Animal Health Technicians, Animal Nursing and Medical Assistance
First Exam in February Next Year → Animal Health Technicians Graduated in March
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The animal health technician system will be introduced in Korea and implemented starting next year. An animal health technician is equivalent to a nurse in an animal hospital.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 8th that it has revised and promulgated the "Veterinarian Act Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules" to train and certify animal health technicians.
The government introduced the animal health technician system in response to the rapid increase in pet ownership and the growing need for specialized personnel in animal medical services. Those who pass the animal health technician qualification exam and receive a certificate from the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will be able to perform animal nursing and medical assistance tasks under the supervision of a veterinarian within animal hospitals. The revised enforcement decree and rules set forth the procedures and methods necessary for implementing the animal health technician system.
The government plans to conduct the first animal health technician qualification exam in February next year to produce the first certified animal health technicians. The exam subjects include Animal Health Science, Preventive Animal Health Science, Clinical Animal Health Science, and laws related to Animal Health, Ethics, and Welfare. Candidates must achieve an average score of 60 or above out of 100 across all subjects to pass. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will announce the exam date, location, application deadline, and other necessary details at least 90 days before the exam.
Following the revision of the Veterinarian Act Enforcement Decree and Rules, the government plans to conduct evaluation and accreditation of schools or educational institutions intending to operate animal health technician training courses from September to November. Special candidates such as those who have completed animal nursing-related courses at the college level or higher, those who have worked at an animal hospital for more than one year after graduating from a college or higher institution, and those who have worked at an animal hospital for more than three years after graduating from high school will be able to receive practical training at schools accredited as training institutions. The education program will be operated from December through January of next year.
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