Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
- General College Admission Requirements
- Minimum age of 18 years by the end of the first semester (e.g. 18 years of age by December 31 if admitted to the Fall semester)
- Biology or Life Sciences 11 or Biology or Anatomy and Physiology 12 with a minimum grade of C+ or approved substitution*
- Chemistry 11 or 12 with a minimum grade of C+ or approved substitution*
- One of the following science courses with a minimum of grade of C+ or approved substitutions*
- Biology 12 or Anatomy and Physiology 12
- Chemistry 12
- Geology 12
- Physics 12
- One of the following mathematics courses with a minimum grade of C or approved substitutions*
- Foundations of Mathematics 11
- Foundations of Mathematics 12
- Pre-calculus 11
- Pre-calculus 12
- The following completed admission forms are required to determine suitability for the program:
- A short Veterinary Technology Entrance Questionnaire
- A Task Observation Form demonstrating the completion of a minimum 80 hours of veterinary work experience
*In most cases, with permissions, university transfer (UT) courses completed with a minimum grade of C- in the above subject areas can be used as approved substitutions for the required secondary school courses.
When there are more qualified applicants than seats available in the program, a selective admission process will be used to rank qualified candidates based on the academic admission requirements and suitability for the program. Those with a higher ranking will be offered seats first.
Graduation Requirements
- Successful completion of at least 63 credits.
- A minimum of 50% (31.50 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College.
- A minimum grade of "C" is required in all courses.
- Good academic standing.
- Up to 50% (32.5 credits) of coursework used towards a previously received credential can be used to meet graduation requirements (see the Credentials Awarded Policy).
- Time limit to complete the program graduation requirements: 7 years. Any courses completed outside of that time limit will not be usable. Students may seek the permission of the Department/Program to complete a credential outside the approved time limits.
Notes on Program Delivery (i.e. cohorts):
- Students in the full-time in-person student cohort will complete the courses listed in the first table below for graduation. The allocation of specific courses to specific semesters in the tables below is provided for information only and is subject to change.
- Students in the part-time hybrid student cohort will complete the courses listed in the second table below for graduation. The allocation of specific courses to specific semesters in the tables below is provided for information only and is subject to change.
Course Requirements for Full-Time In-Person Cohort (see note 1)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Semester 1 |
||
| VTEC 1301 | Anatomy & Physiology Basics | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1102 | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1103 | Veterinary Nursing 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1112 | Veterinary Administrative Procedures | 3.00 |
| CMNS 1111 | Workplace Communications for Veterinary Technology | 3.00 |
| MATH 1183 | Mathematics for Veterinary Technology | 2.00 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| VTEC 1305 | Systems 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1202 | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 2 | 4.00 |
| VTEC 1203 | Veterinary Nursing 2 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1304 | Pharmacology Basics | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1315 | Systems 2 | 3.00 |
| Clinical Placement | ||
| Clinical placement (see note 2) | Clinical placement | 0.00-2.00 |
| Semester 3 |
||
| VTEC 2112 | Veterinary Elective Procedures | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2107 | Large Animal Clinics | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2108 | Veterinary Anesthesia | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2109 | Veterinary Radiography | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2405 | Systems 3 | 3.00 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| VTEC 2403 | Veterinary Nursing & Career Planning | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2304 | Veterinary Surgical Assistance | 4.00 |
| VTEC 2317 | Lab Animal and Exotics | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2309 | Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2320 | VTEC Practicum 2 | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2321 | VTEC Practicum 3 | 3.00 |
| Total Credits | 63.00-65.00 | |
Notes:
1. Courses are listed in their recommended order, but the order may change according to the available course offerings.
2. For the clinical placement, students may take VTEC 1211 (VTEC Practicum 1) or Co-Operative Education to satisfy this requirement. Students who take VTEC 1211 will graduate with a total of 65 academic credits. Students who take COOP will graduate with a total of 63 academic credits and 9 additive COOP credits.
Course Requirements for Part-Time Hybrid Cohort (see note 3)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Semester 1 |
||
| VTEC 1301 (see note 4) |
Anatomy & Physiology Basics | 3.00 |
| CMNS 1111 (see note 4) | Workplace Communications for Veterinary Technology | 3.00 |
| Math 1183 (see note 4) | Mathematics for Veterinary Technology | 2.00 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| VTEC 1302 (see note 4) | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 1 Theory | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1303 (see note 5) |
Veterinary Nursing Skills | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1112 (see note 4) | Veterinary Administrative Procedures | 3.00 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| VTEC 1304 (see note 4) | Pharmacology Basics | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1305 (see note 4) | Systems 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1306 (see note 6) |
Veterinary Nursing Skills Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 1307 (see note 6) |
Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 1 Lab | 1.00 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| VTEC 1311 (see note 7) |
Clinical Placement 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1313 (see note 4) | Veterinary Nursing & Animal Behaviour | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1315 (see note 4) | Systems 2 | 3.00 |
| Semester 5 | ||
| VTEC 2411 (see note 7) | Clinical Placement 2 | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1312 (see note 4) | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 2 Theory | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2408 (see note 4) | Veterinary Anesthesia Theory | 2.00 |
| Semester 6 |
||
| VTEC 1314 (see note 6) |
Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 2 Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 2406 (see note 6) |
Veterinary Anesthesia Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 2109 (see note 5) |
Veterinary Radiography | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2112 (see note 5) |
Veterinary Elective Procedures | 3.00 |
| Semester 7 | ||
| VTEC 2401 (see note 7) | Clinical Placement 3 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2405 (see note 4) | Systems 3 | 3.00 |
| Semester 8 | ||
| VTEC 2402 (see note 7) |
Clinical Placement 4 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2407 (see note 4) | Large Animal Clinics Theory | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2404 (see note 4) | Lab & Exotic Animal Theory | 1.00 |
| Semester 9 | ||
| VTEC 2403 (see note 5) |
Veterinary Nursing & Career Planning | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2309 (see note 5) |
Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2417 (see note 6) |
Large Animal Clinics Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 2414 (see note 6) |
Lab & Exotic Animal Lab | 1.00 |
| Total Credits | 65.00 | |
NOTES:
3. Courses are listed in their recommended order, but the order may change according to the available course offerings. Hybrid and in-person condensed courses will typically be offered in semesters 2, 3, 6 and 9. Students should expect to spend 1-3 weeks on-campus during these semesters.
4. This course will be fully online.
5. This course will be hybrid with a mix of in-person and online classes.
6. This is a condensed in-person course with 2-3 weeks on campus.
7. This is a work placement/practicum course.
On successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- describe the fundamental concepts, principles, theories and terminology used in the field of Veterinary Technology;
- assess the health care and husbandry needs of different animal species and breeds;
- apply the principles and practices of Veterinary Technology in all Veterinary Industry settings, for example: mobile practice, general and specialty hospitals, shelter & rescue organisations, research, teaching and laboratories;
- collaborate and communicate effectively as part of a veterinary hospital team;
- implement and execute patient care plans as determined by the attending veterinarian;
- apply effective oral and written communication skills with animal-owning clients and the general public;
- successfully complete the Veterinary Technology National Examination in order to register in any North American jurisdiction as a Veterinary Technology professional;
- demonstrate adherence to professional and ethical frameworks in veterinary patient care service delivery;
- describe and implement legal frameworks for veterinary care.