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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine postoperative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists.
Other titles employers use
Animal Care Provider · Animal Caregiver · Avian Keeper · Certified Veterinary Assistant · Emergency Veterinary Assistant · Inpatient Technician Assistant · Kennel Vet Assistant (Kennel Veterinary Assistant) · Research Animal Attendant
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Fill medication prescriptions.
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
- Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, analytical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Service Orientation
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Administrative
- Medicine and Dentistry
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Information Ordering
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.3 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.8 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.9 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 85%
- A certificate or some college 14%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Medical software
- Label making software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 20,100
- Job openings each year
- 3,890
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 24.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 20,100 | 3,890 | 24.1% |
| Florida | 10,320 | 2,000 | 36.7% |
| Texas | 10,080 | 1,950 | 37.0% |
| North Carolina | 6,650 | 1,290 | 27.9% |
| Washington | 5,640 | 1,230 | 29.7% |
| Ohio | 5,300 | 1,020 | 18.0% |
| Virginia | 5,020 | 970 | 26.8% |
| New York | 4,970 | 70 | 17.2% |
| Michigan | 4,800 | 930 | 22.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,770 | 920 | 13.6% |
| Illinois | 4,260 | 820 | 19.3% |
| Georgia | 4,010 | 780 | 18.6% |
| Arizona | 3,770 | 730 | 32.7% |
| Maryland | 3,740 | 720 | 25.1% |
| Colorado | 3,640 | 710 | 41.6% |
| Oregon | 3,620 | 700 | 31.6% |
| Indiana | 3,410 | 660 | 27.2% |
| Tennessee | 2,910 | 560 | 9.0% |
| Wisconsin | 2,710 | 520 | 16.3% |
| South Carolina | 2,470 | 480 | 28.0% |
| New Jersey | 2,310 | 450 | 11.1% |
| Missouri | 2,160 | 420 | 24.9% |
| Oklahoma | 2,070 | 400 | 19.7% |
| Utah | 1,860 | 360 | 37.8% |
| Alabama | 1,830 | 350 | 15.1% |
| Arkansas | 1,600 | 310 | 20.3% |
| Nevada | 1,580 | 310 | 27.4% |
| Connecticut | 1,400 | 270 | 25.0% |
| Kentucky | 1,400 | 270 | 21.7% |
| Kansas | 1,220 | 240 | 18.4% |
| Louisiana | 1,220 | 230 | 23.2% |
| Iowa | 1,200 | 230 | 20.0% |
| Nebraska | 1,180 | 230 | 21.6% |
| Minnesota | 1,150 | 220 | 19.8% |
| West Virginia | 970 | 190 | 18.3% |
| Maine | 960 | 190 | 5.5% |
| Idaho | 810 | 160 | 32.8% |
| Montana | 770 | 150 | 35.1% |
| Massachusetts | 690 | 130 | 16.9% |
| New Hampshire | 560 | 110 | 21.7% |
| New Mexico | 550 | 110 | 31.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 540 | 100 | 25.6% |
| Rhode Island | 420 | 80 | 20.0% |
| Mississippi | 360 | 70 | 24.1% |
| Alaska | 290 | 60 | 11.5% |
| North Dakota | 290 | 60 | 26.1% |
| Wyoming | 260 | 50 | 36.8% |
| South Dakota | 230 | 50 | 21.1% |
| Vermont | 220 | 40 | 29.4% |
| Delaware | 170 | 30 | 13.3% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 27
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 58%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Mississippi State University
- Degrees each year
- 24
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Michigan State University
- Degrees each year
- 23
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Purdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
- Degrees each year
- 21
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 20
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Long Island University
- Degrees each year
- 19
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $25,000
Compare every college offering veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians