Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Animal Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Animal Technician is responsible for daily animal husbandry, health monitoring, procedure support, and regulatory compliance in research, veterinary, or shelter settings. This role ensures animal welfare, accurate record-keeping, and smooth operation of animal facilities by performing routine care, assisting veterinarians and researchers with procedures, maintaining housing and equipment, and adhering to institutional and federal animal care standards (IACUC, USDA, AAALAC, GLP). Ideal candidates demonstrate strong animal handling skills, meticulous documentation, and a commitment to humane care and biosecurity.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Veterinary Assistant or Kennel Technician
Animal Care Attendant / Shelter Technician
Laboratory Assistant / Research Assistant

Advancement To:

Senior Animal Technician / Lead Animal Technician
Animal Care Supervisor or Facility Manager
Laboratory Animal Technologist / Veterinary Technician
IACUC Coordinator or Animal Program Manager

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Enrichment Coordinator
Animal Behavior Technician
Regulatory Compliance Specialist (animal research)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide daily husbandry and routine care for assigned animals, including feeding, watering, bedding changes, cage cleaning, grooming, and maintenance of species-appropriate environmental enrichment to promote physical and psychological well‑being.
Conduct thorough daily health checks and behavioral observations; document findings in the animal health record and promptly report any abnormalities, signs of distress, illness, or injury to veterinary staff and supervisor.
Administer medications, treatments, and dosing regimens as prescribed by veterinarians or study protocols; accurately record administration times, dosages, routes, and animal responses.
Assist veterinarians and research staff during physical examinations, surgical procedures, anesthesia induction and monitoring, sample collection (blood draws, swabs, biopsies), and postoperative care while maintaining aseptic technique and patient safety.
Perform humane euthanasia and post-mortem examinations when required by protocol or policy, following established SOPs, regulatory requirements, and institutional guidelines while maintaining documentation and biohazard handling procedures.
Support breeding colony management: set up breeding pairs, perform weaning, sexing, genotyping support, record breeding outcomes, maintain accurate colony and pedigree records to support research studies.
Maintain and sanitize animal housing, equipment, and facility areas to institutional and regulatory standards—operate and validate cleaning equipment (autoclaves, cage washers), dispose of waste safely, and prevent cross-contamination.
Implement and maintain biosecurity procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols to minimize disease transmission; participate in quarantine and acclimation procedures for incoming animals.
Follow and enforce IACUC, USDA, AAALAC, GLP, and institutional SOPs for animal care, handling, documentation, and facility operations; participate in audits and inspections and implement corrective actions.
Prepare, label, and process biological samples according to study protocols and chain-of-custody requirements; perform basic laboratory techniques (centrifugation, sample aliquoting, freezing) and log samples into LIMS or study databases.
Manage inventory of food, bedding, enrichment materials, medications, and laboratory supplies; place orders, receive shipments, inspect incoming animals or supplies, and reconcile discrepancies.
Operate and maintain specialized equipment used in husbandry and research (e.g., heating/ventilation systems, caging systems, restraint devices, monitoring equipment) and report maintenance needs or equipment failures.
Provide training and mentorship to junior staff, interns, and volunteers on safe animal handling, enrichment techniques, record-keeping, and SOP compliance; help maintain a culture of continuous improvement and safety.
Assist in executing experimental protocols as directed by researchers, ensuring accurate timing, animal identification, and adherence to welfare considerations; document deviations and communicate them to study leads.
Maintain meticulous records of animal care, treatments, experiments, and environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, light cycles) using electronic or paper-based systems to support reproducibility and regulatory review.
Participate in facility emergency response plans, including animal evacuation, disease outbreaks, and environmental failures; perform triage and critical care as needed to protect animal welfare.
Implement species-specific enrichment programs and socialization schedules to reduce stress and support behavioral health; evaluate enrichment effectiveness and recommend improvements to the enrichment plan.
Support necropsy and tissue collection by preparing materials, documenting findings, and assisting pathology staff with dissection, sample labeling, fixation, and shipping under biohazard protocols.
Ensure animal identification systems (ear tags, microchips, cage cards) are accurate and up to date; reconcile ID errors promptly to prevent mix-ups in studies or medical records.
Participate in training and continuing education (AALAS certifications, veterinary courses, safety training) to maintain and expand technical competence and compliance with evolving standards.

Secondary Functions

Collaborate with research teams and veterinarians to optimize study logistics, recommending practical changes to animal care that enhance welfare and data quality.
Assist with facility projects such as cage system upgrades, enrichment program rollouts, and workflow improvements; contribute to SOP development and revision.
Support data entry and quality control for animal records, breeding colony databases, and study logs; assist with data exports for publications, audits, or regulatory submissions.
Provide outreach and training for volunteers and campus groups on humane handling, facility rules, and basic welfare principles; represent the animal care team in cross-functional meetings.
Participate in occupational health and safety programs: maintain vaccination records, complete zoonotic disease training, and support PPE inventory management.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Animal handling and restraint techniques across multiple species (rodents, rabbits, dogs, cats, NHP as applicable) with demonstrated competence and minimal stress to animals.
Aseptic technique and basic surgical assistance skills; familiarity with perioperative procedures and postoperative monitoring.
Medication preparation and administration (oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous) with accurate dosing and documentation.
Phlebotomy and sample collection skills (capillary and venous blood draws, swabs, urine collection) and basic sample processing (centrifugation, aliquoting, freezing).
Knowledge of IACUC regulations, USDA, AAALAC accreditation standards, GLP practices, and institutional SOPs for animal research and care.
Husbandry and colony management (breeding, weaning, sexing, genotyping workflows) including record maintenance and data entry into LIMS or colony management software.
Facility maintenance skills including autoclave operation, cage washer use, HVAC awareness, and routine equipment checks.
Experience with euthanasia procedures and biohazard waste handling according to regulatory and institutional policies.
Proficiency with electronic record systems and basic office software (LIMS, Excel, Word) for accurate record-keeping and reporting.
Basic necropsy support, tissue handling, fixation, and sample labeling consistent with pathology requirements.
Certification or training relevant to laboratory animal science (AALAS ALAT/LAT, Veterinary Technician certification) is highly desirable.
Familiarity with enrichment design and behavioral observation recording to support animal welfare initiatives.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and high standards for documentation and compliance.
Compassionate, patient, and ethical approach to animal care and welfare.
Excellent communication skills for collaborating with veterinarians, researchers, and facility staff.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
Team player who contributes to training, mentoring, and continuous improvement.
Time management skills to balance routine husbandry, procedural support, and emergency tasks.
Resilience and adaptability to handle stressful situations and emotional aspects of animal work.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; relevant on-the-job training or certificate (e.g., AALAS ALAT) preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree in Veterinary Technology, Laboratory Animal Science, Animal Science, Biology, or related field.
AALAS certification (ALAT, LAT) or Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Veterinary Technology / Veterinary Medicine
Laboratory Animal Science
Biology, Zoology, Animal Science
Animal Behavior / Animal Welfare

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0–3 years for entry-level Animal Technician roles; 2–5+ years for positions supporting surgical procedures or specialized species.

Preferred:

1–3 years of laboratory animal or clinical animal care experience; prior experience in research animal husbandry, veterinary clinics, shelters, or biomedical research facilities is highly valued.
Demonstrated competency with species handled by the facility and familiarity with regulatory requirements (IACUC, USDA, AAALAC).