AHT (Animal Health Technician)
えーえいちてぃー（どうぶつかんごし）
Industry & Occupation
Classification
- Major : Medical, Nursing, and Health Occupations
- Middle : Healthcare Assistants
- Minor : Other Healthcare Assistants
Summary
Occupation that provides veterinary assistance with treatments, cares for hospitalized animals, assists with examinations and surgeries, etc., at animal hospitals and similar facilities.
Description
Animal Health Technician (AHT) assists veterinarians with clinical work including surgery preparation and anesthesia management, testing tasks, medication management, observation and care of hospitalized animals, explanations and consultations with pet owners, etc., handling a wide range of duties. As it is a role directly involving animal lives, specialized knowledge, high attention to detail, and the ability to communicate appropriately with animals and owners are required. Workplaces include animal hospitals, animal clinics, emergency veterinary facilities, etc., and may involve night shifts or emergency responses.
Future Outlook
Demand is increasing with the aging of pets and advancements in veterinary medicine. Amid the establishment of national certification systems and strengthening of preventive care, greater specialization is required.
Personality Traits
Attentive and Considerate / Excellent Communication Skills / Loves Animals / Physically Fit / Strong Sense of Responsibility
Work Style
Animal Hospital Employment / Emergency Response / Night Shifts / Part-time Available / Visiting Consultations
Career Path
Junior AHT → Senior AHT → Chief AHT → Hospital Manager → Education and Instruction
Required Skills
Anesthesia Management Assistance / Animal Nursing Techniques / Animal Restraint and Transport / Basic Knowledge of Animal Hygiene / Medication Management / Surgical Assistance / Testing Techniques
Recommended Skills
Animal Behavior Studies / Animal Nursing / Communication Skills (Pet Owner Interaction) / English Paper Reading
Aptitudes (Strengths Preferred)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Attention to Detail & Accuracy | Because mistakes in medication dosages or anesthesia management can be life-threatening. |
| Communication Skills | Because it is necessary to communicate appropriately with animal owners and veterinarians. |
| Learning Agility & Knowledge Acquisition | Because acquiring knowledge of new treatments and medications is necessary. |
| Physical Stamina & Endurance | Involves frequent restraint of heavy animals and long hours of standing work. |
| Collaboration & Teamwork | Because tasks are performed in collaboration with veterinarians and other staff. |
Aptitudes (Weaknesses Acceptable)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Creativity & Ideation | Primarily consists of tasks following existing procedures. |
Related Qualifications
- Companion Animal Nurse Unified Certification Exam
Aliases
- Animal Nursing Technician
Related Jobs
- Animal Nursing Assistant
- Pet Groomer
- Veterinarian