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Veterinary Technologist

Healthcare

Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Veterinary Science

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
  2. 2Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
  3. 3Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
  4. 4Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
  5. 5Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
  6. 6Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
  7. 7Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
  8. 8Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
  9. 9Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment or instruments, as needed.
  10. 10Perform dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth.
  11. 11Observe the behavior and condition of animals and monitor their clinical symptoms.
  12. 12Fill prescriptions, measuring medications and labeling containers.
  13. 13Give enemas and perform catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.
  14. 14Collect, prepare, and label samples for laboratory testing, culture, or microscopic examination.
  15. 15Prepare animals for surgery, performing such tasks as shaving surgical areas.
  16. 16Discuss medical health of pets with clients, such as post-operative status.
  17. 17Take and develop diagnostic radiographs, using x-ray equipment.
  18. 18Clean kennels, animal holding areas, surgery suites, examination rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
  19. 19Take animals into treatment areas and assist with physical examinations by performing such duties as obtaining temperature, pulse, or respiration data.
  20. 20Prepare treatment rooms for surgery.
  21. 21Maintain laboratory, research, or treatment records, as well as inventories of pharmaceuticals, equipment, or supplies.
  22. 22Maintain instruments, equipment, or machinery to ensure proper working condition.
  23. 23Dress and suture wounds and apply splints or other protective devices.
  24. 24Provide assistance with animal euthanasia and the disposal of remains.
  25. 25Schedule appointments and procedures for animals.
  26. 26Provide information or counseling regarding issues such as animal health care, behavior problems, or nutrition.
  27. 27Monitor medical supplies and place orders when inventory is low.
  28. 28Supervise or train veterinary students or other staff members.
  29. 29Perform a variety of office, clerical, or accounting duties, such as reception, billing, bookkeeping, or selling products.
  30. 30Bathe animals, clip nails or claws, and brush or cut animals' hair.
  31. 31Conduct specialized procedures, such as animal branding or tattooing or hoof trimming.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • CVT
  • LVT
  • RVT
  • Vet Tech
  • Vet Nurse
  • Swine Tech
  • Animal Tech
  • Vet Lab Tech
  • Vet Assistant
  • Animal Care Tech

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationHigh school diploma

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

BiologyDraws directly on Medicine and Dentistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
ChemistryDraws directly on Medicine and Dentistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional ScienceDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Medicine and Dentistry83%

    BiologyChemistry

  • Customer and Personal Service83%
  • Biology80%

    BiologyAdditional Science

  • English Language80%

    English

  • Mathematics69%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Chemistry66%

    Chemistry

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsOften
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentEvery day

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

7%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Medical Laboratory Technologist

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Search the programme catalogue