Veterinarian – Laboratory Animal Medicine

Class Specifications – I.15
Senior Veterinarian – Laboratory Animal Medicine – 9531
Associate Veterinarian – Laboratory Animal Medicine – 9532
Assistant Veterinarian – Laboratory Animal Medicine – 9533

March, 1973

Series Concept

The Veterinarian provides a broad range of professional services encompassed by the veterinary specialty of Laboratory Animal Medicine; and performs other related duties as required.

Essential veterinary services are provided for a variety of experimental animals in central facilities for research support to investigators involved in biomedical and other scientific teaching and research. Assignments to incumbents include: (1) duties in administration and supervision, (2) professional services, (3) teaching and training, (4) research, and (5) public service.

Administrative and supervisory duties assigned to incumbents are related to the functioning of a large and complex animal facility and resource.
Professional services performed by incumbents include clinical, radiologic and laboratory diagnostic services; maintenance of animal health, admittance and quarantine programs; anesthesiology, surgery and intensive care; and veterinary public health.
Incumbents perform teaching and training functions which involve participation in formal courses for professionals, graduate students, and nonprofessionals including laboratory animal technicians and caretakers; provide consultative services on comparative biology and medicine, technology, husbandry, medical care and the selections procurement, preparation and use of laboratory animals; and advise investigators on the conception of and conduct of research an animals to gain new knowledge and improve the quality of research through the selection of proper and new biological models, research environments and techniques.
Incumbents perform collaborative and independent research of an applied nature in experimental science and medicine. Such applied research may involve the development of new biomedical models, research environments and techniques, or the study of spontaneous or induced animal diseases and the zoonotic diseases.
Incumbents perform public service functions including maintenance of liaison with the veterinary profession, scientific community and the public; lectures to professional and lay audiences on the use of animals in research; and participation in promoting a favorable legal and social environment for the conduct of biomedical research.

Class Concepts

Senior Veterinarian – Laboratory Animal Medicine

Under general directions incumbents perform any combination of duties outlined in the Series Concept. A position may be allocated to this level if the incumbent is able to carry out assignments with only general direction and if be meets the Minimum Qualifications for this class.

Associate Veterinarian – Laboratory Animal Medicine

Under direction, incumbents provide essential veterinary services for a variety of experimental animals in central facilities for research support to investigators involved in biomedical and other scientific teaching and research. They may perform any combination of duties outlined in the Series Concept under the categories of administration and supervision, professional services# teaching and training, research, and public service. However, the assignments may be more limited and prescribed than in the case of Senior Veterinarian-Laboratory Animal Medicine

Assistant Veterinarian – Laboratory Animal Medicine

Under direction, incumbents provide essential clinical services in central animal care facilities. Typically, incumbents have limited or no responsibilities for administrative, supervisory, or public service functions, for collaborative or independent applied research, or for teaching or training functions.

Minimum Qualifications

Senior Veterinarian – Laboratory Animal Medicine

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications required for the Associate Veterinarian-Laboratory Animal Medicine, the Senior Veterinarian must have completed (1) two years of approved postdoctoral training in laboratory animal medicine in a formal program of which the Director is a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine; or (2) two additional years of approved postdoctoral experience in laboratory animal medicine; or (3) a program leading to a Master’s degree in a relevant biological or medical science; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Associate Veterinarian – Laboratory Animal Medicine

Possession of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from a recognized school of veterinary medicine and a valid license issued by the Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine, preferably from the State of California; and either (1) two years of approved postdoctoral experience in laboratory animal medicine or (2) three years of general veterinary medicine experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.