State of Connecticut Executive Branch

At the University of Connecticut and University of Connecticut Health Center this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks involved in the care of various species of laboratory animals and their environment.

Works under the general supervision of an Animal Care Supervisor or other employee of higher grade.

• Feeds and waters animals;
• Cleans and sanitizes cages, animal rooms and related environment as necessary;
• Performs routine physical examinations and laboratory tests and special handling techniques for researchers as required;
• Assesses the status of animal shipments including identity, number of individuals, weight, health, etc.;
• Administers medications and gives injections under supervision;
• Identifies animals as to sex, species or strain;
• Provides support during surgical and experimental procedures;
• Observes and collects animal facilities operation data for accurate reports and required records;
• Reports findings to appropriate department staff;
• May breed and wean animals;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Knowledge of animal care requirements, including animal facilities and husbandry regulations and basic animal disease problems and prevention techniques;
• Skills
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
  • follow oral and written instructions;
  • utilize computer software;
• Manual dexterity and physical ability sufficient for handling animals, feeds, supplies and equipment.

A high school diploma or possession of a General Educational Development (GED) diploma and one (1) year of animal care experience directly related to the maintenance of the health and wellbeing of laboratory animals to include care, use, handling, and/or treatment of laboratory animals.

• Certification by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science at the level of Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician may be substituted for the General Experience.
• Two (2) years of animal care experience directly related to the maintenance of the health and wellbeing of laboratory animals to include care, use, handling and/or treatment of laboratory animals may be substituted for the General Experience.
• A college degree of two (2) or more years and one-half (1/2) year of animal care experience directly related to the maintenance of health and wellbeing of laboratory animals to include care, use, handling and/or treatment of laboratory animals may be substituted for the General Experience.

• Incumbents in this class must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such physical fitness as to be able to perform the duties.
  
• A physical examination may be required.

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift moderate to heavy weights; may be exposed to communicable diseases, hazardous substances and to risk of injury from animals.

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Animal Care Technician in Salary Group TC 13 approved effective December 09, 2016. (Reviewed for content, revised to modernize format and add an Acknowledgement section) Final No. 24-033