Veterinary Assistant

Description

The Veterinary Assistant certificate program prepares you to assist veterinary professionals in the practice of veterinary medicine in animal care settings. Throughout the program, you gain the knowledge and skills required to support veterinary professionals including safe handling and restraint techniques, general care of companion animals and administrative and reception duties. Using the knowledge learned in your lecture classes, labs, and simulation, you develop basic diagnostic laboratory techniques, radiography, surgical support procedures, and client service skills.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may find a range of occupations as a member of veterinary health care team, including employment in veterinary clinics, zoos, wild-life centers, pet stores, animal shelters, and grooming facilities.

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. perform daily tasks in an office, hospital, or animal care facility following established protocols and procedures to ensure high-quality service and compliance with standards;
2. communicate with clients and intraprofessional veterinary team members in routine and complex situations to promote collaborative patient-centered care;
3. assist with basic husbandry and nursing care across a range of animal species to support their health, comfort and well-being;
4. assist in assessing patient to identify health concerns and communicate findings to veterinary staff for effective treatment planning;
5. assist, under supervision, with the handling and preparation of dispensed pharmaceutical products in compliance with regulatory standards and protocols;
6. assist in collecting, handling and processing biological specimens to support accurate diagnosis and treatment of animal health conditions;
7. assist with diagnostic imaging for patients in compliance with health and safety standards to achieve accurate results;
8. prepare surgical and dental suite and assist in perioperative procedures to ensure the animal's safety and wellness;
9. develop and apply strategies to improve work performance and uphold industry standards in veterinary and animal care environments;
10. apply basic entrepreneurial strategies to identify and respond to new opportunities.

External Recognition

Georgian College is accredited by the Canadian Council on Animal Care as a "Good Animal Practice" facility and is licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The Veterinary Teaching facility is accredited by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario as a companion animal hospital. 

Program Progression 

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Winter Intake 

• Sem 1: Winter 2028
• Sem 2: Summer 2028

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)
• Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U)

First-year enrolment is limited, satisfying minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission.

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Additional Information

Prior to the start of the program, all students must provide proof of current rabies vaccinations (administered within 1 year prior to the program start). Alternatively, students can provide results of an adequate titre* taken within 30 days prior to the program start.  *Adequate titre is greater than 0.5 IU/ml: Health Canada.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) requirements

All Georgian College students are required to bring their own device (BYOD) that meets the technology requirements for their program. Having access to a personal laptop that meets your program’s technical requirements will ensure you’re prepared for in-class, online and hybrid learning activities. Students are responsible for the cost, software installation, maintenance and repair of their device.  

Graduation Requirements

11 Program Courses
1 Communications Course
1 General Education Course

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Winter intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Program Courses
VETA 1002	Front Office and Reception 1	28
VETA 1003	Clinical Procedures 1	56
VETA 1004	Laboratory Procedures and Radiography	56
VETA 1010	Success in Veterinary Assistant	28
VETA 1011	Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology and Diseases	28
VETA 1012	Veterinary Medical Terminology	28
Communications Courses
COMM 1016	Communication Essentials	42
	Hours	266
Semester 2
Program Courses
VETA 1005	Pharmacology for Veterinary Assistants	28
VETA 1006	Front Office and Reception 2	42
VETA 1007	Clinical Procedures 2	56
VETA 1008	Surgical Assisting	56
VETA 1009	Kennel Duty	28
General Education Courses
Select 1 course from the General Education list during registration.		42
	Hours	252
	Total Hours	518

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of one year (as stated above) may take a maximum of two years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.