NOC 2021 · 32104 · TEER 2
NOC 32104: Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians provide technical support to veterinarians by caring for animals and assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health disorders. They are employed in veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, animal shelters, humane societies, zoos, animal research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and government. Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians who are supervisors are included in this unit group.
TEER
TEER 2
Usually needs a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory work
Median wage (Canada)
$23.00 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Not on the list
No high-wage CRS points
Express Entry categories
Healthcare and social services
Category-based draws (2026)
Express Entry
How NOC 32104 counts for Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of continuous skilled (TEER 0–3) work in the last 10 years and 67 points on the FSW grid.
- Canadian Experience Class: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of skilled (TEER 0–3) work in Canada in the last 3 years.
- Federal Skilled Trades: not eligibleNeeds 2 years of work in an eligible trade group in the last 5 years, plus a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
High-wage CRS points
NOC 32104 is not one of IRCC's 186 high-wage occupations, so Canadian work or a job offer in it earns no high-wage points. Your usual Canadian work-length points still count.
See all 186 high-wage occupationsCategory-based draws
- Healthcare and social services
At least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equal part-time) in the past 3 years in one listed occupation, plus Express Entry eligibility and the round instructions.
IRCC category listsDuties
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Provide nursing care and rehabilitation therapy for animals
- Handle, restrain and care for animals undergoing treatment and surgery
- Produce radiographs, collect and analyse samples and perform other laboratory tests to assist in diagnosis of animal health problems
- Assist veterinarian with animals before, during and following surgery by preparing surgical equipment, administering and monitoring anaesthetics and cleaning up after surgery
- Prepare and administer medications and vaccines under direction of a veterinarian
- Administer treatments as prescribed by a veterinarian
- Provide wound and bandage care
- Conduct specialized procedures such as animal identification and hoof trimming
- Educate and advise clients on animal health care including nutrition and home care
- Assist in laboratory research
- Perform routine animal dental procedures and assist veterinarians with animal dentistry
- May perform a variety of office management and clerical duties.
For Express Entry, your experience must match the lead statement and most of these duties, not only the job title.
Job titles
Example job titles
- animal health technician
- animal health technologist
- laboratory animal technician
- registered veterinary technician (RVT)
- veterinarian assistant
- veterinary technician
- veterinary technologist
All 17 job titles in NOC 32104
- animal care technician
- animal care technologist
- animal health technician
- animal health technician - agriculture
- animal health technologist
- animal health technologist supervisor
- animal operating room attendant
- laboratory animal technician
- laboratory animal technologist
- registered animal health technologist
- registered animal health technologist (RAHT)
- registered veterinary technician (RVT)
- veterinarian assistant
- veterinary laboratory technician
- veterinary technician
- veterinary technician supervisor
- veterinary technologist
Requirements
Employment requirements
- Completion of a two- or three-year animal health/veterinary technology college program is required.
- Successful completion of a national registration examination may be required in some employment settings.
- Registration with provincial animal health technologists' or veterinary technicians' associations is available, and is mandatory in some provinces.
Additional information
- With experience, animal health technologists and veterinary technicians may progress to supervisory positions.
Wages
Wages for NOC 32104 in Canada
Low, median and high wages per hour in Canadian dollars, from ESDC Job Bank's 2025 wage data.
| Region | Low | Median | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $17.00 | $23.00 | $33.16 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $17.07 | $18.50 | $29.87 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Prince Edward Island | $16.50 | $19.00 | $30.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $21.50 | $27.75 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $20.00 | $23.50 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Quebec | $18.90 | $23.00 | $31.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $22.00 | $33.04 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Manitoba | $16.50 | $24.00 | $30.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $16.50 | $25.00 | $32.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Alberta | $17.00 | $24.00 | $37.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $23.00 | $33.17 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
Provinces with too little data are not shown. Wages vary by city and employer; see Job Bank for regional figures.
Job outlook
Job outlook by province, 2025–2027
Job Bank rates the 3-year outlook as good or very good in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island.
Very goodNova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Very good for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Recent graduates from fields of study related to this occupation have found it easy to find work.
This number of registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) in Nova Scotia has grown considerably in recent years, yet the occupation continues to have a shortage of workers. Several new veterinary hospitals and private practices have opened, increasing the number of positions available. Jobseekers should have little trouble finding work, and these conditions are expected to persist for the foreseeable future.
This occupation has historically been characterized by high rates of turnover and attrition due to a high level of responsibility and stress relative to pay, as well as very variable working conditions from one practice to another. The shortage of RVTs has put considerable upward pressure on wages during the past decade, which may improve opportunities for jobseekers and could slow the rate of turnover.
In addition to the technical skills required for this occupation, candidates should also be good communicators and able to cope with the emotional stress inherent in the role.
Here are some key facts about animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in Nova Scotia:
Approximately 850 people work in this occupation.
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 94%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 83% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 17% compared to 18% for all occupations
61% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 39% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 7% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 93% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 13% compared to 27% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 10% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 55% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 18% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
GoodPrince Edward Island
The employment outlook will be Good for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in Prince Edward Island:
Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 73%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 22%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 87% compared to 84% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 13% compared to 16% for all occupations
56% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 43% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 40 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 12% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 88% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 54% compared to 25% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 43% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
ModerateNew Brunswick
The employment outlook will be Moderate for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in New Brunswick for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Increasing numbers of pet adoptions will continue to support demand for this occupation.
A completed diploma in Animal Health Technology or Veterinary Technology is usually required.
Registration with the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association is required.
Opportunities will be greater for those who are willing to work a flexible schedule, as working evenings, weekends, and holidays is common.
These jobs are typically physically demanding, as workers often need to lift heavy animals.
Here are some key facts about animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in New Brunswick:
Approximately 600 people work in this occupation.
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): more than 95%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 86% compared to 84% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 14% compared to 16% for all occupations
60% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: less than 5% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: more than 95% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 17% compared to 30% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 59% compared to 23% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 10% compared to 16% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 7% for all occupations
ModerateOntario
The employment outlook will be Moderate for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
What Types of Employers Are Out There?
The majority of these professionals work in veterinary services
What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?
Favourable levels of consumer spending on veterinary and related services, and a growing pet population
Opportunities to support biosecurity and livestock disease prevention
The use of telemedicine technologies under certain circumstances is expected to expand business prospects
What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?
The Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians regulates the professional standards of veterinary technicians and veterinary technologists
In order to use the designation ‘Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in the province, candidates must meet the requirements of the Association, including successful completion of the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
Here are some key facts about animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in Ontario:
Approximately 10,550 people work in this occupation.
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 87%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 81% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 19% compared to 19% for all occupations
63% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 37% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 6% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 94% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 16% compared to 25% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 56% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 18% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
ModerateManitoba
The employment outlook will be Moderate for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Demand for this occupation is driven by consumer spending on veterinary and other pet services, a growing number of pet owners, and increasing interest in animal therapy and treatments. Across Canada pet ownership increased significantly during the pandemic and has continued to grow, particularly for dog ownership.
Key trends include biosecurity and livestock health and productivity for the agriculture and animal food production sectors.
Here are some key facts about animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in Manitoba:
Approximately 800 people work in this occupation.
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 63%
Food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing (NAICS 311, 312): 15%
Agriculture (NAICS 111, 112, 1151, 1152): 12%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 87% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 13% compared to 19% for all occupations
72% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 22% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 78% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 25% compared to 31% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 11% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 42% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 19% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
ModerateSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Moderate for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 650 people work in this occupation.
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 68%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 25%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 84% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 16% compared to 19% for all occupations
60% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 13% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 87% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 17% compared to 33% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 9% compared to 15% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 50% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 19% compared to 18% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 7% for all occupations
ModerateAlberta
The employment outlook will be Moderate for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in Alberta:
Approximately 3,600 people work in this occupation.
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 89%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 83% compared to 80% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 17% compared to 20% for all occupations
71% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 6% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 94% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 16% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 9% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 56% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 15% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
LimitedQuebec
The employment outlook will be Limited for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in Quebec:
Approximately 4,350 people work in this occupation.
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 85%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 80% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 20% compared to 18% for all occupations
64% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 36% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 8% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 92% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 9% compared to 19% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 76% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 6% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
LimitedBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Limited for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.
Here are some key facts about animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in British Columbia:
Approximately 3,900 people work in this occupation.
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 94%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 75% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 25% compared to 22% for all occupations
62% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 38% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 9% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 91% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 26% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 17% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 35% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 14% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 7% compared to 12% for all occupations
UndeterminedNewfoundland and Labrador
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNorthwest Territories
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNunavut
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
Source: ESDC Job Bank, 3-year employment outlooks 2025–2027 (released December 2025).
Provinces
Provincial Nominee Programs
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. Most provinces run occupation-targeted draws or in-demand lists, and some accept TEER 4 and 5 occupations that Express Entry does not.
Provincial lists change often, sometimes between draws. We check whether NOC 32104 is being targeted by any province as part of a consultation.
Similar occupations
Related NOC codes
Classified elsewhere
If your duties fit one of these better, use that code instead.
- 65220 Pet groomers and animal care workers
Same occupation group
Technical occupations in therapy and assessment
Questions
NOC 32104: common questions
What is the NOC code for animal health technologists and veterinary technicians?
What TEER category is NOC 32104?
Is NOC 32104 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 32104 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 32104 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 32104 in Canada?
Classification
Where it sits in NOC 2021
- 3Health occupationsBroad Category
- 32Technical occupations in healthMajor Group
- 321Technical occupations in health (except practitioners of natural healing)Sub-major Group
- 3210Technical occupations in therapy and assessmentMinor Group
- 32104Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
Enquiry
Is NOC 32104 your occupation? Ask us about your options.
Tell us your duties, experience and language scores. We will confirm your NOC code and the Canadian routes that fit.
Sources: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0, Job Bank wages (2025), Job Bank outlooks 2025–2027 and IRCC. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Checked 21 October 2026.
NOC 2026 is due from Statistics Canada in December 2026. IRCC still uses NOC 2021 codes, and this page will show any change once IRCC switches.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, IRCC or ESDC.
Plan your move to Canada
A first consultation covers eligibility, realistic timelines, total cost and the tax consequences of the move. You leave with a written plan, not a brochure.