ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN (Local)
Animal Health Technician sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's local-government civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.
It asks for 1 year of relevant experience. State payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Agriculture.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →The statute this title cites
This specification cites 11A:9-11b, animal health technician, credit hours, required.
(b) An applicant with five years of experience in a veterinary office, animal hospital, animal shelter, or other similar place of work where animals are cared for or kept performing vaccinations, diagnostic tests, euthanasia, or various other medical treatments on animals or work involving animal nutrition, taxonomy, animal behavior, parasitology, or bacteriology and who does not meet all of the education requirements shall be eligible for the Animal Health Technician job title within the civil service local title listing.
Who employs this title
Animal Health Technician appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Agriculture.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | 1 |
Where this title is used
Animal Health Technician is a local service title. It is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, not by State departments. Those employers set pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule, which is why most local titles carry no salary range here.
Check whether an employer is a civil service jurisdiction · How local civil service works
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $61,146. The agencies employing the most are:
- Agriculture (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Examples of work
Renders treatment of sick or injured animals as directed by the veterinarian. Administers prescribed medication as directed by the veterinarian. Observes the behavior and condition of animals, monitors their clinical symptoms and reports findings to the veterinarian. Performs preliminary examinations of animals to determine symptoms of disease or injury, and reports findings to the veterinarian. Operates x-ray equipment. Restrains animals during exams or procedures. Administers emergency first aid, such as emergency resuscitation or other life-saving procedures. Collects, prepares, and labels samples for laboratory testing, culture, or microscopic examination. Performs laboratory tests to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems. Prepares and administers medications, vaccines, serums, or other treatment, as prescribed by the veterinarian. Prepares the operating area for surgical procedures. Assists the veterinarian in the preparation of animals for surgical procedures. Assists the veterinarian during surgical procedures by sterilizing instruments, securing supplies, providing requested surgical instruments, and disinfecting and cleaning operating areas, and equipment. Cares for and monitors the condition of animals recovering from surgery. May administer anesthesia, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to the anesthetics. Assists with animal euthanasia and the authorized disposal of remains. Performs dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth. Dresses wounds and applies splints or other protective devices. Cleans and disinfects kennels, animal holding areas, surgery suites, examination rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease. Schedules appointments and procedures. Provides information regarding issues such as animal health care, behavior problems, or nutrition. Maintains controlled drug inventory and related log books. Establishes and maintains essential records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Satisfactory completion of sixty (60) college credits, including twelve (12) credit hours in veterinary science/technology, animal science technology, zoology, biology, animal, husbandry, or related fields, at an accredited college or university.
Experience
One (1) year of experience in a veterinary office, animal hospital or animal shelter performing vaccinations, diagnostic tests, euthanasia, and/or various other medical treatment on animals or in work involving animal nutrition, taxonomy, animal behavior, parasitology, or bacteriology.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of animal care and handling. Knowledge of the principles of normal and abnormal animal life processes. Ability to work closely with animals and assist in their care and treatment. Ability to assist veterinarians in diagnostic, medical, and surgical procedures by preparing medications and applying dressings. Ability to gather and record information regarding cases. Ability to prepare animals for examination and ready instruments for use. Ability to collect various specimens and perform standardized laboratory tests. Ability to disinfect cages and keep area in a sanitary condition. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants who possess (12) credit hours in veterinary sciences/technology, animal science technology, zoology, biology, animal husbandry, or related fields but who do not meet the remaining educational requirement may substitute one (1) additional year of experience as described below for each thirty (30) credit hours they are lacking. Pursuant to N.J.S.A . 11A:9-11b an applicant with five (5) years of experience in a veterinary office, animal hospital, animal shelter, or other similar place of work where animals are cared for or kept performing vaccinations, diagnostic tests, euthanasia, or various other medical treatments on animals or work involving animal nutrition, taxonomy, animal behavior, parasitology, or bacteriology and who does not meet all of the education requirements shall be eligible for the Animal Health Technician job title within the Civil Service local title listing. A passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) may be substituted for the required education and experience.