To determine educational requirements and opportunities for employment, 60 representatives of animal laboratories and meat inspection agencies were interviewed in a 30-county area in northern Illinois. The chi-square test, analysis of variance test, and Pearson product moment correlation were utilized to conclude that: (1) Substantial opportunities were available and educational programs were needed for laboratory animal caretakers and meat inspectors, (2) 63 items of competency were needed by new workers in laboratory animal caretaker jobs and 12 additional items by experienced workers, (3) 51 items of competency were needed by new workers in meat inspection jobs and 10 additional items by experienced workers, (4) On-the-job training was recommended as the most appropriate way of developing competencies, (5) 23 common competencies were identified for new workers and 21 common competencies for experienced workers, and (6) Respondents with more education and tenure tended to rate competencies higher. Courses and course content were recommended for: (1) a high school program to prepare workers for new jobs, (2) a post-high school program to prepare persons for supervisory jobs, and (3) adult education programs for in-service training. This thesis was presented to the University of Illinois in fulfillment of the Ed.D. degree. (DM)