Description
Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.
Interests
- Realistic
- Investigative
- Conventional
Work Values
- Relationships
- Support
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Tasks
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
Work Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Detailed Work Activities
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Technology Skills
- Data base user interface and query software
- Presentation software
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
Abilities
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Oral Expression
- Information Ordering
Skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- English Language
- Mathematics
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certifying Organization
Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Laboratory Animal TechnologistCertifying Organization
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Veterinary Anatomical Pathology Phase IICertifying Organization
American College of Veterinary Pathologists
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Veterinary Clinical Pathology Phase IICertifying Organization
American College of Veterinary Pathologists
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Equine Dental TechnicianCertifying Organization
International Association of Equine Dentistry
Type
Specialty
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $33,837 |
| Median (50%) | $42,156 |
| High (90%) | $53,131 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $41,589 |
| Mid Level | $46,787 |
| Senior Level | $50,968 |
| Expert Level | $52,681 |
Employability
There are currently 125,700 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 150,000 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 19%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 19%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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