Veterinary technicians

NOC

32104

- 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.

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Full NOC 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.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following 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.

Also Known As

animal health technician
animal health technologist
laboratory animal technician
registered veterinary technician (RVT)
veterinarian assistant

veterinary technician

veterinary technologist

Requirements

Employment Requirements

Completion of a two- or three-year animal health/veterinary technology college program is required.

Successful completion of a national registration examination may be required in some employment settings.

Registration with provincial animal health technologists' or veterinary technicians' associations is available, and is mandatory in some provinces.

Provincial Regulation

Not Provincially Regulated

Employment by Sex

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

97.7%

Female

2.3%

Male

Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

35.6%

15-24

40.2%

25-34

10.3%

35-44

10.3%

45-54

2.3%

55-64

1.1%

65+

Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

2.3%

No Certificate, Diploma or Degree

17.2%

High School, Diploma or Equivalent

0.0%

Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma

65.5%

College or University Below Bachelor Level

14.9%

University - Bachelor Level or Above

Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

96.6%

Professional, scientific and technical services

N/A

3.4%

All Other Industries

Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

8.00%

Northeast

47.10%

Southeast

20.70%

Southwest

14.90%

Central

9.20%

Northwest

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Data legend

$40,000

Northeast

$35,500

Southeast

$31,000

Southwest

$36,000

Central

N/A

Northwest

Economic Regions

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Salary

The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

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