Veterinary technicians

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.

Quick facts

3-Year Outlook

Moderate
Moderate

3-Year Job Openings

66
 

Median Hourly Wage

$16.50
$13.75
Low
$24.00
High

Average Salary

$34,400
 

Typically Required

College or apprenticeship

Employed

470
 
Job details

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
N/A
N/A
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
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

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
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

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.

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.

No Data Available

Southeast

$18.50
$15.85
Low
$22.65
High

Southwest

$18.36
$16.40
Low
$24.43
High

Central

$16.50
$13.75
Low
$24.00
High
No Data Available
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.

New Brunswick

$34,400

Newfoundland

$40,000

Prince Edward Island

$50,000

Nova Scotia

$37,200

Canada

$44,280
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).

Three Year Outlook

Total Openings: 3-Year

66
 

New Jobs: 3-Year

56
 

Retirements/Deaths: 3-Year

9
 

Ten Year Outlook

Total Openings: 10-Year

125
 

New Jobs: 10-Year

81
 

Retirements/Deaths: 10-Year

43