Assistant Animal Laboratory Technology

ASSISTANT ANIMAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY
Workforce Development Training Program

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The mission of the Assistant Animal Laboratory Technology (AALT) Program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become employed as animal care technicians in the biomedical research and veterinary fields. This 12-month course emphasizes animal welfare, safe and efficient work practices, and basic employability skills.

Students may complete the program as cagewash technicians, animal caretakers, or assistant animal laboratory technicians. Hands-on clinical experiences in a supervised animal lab setting will be provided and may be considered toward eligibility for an internationally-recognized certification exam administered by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (www.aalas.org).

AALT is offered at the main campus.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Assistant animal laboratory technicians provide the daily animal care and support for a variety of research animal species – the majority being rodents but may include rabbits, cats, dogs, large animals, chickens, amphibians, fish, and others. Typical responsibilities of this position might include:
• Performing daily sanitation and sterilization procedures (washing animal cages and equipment, cleaning animal rooms, etc.)
• Providing daily care for animals (feeding and watering animals, changing animal bedding, etc.)
• Supplying environmental enrichment for animals
• Observing and reporting changes in environmental data (room temperature, humidity, air exchange rates, etc.)
• Routine handling and restraining of animals
• Maintaining detailed animal records
• Recognizing physical signs of change in animal health (eating habits, stools and urine output, appearance, animal behavior, etc.)
• Providing routine treatments (clipping overgrown toenails, administering medications, etc.)

Instructor

jill [dot] worley [at] ttcmemphis [dot] edu (Jill Worley, Instructor)

For a video with details about careers in this field, visit: http://www.aalasfoundation.org/career_video.html

With additional work experience and the ongoing expansion of the biomedical research field, career advancements are expected and may include animal husbandry, facility supervision and management, staff training, laboratory research, and compliance administration. Positions in this field are available in the local area, across the country, and even worldwide.

The experience gained in this program also prepares students for positions in private-practice veterinary clinics and a variety of other jobs relating to the care of animals.

UNITS OF INSTRUCTION

• Scientific terminology and related math
• Basic anatomy and physiology
• Animal research regulations
• Occupational health and safety
• The animal research facility and equipment
• Hygiene and sanitation
• Feed and nutrition
• Information on various animal species
• Animal husbandry and recordkeeping
• Heredity and breeding
• Animal health surveillance
• Related technical skills and procedures
• Diagnostic techniques
• Veterinary pharmacology and anesthesia
• Asepsis and the surgical environment
• Oral and written communication skills
• Employability skills

PROGRAM LENGTH
3 Trimesters - 1296 Clock Hours

CERTIFICATE and DIPLOMA LEVELS
• Cage Wash Technician - Certificate (432 hrs.)
• Animal Caretaker - Certificate (864 hrs.)
• Assistant Animal Laboratory Technician - Diploma (1296 hrs.)

SPECIAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In addition to regular admission requirements, applicants must:
1) Pass the COMPASS Test with an acceptable score.
2) Submit the following required documents within the designated time frame. Details will be given in the Student Services Office:
a. High school diploma and/or college transcript
b. Two work references or character references (Relatives are not considered acceptable references.)
c. Proof of a medical examination within the past 6 months. NOTE: It is highly suggested applicants are tested for animal allergies since students will be directly exposed to a variety of species including: mice, rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs. Those with animal allergies may want to consider another program.
d. Documentation of the following vaccinations (or proof of positive titer):
i. MMR (series of 2 vaccinations)
ii. Hepatitis B (series of 3 vaccinations)
iii. Chicken Pox (Varicella)
iv. Tetanus
v. Influenza (seasonal) + H1N1 Flu
e. A negative tuberculin (TB) skin test within the past 3 months.
f. Completion of the AALT Health Questionnaire Form
g. The required writing sample
h. Resume of work history

Tennessee Technology Center at Memphis
550 Alabama Memphis, TN 38105-3604
901-543-6100 ● Fax: 901-543-6197 ● www.ttcmemphis.edu/assistant_animal_lab.htm