency4 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting and nights and shift pattern.

Employment & setting
Full-Time
Call expectations
No call
Weekends
No weekends
Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

  • Associate Veterinarian | Exotic Animal Mentorship | New Grads Welcome
  • Salary: $120,000 - $200,000+ per year earning potential with no negative accrual
  • Sign on Bonus & Relocation Assistance: Up to $25,000
  • Schedule: 4-day work week with rotating Saturdays | No on-call | Closed Sundays & all major holidays
  • Hospital Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM | Saturday 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
  • Location: 1308 N Scott Ave, Belton, MO 64012
  • Serving the Kansas City Metro since 1950

Belton Animal Clinic & Exotic Care Center is hiring a full-time Associate Veterinarian with a strong interest in exotic animal medicine. This opportunity is designed for veterinarians who are passionate about caring for rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, reptiles, amphibians, and other exotic species while developing their skills under the mentorship of a Board-Certified Exotic Companion Mammal Specialist.

New graduates are encouraged to apply. Whether you are a new graduate eager to build an exotics-focused career or an experienced veterinarian seeking greater exposure to exotic species, we are looking for someone excited to learn, grow, and become an integral part of one of the Midwest's premier exotic animal practices.

What to Expect

Exotics-Focused Mentorship. Work directly alongside a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Exotic Companion Mammal Medicine. In addition to exotic animal medicine, there are opportunities to gain exposure to acupuncture, veterinary medical manipulation, and integrative treatment approaches.

Diverse Exotic Caseload. Approximately 20% of our caseload consists of exotic species, including rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, reptiles, amphibians, and other small mammals. You will gain hands-on experience with a wide variety of cases while building confidence and clinical skills.

Strong Support Staff. Work with a skilled, collaborative team that keeps your workflow efficient and allows you to stay focused on patient care.

A schedule that respects your time. Enjoy a 4-day work week with rotating Saturdays, no on-call responsibilities, and Sundays and major holidays off.

All the benefits you deserve—health, dental, vision, retirement with 3.5% match—plus: enhanced maternity and medical leave, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, uniform allowance, employee pet care discounts, generous CE support, and full coverage of professional dues, license fees, VIN membership, AVMA PLIT, and AI notetaking software.

Paid time off. Enjoy paid holidays plus 20 days of PTO annually, so you have time to recharge and focus on what matters most outside of work.

Partnership opportunities through Veterinary Practice Partners (VPP), where more than 260 partners co-own practices across 185 locations. VPP offers unmatched support in operations, marketing, and finance, allowing you to focus on your passion for veterinary medicine.

Requirements

  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or VMD degree from an accredited institution
  • Valid veterinary license in the state of Missouri (or ability to obtain)

Genuine interest in exotic animal medicine and a commitment to developing clinical skills through mentorship and continuing education. Prior exotics experience is welcome but not required.

  • Current DEA License or ability to obtain
  • About Belton Animal Clinic & Exotic Care Center

Founded in 1950, Belton Animal Clinic & Exotic Care Center has served the Kansas City metro area for more than 75 years and has earned a reputation as one of the Midwest's premier destinations for exotic animal medicine. While our practice provides high-quality care for dogs and cats, approximately 20% of our caseload consists of exotic patients, including rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, reptiles, amphibians, and other small mammals.

What makes Belton Animal Clinic & Exotic Care Center unique is the opportunity to learn directly from a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Exotic Companion Mammal Medicine. With more than 30 years of experience, our Medical Director also holds certifications in acupuncture, veterinary medical manipulation, and TCVM palliative and end-of-life care, offering a well-rounded perspective on patient treatment and wellness.

This is an exceptional opportunity for veterinarians who are interested in expanding their knowledge of exotic animal medicine while receiving hands-on mentorship from a nationally recognized leader in the field. Whether you're a new graduate building your foundation or an experienced veterinarian looking to broaden your skillset, you'll benefit from case collaboration, individualized guidance, and professional development designed to help you grow with confidence.

Our large, modern facility is equipped with 8 exam rooms, a fully equipped surgical suite, dedicated treatment areas, separate feline, euthanasia, and quarantine spaces, digital radiography, digital dental radiography, ultrasound, IDEXX and Abaxis in-house laboratories, MidMark Dental Delivery Unit, and VetRec AI notetaking software. We are supported by a collaborative team of experienced technicians, assistants, and client service representatives who are invested in delivering exceptional patient care and helping each veterinarian succeed.

Belton is part of the greater Kansas City metro area, offering an affordable cost of living, short commutes, and access to some of the region's most desirable communities including Lee's Summit, Overland Park, and Olathe. You'll enjoy top-rated schools, an outstanding food and arts scene, and the kind of work-life balance that actually holds up outside of work.

This role offers the unique opportunity to build a rewarding career in exotic animal medicine while enjoying the affordability, convenience, and amenities of the greater Kansas City area. If you have a genuine interest in exotic animal medicine and are eager to learn from a board-certified specialist with more than 30 years of experience, you'll find an exceptional opportunity to build a rewarding and unique veterinary career here.

We are dedicated to establishing a culture that celebrates all forms of diversity and allows us to be an inclusive service provider in this community.

Key Responsibilities

Provide high-quality veterinary care for dogs, cats, and a diverse caseload of exotic species including reptiles and small mammals. Collaborate with a board-certified specialist to develop clinical skills in exotic medicine and integrative treatment approaches.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Certifications

Board Certification

Key Skills

Veterinary SurgeryDiagnostic Imaging

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Associate Veterinarian | Exotic Animal Mentorship | New Grads Welcome at Belton Animal Clinic and Exotic Care Center a 9.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as exceptional. This places the position in the top 5% in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 2,966 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements.

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

Of the 40 active Veterinarian listings this role was benchmarked against, 5% are remote, 73% have no call, 53% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Missouri is 90.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$160k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $176k in an average-cost state. 60.1% of Missouri clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

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Salary Distribution23 jobs · 18 employers

12
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks23 jobs · 18 employers

401k / retirement match
91%
CME allowance
87% this job
Sign-on bonus
83% this job
Relocation assistance
39% this job
Visa sponsorship
9%

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Work-life snapshot

9.2/ 10
Listing-based score

Top 5% in Veterinary Medicine

  • No call
  • No weekends

Living in Belton

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$266k
Typical market rent
$1,686/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.5
State income tax
Up to 5.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Kansas City, MO-KS metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Belton Animal Clinic and Exotic Care Center logo

About Belton Animal Clinic and Exotic Care Center

Veterinary Services
Belton, Mo

Benefits & Perks

Health, dental, and vision insurance
Retirement with 3.5% match
Enhanced maternity and medical leave
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
Uniform allowance
Employee pet care discounts
Generous CE support
Professional dues, license fees, VIN membership, AVMA PLIT covered