ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN/SUPERVISING ANIMAL KEEPER
Because Animal Health Technician/Supervising Animal Keeper is non-competitive, hiring leans on your background rather than a test score: meet the requirements and apply to the agency directly.
The main requirement is 1 year of relevant experience.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
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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.
Where this title is used
Animal Health Technician/Supervising Animal Keeper 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
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.
Definition
Under direction, supervises and works with employees engaged in carrying out a program for the care and feeding of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in a public zoo; does related work as required.
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. Supervises assigned personnel to ensure maximum protection to mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and the public. Supervises the care and feeding of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Checks that pens, cages, paddocks, and other areas are kept in a neat and orderly manner. Performs some maintenance work such as the repair or modification of animal display facilities. Trains animals for planned public performances. Maintains essential records and files. Ensures that proper level of animal food inventories are constantly maintained, and places orders for materials. Trains assigned personnel in care and feeding of animals and follows up to ensure that program is carefully adhered to. Takes immediate steps to handle animals suffering from injury and illness by following established procedure. Conducts tours of zoo. Requisitions, receives, accounts for stores, and issues materials and supplies. Prepares reports. Takes charge of animal keeper staff. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized 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. Four (4) years of experience in the care, handling, and feeding of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
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. 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. CODE: 7/27/2024 THIS SPECIFICATION IS FOR COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT USE ONLY. SUPERVISING ANIMAL KEEPER Knowledge of methods and procedures used in the care of various zoo mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians including feeding, protection, handling, and display. Ability to give suitable assignments and instructions to designated personnel. Ability to provide training that will guarantee high standards of performance. Ability to work harmoniously with associates and persons using the zoo. Ability to supervise the care and handling of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Ability to interpret written assignments and to prepare reports. Ability to learn 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, or 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 as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. CODES: LG- This job specification is for local government use only. DUAL TITLE CODE: LG - This dual title job specification is for local government use only.
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. The definition and 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.