Overview
Outlook
Data
Training
Description
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians provide technical support to veterinarians by caring for animals and assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health disorders. They are employed in veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, animal shelters, humane societies, zoos, animal research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and government. Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians who are supervisors are included in this unit group.
Job Titles
- Animal health technician
- Animal health technologist
- Laboratory animal technician
- Registered veterinary technician (RVT)
- Veterinarian assistant
- Veterinary technician
- Veterinary technologist
Main Duties
- Provide nursing care and rehabilitation therapy for animals
- Handle, restrain and care for animals undergoing treatment and surgery
- Produce radiographs, collect and analyse samples and perform other laboratory tests to assist in diagnosis of animal health problems
- Assist veterinarian with animals before, during and following surgery by preparing surgical equipment, administering and monitoring anaesthetics and cleaning up after surgery
- Prepare and administer medications and vaccines under direction of a veterinarian
- Administer treatments as prescribed by a veterinarian
- Provide wound and bandage care
- Conduct specialized procedures such as animal identification and hoof trimming
- Educate and advise clients on animal health care including nutrition and home care
- Assist in laboratory research
- Perform routine animal dental procedures and assist veterinarians with animal dentistry
- May perform a variety of office management and clerical duties.
Workplaces
- Animal hospitals
- Animal research laboratories
- Animal shelters
- Governments
- Humane societies
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Veterinary clinics
- Zoos
Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Instructing
- Learning and Teaching Strategies
- Management of Material Resources
- Monitoring
Abilities
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Auditory Attention
- Hearing Sensitivity
- Body Flexibility
- Categorization Flexibility
Personal Attributes
- Adaptability
- Analytical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Collaboration
- Concern for Others
Similar Occupations
- Pet groomers and animal care workers (65220)
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be good for Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (32104) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
- Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
- Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 85%
- Universities (NAICS 6113): 13%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 87% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 13% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 56% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 43% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 40 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 12% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 88% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: n/a
- high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 54% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: 43% compared to 17% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $16.00 | $22.00 | $32.00 |
| Canada | $15.75 | $21.00 | $29.00 |
Training
There are no known training programs for this occupation in PEI. If you are aware of a local training program, please contact us.
More Info
View the full occupational profile with details on work characteristics, interests, employment requirements and more on the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS) website.