Job Description
An Animal Technician is responsible for the day to day care of laboratories animals. They may be involved with experiments involving the animals in their care as well as monitoring and maintaining the health of the animals and performing duties such as receiving new animals, cleaning and changing cages and providing food and water.
Entry Requirements
You can get into this job through:
College
You could do a Level 3 Diploma in Animal Care or Applied Science.
You may need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course.
The following local colleges offer courses in Animal Care or Applied Science:
- City College Norwich
- East Coast College
- Easton College
- One Sixth Form College
- Suffolk New College
- Suffolk Rural
- The College of West Anglia
- West Suffolk College
Or your local 6th form may offer a relevant course.
Apprenticeship
You could get into this job through an animal technologist advanced apprenticeship.
You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship.
Click here to search for an apprenticeship.
University
You could do a higher national diploma or degree in:
- pharmacology
- biology
- animal studies
- animal care
You'll usually need 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree.
Career Tips
Working with animals or in a lab may help improve your chances of finding a job or training. You could get work experience on a farm, in kennels, an animal welfare centre or zoo or in a laboratory setting.
You can find out more about careers and training from the Institute of Animal Technology.
Career Path and Progression
With experience, you could become a senior animal technologist, unit or section supervisor or manager.
You could also specialise in breeding, immunology or training.
Related careers you may be interested in:
- Veterinary nurse
- Laboratory technician
- Animal care worker
- Kennel worker
- Animal technician
Required Skills
- Keen interest in science and working with animals
- Work well in a team
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to use your initiative
- sensitivity and understanding
- customer service skills
- thinking and reasoning skills
Salary Range
£15,000 to £40,000