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Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Occupation Detailed Description

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

The main tasks and work activities of Veterinary Technologists and Technicians are to administer anesthetics or sedatives to control pain, monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities, monitor patients following surgeries or other treatments, immunize patients. In general, for the Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, critical Thinking, active Listening, speaking, reading Comprehension and other 11 skills are required.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians jobs. 41.25% of Veterinary Technologists and Technicians have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 14.63% of Veterinary Technologists and Technicians have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
41.25%
Post-Secondary Certificate
14.63%
Some College Courses
7.37%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
26.35%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
10.40%

Tasks and Work Activities of Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

  • 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.
  • Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
  • 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.
  • Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
  • Collect, prepare, and label samples for laboratory testing, culture, or microscopic examination.
  • Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
  • Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment or instruments, as needed.
  • Fill prescriptions, measuring medications and labeling containers.
  • Prepare animals for surgery, performing such tasks as shaving surgical areas.
  • Take animals into treatment areas and assist with physical examinations by performing such duties as obtaining temperature, pulse, or respiration data.
  • Observe the behavior and condition of animals and monitor their clinical symptoms.
  • Take and develop diagnostic radiographs, using x-ray equipment.
  • Maintain laboratory, research, or treatment records, as well as inventories of pharmaceuticals, equipment, or supplies.
  • Give enemas and perform catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.
  • Prepare treatment rooms for surgery.
  • Maintain instruments, equipment, or machinery to ensure proper working condition.
  • Perform dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth.
  • Clean kennels, animal holding areas, surgery suites, examination rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
  • Provide information or counseling regarding issues such as animal health care, behavior problems, or nutrition.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Administer anesthetics or sedatives to control pain.
  • Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
  • Monitor patients following surgeries or other treatments.
  • Immunize patients.
  • Administer non-intravenous medications.
  • Prepare medications or medical solutions.
  • Test biological specimens to gather information about patient conditions.
  • Treat medical emergencies.
  • Prepare biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
  • Collect biological specimens from patients.
  • Clean medical equipment or facilities.
  • Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.
  • Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
  • Prepare patients physically for medical procedures.
  • Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
  • Process x-rays or other medical images.
  • Maintain medical facility records.
  • Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
  • Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.

Skills and Abilities for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Intubation forcepse.g. Adult Magill forceps
  • Medical oxygen masks or partse.g. Adult non-rebreather oxygen masks
  • Intubation styletse.g. Adult stylets
  • Nebulizer or accessoriese.g. Aerosol nebulizers
  • Emergency medical services suction units or accessoriese.g. Airway suction units
  • Resuscitation masks or accessoriese.g. Ambu bags
  • Ambulancese.g. Ambulances
  • Medical syringe with needlee.g. Anesthesia syringes
  • Animal catching devicese.g. Animal capture nets
  • Animal catching devicese.g. Animal catching poles
  • Veterinary electrocardiograph ECGe.g. Animal electrocardiograph ECG units
  • Veterinary nail trimmers or cutterse.g. Animal nail trimmers
  • Animal catching devicese.g. Animal snares
  • Anti shock garmentse.g. Anti shock garments
  • Arterial line catheterse.g. Arterial line catheters
  • Artificial airway holderse.g. Artificial airway holders
  • Chemistry analyzerse.g. Automated chemistry analyzers
  • Laboratory diluterse.g. Automated diluters
  • Veterinary injection or suction units or accessoriese.g. Balling guns
  • Emergency medical services suction units or accessoriese.g. Battery-powered portable suction units
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • BiologyKnowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • ChemistryKnowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.