If you love animals and enjoy working with people, training in Douglas College's CVMA and CCAC Accredited Veterinary Technology program can open the door to a rewarding career as a veterinary technician/nurse.
As a veterinary technologist, you'll become a valued member of the veterinary medical profession, as part of a health care team. You'll develop knowledge and skills to benefit both small and large animals.
The program is ideal whether you are new to the field or someone with experience who wants to obtain credentials to improve your career options. Graduates are eligible to write the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and thus qualify for registration in Canada and in many parts of the United States.
How will I learn?
The Douglas College Veterinary Technology Diploma is available in two study options:
- The traditional full-time in-person option is completed in 2 years (4 semesters plus practicums)
- The part-time hybrid option is completed over 3 years (9 semesters). In this option the majority of courses in the fall and winter semesters will be online. You will spend 3 weeks on campus each year – all but one of these weeks will be in the summer (May-July).
Applications to the Fall 2025 part-time hybrid stream are currently closed.
Student Success Story
VTEC students get hands on with critters big and small.
Admission Deadlines
Once you’re ready to apply, go to Education Planner BC and choose between the in-person cohort or the hybrid cohort. Once you’ve applied you’ll have to stick with the cohort you have chosen, so choose carefully.
The application deadline for the full-time study option is January 15 each year for students to start in September. There are 30 seats available for each of the two study options. Once the seats are filled, the remaining eligible applicants will be waitlisted. Students interested in a future intake must reapply. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.
Application information
All required courses and admission documents must be completed and submitted by the application deadline. Attend an Information session to learn how to fill out these documents and how to properly apply to the program.
These admission documents must be completed and submitted to the Registrar's Veterinary Technology Admissions Officer (after program application and student number obtained). Download documents here:
Work Experience Log & Task Observation Form 2023 (fillable PDF)
Work Experience Log & Task Observation Form 2023 (printer version)
Work Experience Log Additional Pages 2023
Structured Reference Letter 2023
Program Entrance Questionnaire 2023
Contact vtec@douglascollege.ca if you have any further questions.
VETERINARY ANESTHESIA REFRESHER (CONTINUING EDUCATION)
Our patients like to keep us on our toes when it comes to anesthesia, therefore it's essential for Veterinary Technologists, Technicians and Veterinarians to have the skills needed to ensure that our patients wake up happy and healthy! Anesthesia is one of the most challenging skills in our industry - it requires exceptionally high standards of care from theoretical knowledge to practical skills, equipment maintenance and trouble shooting and problem solving and treatment of complications during anesthesia.
Our clients and patients expect the best: the purpose of this Anesthesia Refresher certificate is to ensure you have the knowledge and skills necessary to optimize the health care of dogs and cats under anesthesia.
This is a joint program between the Faculty of Health Sciences and Science & Technology. Click here for more information: