Occupational standard for veterinary assistant (small animal)

Abstract

Veterinary assistant is career which assists routine veterinary work and is needed in veterinary practices. Occupational standard is a tool for setting-up new or improving existing manpower according to market needs This research aimed to formulate occupa- tional standard which can be used in vocational school, for middle level labor who would like to pursue this career, also as benefit for all stakeholders in this industry and as a guideline for curriculum development for Office of Vocational Education Commission and Thailand Professional Qualification Institute (TPQI). This research comprised of 2 stages, the first stage, defining the occupational standard for Thai veterinary assistants (Small animal). A descriptive research used the functional analysis to define the key roles, units of competence, elements of competence and performance criteria. The target group agreed on preparing the occupational standard, comprised of 91 voluntary veterinarians: 2 presidents of the Veterinary Council of Thailand, 50 veterinary practitioners; government and private veterinary hospitals; 29 veterinarians from private veterinary companies; and 10 veterinary lecturers. Ideas from discussions from the meeting were collected to identify the needs of occupational standards for veterinary assistants. The second stage verified questionnaires about the occupational standard which was mailed to 102 veterinarians, working in both private and government clinics and hospitals. They all agreed that the occupational standard for Thai veterinarian assistants (small animal) showed well reflec- tion on the current needs of the sector. Method of this paper was analyzing data by statistic tools, median and interquartile. Result revealed that the key purpose of the veterinarian assistants in assisting the veterinary practitioners, divided into to three key roles 1) assist and work in veterinary practices with standard focus on care and welfare of animals consisting of 5 units of competence and 17 elements of competence; 2) sanitation and clinical care consisting of 3 units of competence and 9 elements of competence; 3) front office customer service and workplace skills consisting of 4 units of competence and 9 elements of competence. The target groups all agreed with the set of occupational standards which was made and commented that the roles of working were good and according to right functions of veterinary assistants.