Animal Technician

Also known as:

Laboratory Technician, Animal

Introduction

Animal technicians look after and breed laboratory animals used in medical, veterinary and dental research. Rats, mice and rabbits are often used in research, although animal technicians may look after fish, insects, cats, dogs and monkeys. Animal technicians have to learn to adapt to the different animals' health and nutrition needs as well as patterns of behaviour.

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Work Activities

Animal technicians are responsible for the care and welfare of animals in laboratory research. Many scientists see the research as essential to human health and quality of life, although alternative methods and technologies are reducing the number of animals involved. Researchers have developed drugs and medicines, and improved knowledge of diseases and surgical techniques.

Animal technicians carry out routine aspects of animal care. They feed and water the animals and clean cages, rooms and equipment.

Technicians use nutritional knowledge to prepare special diets. They are in daily contact with animals, and are able to detect early signs of disease, illness, and changes in behaviour.

Experienced technicians help to breed animals especially for use in research. They do routine parts of experiments, analyse blood, faeces (waste matter) or urine, perhaps give injections and anaesthetics, take blood or tissue samples, help at operations and stitch wounds.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must have a thorough and methodical approach to monitoring animals. Good attention to detail is important, for example, when measuring feed, or the height and weight of newborn animals. You must have good observation skills to identify subtle differences in an animal's behaviour.

You will need good communication skills, to express your findings and concerns clearly, either to other technicians or to research scientists. You will need IT skills to record information.

You must want to work with animals, and agree with the belief that research is justified because it is vital to human health and quality of life. You must be prepared to help in experiments, and to destroy sick or injured animals humanely. You should be aware of the ethical debate on the use of animals.

Strict regulations and controls govern the care and protection of animals, and a code of ethics binds members of the Register of Animal Technicians.

Physical fitness is important because the work involves lifting and carrying. Inoculation against various diseases would usually be required, due to risk of bites.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries for animal technicians vary.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Animal technicians earn in the range of £15,500 - £17,000 a year, rising to around £20,000 - £26,500. Higher earners can make around £30,000 a year.

Animal technicians usually work a 35-39 hour week, on a shift basis to cover weekends, evenings and public holidays.

Employers throughout the UK include pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations, university research departments, medical and veterinary colleges, and companies that breed animals for use in laboratory research.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have skills through laboratory work experience, or through working with animals.

Colleges will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges.

• 17% of people in occupations such as animal technician work part-time.
• 8% have flexible hours.

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