Occupations

Animal Trainers - 39-2011.00

Summary Occupational Forecast Data
Annual Average Employment		Employment Change		Average Annual Job Openings			Wage and Training Levels
2013	2018	Numerical	Percent	New Jobs	Replacement Jobs	Total	Median Hourly	Median Annual	Education & Training Level
1041	1109	68	7%	14	10	24	$12.43	$25,859	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Staffing Pattern Data						Forecast Data Source: EMSI (1st Quarter 2013)

Description

Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact; and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.

Providers

Sacramento County Regional Occupational Program (ROP)

Occupation Details
The information in this section represents occupational characteristics included in O*NET which defines key features of an occupation as a standardized, measurable set of variables called "descriptors". These distinguishing characteristics of an occupation are described in greater detail in the O*NET Content Model. All items are listed in descending order of importance.

Tasks
Knowledge and Skills
Job Zone
Work Styles and Values

Tasks

Observe animals' physical conditions in order to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
Cue or signal animals during performances.
Administer prescribed medications to animals.
Evaluate animals in order to determine their temperaments, abilities, and aptitude for training.
Feed and exercise animals, and provide other general care such as cleaning and maintaining holding and performance areas.
Talk to and interact with animals in order to familiarize them to human voices and contact.
Conduct training programs in order to develop and maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding and related areas.
Keep records documenting animal health, diet, and behavior.
Advise animal owners regarding the purchase of specific animals.

Knowledge
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills
	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Abilities
	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
	Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
	Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
	Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
	Gross Body Coordination - The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
	Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
	Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
	Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
	Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
	Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Work Activities
	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
	Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
	Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
	Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
	Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Job Zone
Title	Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Overall Experience	Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Job Zone Examples	These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, physical therapist aides, salespersons (retail), and tellers.
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Interests
	Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outsi
	Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
	Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
	Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Styles
	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
	Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Work Values
	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.