SW China's Chengdu holds first skills assessment for pet health care workers

A candidate practices care procedures on a model dog during a vocational skills assessment for pet health care workers held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Red Star News/Yan Xue)

Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, held its first vocational skills assessment for pet health care workers on Oct. 23, marking a step toward standardizing the profession in the city’s growing pet-care sector.

The assessment was held at a training base for high-skilled talent, bringing together 46 candidates from household services, vocational schools, and pet hospitals.

The assessment comprised theoretical and practical components covering the care of dogs, cats, and exotic pets.

Based on China's national occupational skills standard for pet health care workers, the assessment evaluated candidates on basic pet care, health observation, nutrition management, hygiene and disinfection, behavioral calming techniques, and industry standards.

Chengdu had more than 5 million pets and over 2 million pet-owning households in 2025, according to official statistics.

The city is also home to a large number of pet grooming and veterinary service providers, ranking among the highest nationwide in both sectors.

Candidates practice care procedures on model dogs during a vocational skills assessment for pet health care workers held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Red Star News/Yan Xue)

In 2026, Chengdu's government work report for the first time identified the pet economy as a key emerging form of consumption.

"The pet economy is a huge market that has created a wide range of related jobs. Previously, training for many of these jobs largely took the form of courses leading to certificates of completion or training certificates," said Zhao Xu, an expert involved in developing the question bank for the pet health care worker assessment and assistant to the director of the pet medicine department at the School of Smart Health, Sichuan Changjiang Vocational College.

The vocational skills level assessment is expected to help standardize the profession, Zhao said.

The assessment was organized by Sichuan Changjiang Vocational College, with the Chengdu vocational capacity development guidance center providing on-site supervision.

It fills a gap in Chengdu's system for evaluating the vocational skills of pet health care workers, offering practitioners a structured pathway for skills development and helping guide skills training in related programs at vocational colleges.