CompGeo Salary Survey Benchmark Job Summary and Competencies

Veterinary Assistants

The Benchmark Job Description below represents the specific Position Characteristics of the job used in the Salary Survey. Benchmark Job Descriptions should be inspected carefully to review the degree of matching between an organizations' Job and the Salary Survey Benchmark. Matching internal Jobs to Salary Survey Benchmark Jobs should not be done on Job Title alone. A thorough comparison of Salary Survey Benchmark to Internal Job Descriptions is recommended. A good overlap should exist on any comparisons used on critical Job Dimensions and Competencies.
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Animal
Job Family: Vetrinary
Benchmark Title: Veterinary Assistants
 
Summary Job Description Tasks
Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine post-operative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists. Monitor animals' recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
 
Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
 
Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments and equipment.
 
Administer medication, immunizations, and blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
 
Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
 
Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination and operating rooms, and animal loading/unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
 
Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
 
Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests such as taking and developing x-rays.
 
Fill medication prescriptions.
 
Collect laboratory specimens such as blood, urine, and feces for testing.
 
Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
 
Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
 
Prepare surgical equipment, and pass instruments and materials to veterinarians during surgical procedures.
 
Perform enemas, catheterization, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, and gavages.
 
Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions such as diet lists and schedules.
 
Exercise animals, and provide them with companionship.
 
Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, and breeding.
 
Educate and advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, and behavior problems.
 
Perform hygiene-related duties such as clipping animals' claws, and cleaning and polishing teeth.
 
Prepare examination or treatment rooms by stocking them with appropriate supplies.
 
Provide assistance with euthanasia of animals and disposal of corpses.
 
Perform office reception duties such as scheduling appointments and helping customers.
 
Dust, spray, or bathe animals to control insect pests.
 
Write reports, maintain research information, and perform clerical duties.
 
Perform accounting duties, including bookkeeping, billing customers for services, and maintaining inventories.
 
Sell pet food and supplies to customers.
 
Groom, trim, or clip animals' coats.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Animal
Job Family: Vetrinary
Benchmark Title: Veterinary Assistants
 
Important Knowledge Competencies Competency Description
Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 
English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 
Biology Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 
Clerical Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 
Medicine and Dentistry Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 
Chemistry Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 
Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 
Education and Training Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Animal
Job Family: Vetrinary
Benchmark Title: Veterinary Assistants
 
Important Skill Competencies Competency Description
Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
 
Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
 
Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
 
Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
 
Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
 
Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
 
Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.
 
Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
 
Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
 
Writing Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
 
Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
 
Instructing Teaching others how to do something.
 
Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
 
Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
 
Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Animal
Job Family: Vetrinary
Benchmark Title: Veterinary Assistants
 
Important Ability Competencies Competency Description
Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
 
Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
 
Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
 
Information Ordering The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
 
Manual Dexterity The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
 
Finger Dexterity The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
 
Trunk Strength The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
 
Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
 
Written Comprehension The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
 
Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
 
Static Strength The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
 
Extent Flexibility The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
 
Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
 
Far Vision The ability to see details at a distance.
 
Speech Recognition The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
 
Speech Clarity The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
 
Written Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
 
Inductive Reasoning The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
 
Multilimb Coordination The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
 
Category Flexibility The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
 
Flexibility of Closure The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
 
Selective Attention The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Animal
Job Family: Vetrinary
Benchmark Title: Veterinary Assistants
 
Tools/Technology Example Product Category
IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone Medical software
 
Labeling software Label making software
 
McAllister Software Systems AVImark Medical software
 
Microsoft Access Data base user interface and query software
 
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet software
 
Microsoft Office software Office suite software
 
Microsoft Word Word processing software
 
Practice management software PMS Medical software
 
Scheduling software Calendar and scheduling software
 
Animal nail clippers Veterinary nail trimmers or cutters
 
Animal razors Animal shearing or clipping equipment
 
Animal restraints Animal catching devices
 
Balling guns Veterinary injection or suction units or accessories
 
Bandage scissors Bandage scissors or its supplies
 
Benchtop centrifuges Benchtop centrifuges
 
Bite gloves Protective gloves
 
Blood collection syringes Blood collection syringes
 
Chemical sterilizers Chemical or gas sterilizers
 
Commercial dryers Clothes dryers
 
Commercial washing machines Laundry type washing machines
 
Desktop computers Desktop computers
 
Digital cameras Digital cameras
 
Digital veterinary thermometers Veterinary clinical thermometers
 
Digital veterinary x ray equipment Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use
 
Electric animal clippers Animal shearing or clipping equipment
 
Electronic animal scales Animal weighing scales
 
Evacuated blood collection tubes Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers
 
General purpose laboratory test tubes Multipurpose or general test tubes
 
Glass beakers Laboratory beakers
 
Handheld refractometers Handheld refractometers or polarimeters
 
Hematology analyzers Hematology analyzers
 
Injection syringes Veterinary injection or suction units or accessories
 
Intravenous IV administration sets Intravenous tubing with catheter administration kits
 
Label printers Label making machines
 
Laboratory forceps Laboratory forceps
 
Laptop computers Notebook computers
 
Lead aprons Medical radiological shielding aprons or masks or drapes
 
Lead gloves Medical radiological shielding gloves
 
Mechanical stethoscopes Mechanical stethoscopes or accessories
 
Microchip readers Bar code reader equipment
 
Microhematocrit centrifuges Microcentrifuges
 
Microscope slides Microscope slides
 
Multi-line telephone systems Special purpose telephones
 
Muzzles Muzzles
 
Optical compound microscopes Binocular light compound microscopes
 
Personal computers Personal computers
 
Pill counters Tablet counters
 
Specimen collection containers Specimen collectors
 
Stationary veterinary x ray equipment Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use
 
Steam autoclaves Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
 
Suture scissors Suture removers
 
Tourniquets Tourniquets
 
Urine analysis equipment Urinalysis analyzers
 
Urinometers Urinalysis analyzers
 
Veterinary anesthesia machines Anesthesia sets or kits
 
Veterinary blood pressure cuffs Veterinary blood pressure testers
 
Veterinary immersion hydrotherapy equipment Full body immersion hydrotherapy baths or tanks
 
Veterinary vaccination syringes Veterinary injection or suction units or accessories
 
X ray cassettes Medical x ray film or cassettes for general use
 
X ray film processors Medical x ray darkroom equipment or supplies
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Animal
Job Family: Vetrinary
Benchmark Title: Veterinary Assistants
 
Prerequisite Qualification Category Education and Experience Level
Required Level of Education High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)
 
On-the-Job Training Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
 
On-Site or In-Plant Training Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
 
Related Work Experience Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Animal
Job Family: Vetrinary
Benchmark Title: Veterinary Assistants
 
Alternate Job Title(s)
Animal Care Provider
Animal Care Service Worker
Animal Care Taker
Animal Caregiver
Animal Health Technician
Avian Keeper
Emergency Veterinary Assistant
Groomer
Kennel Assistant
Kennel Attendant
Kennel Help
Kennel Technician
Kennel Worker
Laboratory Animal Caretaker
Large Animal Care Technician
Research Animal Attendant
Small Animal Caretaker
Veterinarian Assistant
Veterinarian Helper
Veterinarian Technician
Veterinary Assistant (VA)
Veterinary Assistant (Vet Assistant)
Veterinary Attendant
Veterinary Surgery Technician
Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech)
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Animal
Job Family: Vetrinary
Benchmark Title: Veterinary Assistants
 
 
.
 
CompGeo Professional Salary Survey and Total Compensation Forecast Options
 
Professional Total Compensation Forecast Library
Regional Online Access Subscription Options. Online Salary Survey Forecast Library Subscriptions include Access To All 23 CompGeo Salary Survey Career Occupation Groups covering thousands of Salary Survey Benchmarks with Salary and Compensation Forecasts over a eight year time period - an unmatched feature in the Salary and Compensation Forecast Business Realm.. Direct Pay, Fringe Benefit Costs and Total Compensation Forecasts included. Compensation Forecasts are present for all CompGeo Salary Survey Benchmarks along with Salary Survey Aging Factors for ea ch Projection Date. All Salary Survey Forecast Reports include a Companion Excel Salary Survey Forecast Data Sheet.
 
CompGeo Professional Salary Survey Report and Forecast Samples
CompGeo Salary Survey Report Samples
Samples and Pricing for all CompGeo Online Professional Report and Online Forecast Library Subscription Options.
 
 
 
Copyright © 1995 - 2023 International Compensation Technologies and The Clayton Wallis Company.
All Rights Reserved World Wide ictcw.com
Member, WorldatWork - Formerly American and Canadian Compensation Associations (ACA/CCA)