O*NET-SOC 31-9096.00 · US REFERENCE
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
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 postoperative 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.
Skill importance below is an O*NET US occupational rating, not a global or individual benchmark. No score here is a job-loss probability or a prediction.
Examples of work in this occupation
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
O*NET task statements describe US work; do not perform regulated or hazardous tasks without appropriate training and authorization.
Skills to examine first
Active Listening
US occupation importance: 3.50/5 · rating last updated 2020-08-01
Ask a peer to explain a fictional work problem; paraphrase it and check what you missed.
Critical Thinking
US occupation importance: 3.25/5 · rating last updated 2020-08-01
Compare two approaches to a fictional task and document one counterargument for each.
Reading Comprehension
US occupation importance: 3.12/5 · rating last updated 2020-08-01
Summarise a public, role-relevant document in five points; verify each point against the source.
Writing
US occupation importance: 3.12/5 · rating last updated 2020-08-01
Draft a one-page explanation of a fictional decision for a non-specialist; ask for clarity feedback.
Monitoring
US occupation importance: 3.12/5 · rating last updated 2020-08-01
Define three observable quality checks for a fictional workflow and review the outcome.
Speaking
US occupation importance: 3.00/5 · rating last updated 2020-08-01
Explain a safe example of your work in two minutes, then ask which point was unclear.
These prompts are RolePaths practice suggestions, not O*NET instructions, training or certification.
Related work to compare
O*NET marks these occupations as related. That is a comparison starting point, not a guaranteed career transition. Check local licensing and entry requirements.
Your next seven days
- Choose one skill above and a fictional or non-confidential work example.
- Practise for 20 minutes on three days; keep one small output.
- Ask a qualified peer for feedback against clear criteria.
- Reassess the same career and record what changed.
Source and limits
Occupation definition, task examples, skill importance and related-occupation links come from the US O*NET 31.0 Database. RolePaths selected the top six skills by importance and authored the practice prompts. Career fit, local salaries, automation timing and licensing have not been verified.