Animal Health Technology Diploma
Douglas College offers a two-year career diploma program that will prepare graduates to become valuable members of the veterinary medical profession. Students will be well versed in many fields of animal health care, animal management and laboratory procedures. The curriculum includes both theoretical and practical aspects of providing small and large animal nursing, assisting veterinarians and performing laboratory, radiology and anesthesia procedures. It is the goal of this program that graduates will be eligible to write the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and thus qualify for registration in Canada and in many parts of the USA as Registered Veterinary Technologists.
Department Website
For an overview of this program, including faculty listings and frequently asked questions plus other resources, visit the departmental website.
Career/Further Educational Opportunities
Graduates are prepared to find positions in veterinary clinics/hospitals (small and large animal, referral, emergency), research facilities, pharmaceutical companies, private industry, zoos, aquaria, wildlife parks, animal shelters and rescue organizations.
Curriculum
The Animal Health Technology (AHT) Program is an intensive, full-time program that will require students to complete over 30 hours of classroom and laboratory work per week and a total of 21 courses over two years. In addition, two summer terms of externship or Cooperative Education are recommended to students. Practical courses utilize “Workplace-Based Training” in which the college laboratory setting, public and private practices provide the environments for students to develop skills needed by a variety of veterinary employers. In this respect, the program has received the enthusiastic endorsement of both practicing veterinarians and registered animal health technologists.
Location
David Lam Campus
Intake Dates/Application Deadlines
**Application deadlines may be extended.
There is one intake each year in September.
Completed applications with all required documents must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by
February 15.
EARLY ADMISSION
Although application and document deadlines may be identified for this program, we encourage all
applicants to apply early and to submit all supporting documentation as early as possible. Highly qualified
applicants who apply and submit all documents early may be offered early admission.
Other Information
Free information sessions for this program are held throughout the year. Please check at douglascollege.ca/info.
Students must be responsible for their own transportation needs while in the AHT program. There are veterinary practice experiences at various clinics/hospitals and animal care facilities throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements listed in sections A and B below. Applicants are then selected based on PREFERENTIAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS.
A. Academic Admission Requirements
1. Graduation from BC Secondary School (or equivalent) or mature student status (see Douglas College Calendar for definition).
AND
2. Completion of the following courses (or one of the equivalents):
a) Chemistry 11 with a minimum grade of a "C+" or one of the equivalents below:
Equivalents: Chemistry 12 with a minimum grade of "C"; or CHEM 1104, min grade of “C-”; or CHEM 1108 with a minimum grade of "C-"; or a university transferable chemistry course with a minimum grade of "C-".
b) Biology 11 with a minimum grade of "C+" or one of the equivalents below:
Equivalents: Biology 12 with a minimum grade of "C"; or a university transferable Biology course with a
minimum grade of “C-“.
c) One Grade 12 Science course with a minimum grade of "C+". Approved Science courses are: Biology 12, Chemistry 12, Geology 12, or Physics 12 with a minimum grade of "C+". If Chemistry 12 or Biology 12 is used in lieu of Chemistry 11 and/or Biology 11, and if the grade is a minimum "C+" then 2a and 2c, or 2b and 2c are both satisfied.
d) Principles of Math 11 with a minimum grade of "C" or one of the equivalents below:
Equivalents: Algebra 11 with a minimum grade of "C"; or Grade 12 math course (Principles or
Applications) with a minimum grade of “C-”; or a university transferable math or stats
(including PSYC 2300) with minimum grade "C-"; or Math 1101 with minimum grade of "C-"; or Math 11
Exemption Assessment with minimum score of “30”; or DVST 0411 Challenge exam with minimum score of
“30”;
or DVST 0412 with a minimum grade of "P"; or DVST 0411 with a minimum grade of "C"; or DVST 0410 with a minimum grade of "B".
AND
3. Completion of English 12, with a minimum grade of "C" or one of the approved substitutions. If the grade achieved is less than a "B", the student may be required to write the Communications Writing Assessment. The student should plan to do this as soon as possible after application.
B. Other Requirements
1. Short AHT entrance questionnaire – please submit in your own handwriting (form will be provided).
2. 80 hours of veterinary-related volunteer or work experience (please provide details). A "task observation form" will be provided upon application to document these hours. Consideration of extra experience will be granted.
3. Admission interview by committee on invitation
4. Two letters of reference from non-family sources, at least one of which is veterinary or animal-related
5. The following documents will be requested if an offer of admission is made (appropriate forms will be provided):
- A satisfactory health assessment completed by a physician
- Current record of recommended immunizations
- Consent and authorization by physician to begin rabies immunization (written on prescription pad)
- Tuition deposit to confirm offer acceptance
- A fee for rabies vaccine of $50 will be required unless the student has an
adequate rabies titre, in which case the fee can be waived or refunded.
Strongly recommended:
6. Attend a program information session and tour/orientation session held on interview day. . Computer skills – Windows, Word, Excel, email
Preferential Admission Requirements
Admission to this program is contingent upon the availability of seats and applicant ranking as determined by a process of preferential admission evaluation. To be considered for a seat in the program, applicants must meet all minimum admission requirements. A structured format is used to evaluate all applicants in relation to the degree to which they have met the admission requirements, have demonstrated an appropriate level of communication skills, motivation to enter the program and knowledge of the demands of the profession. Suitability is determined on the basis of the applicant’s formal education, ability to work in a team setting and evidence of a commitment to a career in the animal health field. It is recommended that applicants contact an Academic Advisor for more information to assist in planning to increase chances for admission into the Animal Health Technology Diploma Program.
PLAR
Some courses in first year of this program may be available for PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment Recognition) credit. Potential students with experience in the field will be asked to provide documents for a portfolio-assisted assessment of their qualifications. Completion of the Douglas College Continuing Education Veterinary Office and Animal Care Cert. (VOAC) program, other post secondary education, and/or experience working and volunteering in the veterinary field may all contribute to meeting the criteria for the PLAR portfolio. Students interested in this assessment should discuss it with the department and PLAR service. AHT programs follow different curricula, therefore it may be difficult to transfer equal course credits from one institution to another. This will be considered if space is available. Please review the cirriculum overview and courses for the Douglas College AHT Program to compare with the AHT program where you are currently enrolled. Course equivalency from the transferring institution to Douglas College AHT Program will be carefully considered, but credit is not automatically granted.
Credentials
This is a diploma program granted by Douglas College after successful completion of two years of study. It is the goal of this program that graduates will be eligible to write the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and thus qualify for registration in Canada and in many parts of the USA as Registered Veterinary Technologists.
Program Content
NOTE: Students can only register into the same required AHT courses a maximum of twice (this includes "W" withdrawals after the "add/drop" dates that appear on a student's transcript). There is no guarantee that a seat will be available the next year if a student fails a course. Attendance is mandatory in all classes and students will lose marks for unexcused absences. If more than three lab classes or lectures are missed in a courses, the student may fail the course even if other criteria are met.
Year 1: Semester I (Fall):
| OADM 1152 | VETERINARY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES | 3 |
| AHTT 1101 | VETERINARY ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I | 3 |
| AHTT 1102 | VETERINARY LABORATORY PROCEDURES I | 3 |
| AHTT 1103 | VETERINARY CARE I | 3 |
| CMNS 1111 | WORKPLACE COMMUNICATIONS FOR AHT | 3 |
| 15 |
Year 1: Semester II (Winter):
| AHTT 1201 | VETERINARY ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II | 4 |
| AHTT 1202 | VETERINARY LABORATORY PROCEDURES II | 3 |
| AHTT 1203 | VETERINARY CARE II | 3 |
| AHTT 1204 | VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY | 3 |
| AHTT 1205 | IMMUNOLOGY & VETERINARY DISEASES | 3 |
| 16 |
Year 1: Semester III (Summer -Recommended):
Co-op summer semester recommended (a Co-op program is planned in future)
Year 2: Semester IV (Fall)
| AHTT 2106 | VETERINARY DENTISTRY | 2 |
| AHTT 2107 | CLINICS I | 3 |
| AHTT 2108 | VETERINARY ANESTHESIA | 3 |
| AHTT 2109 | VETERINARY RADIOLOGY I | 3 |
| AHTT 2110 | ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR & WELFARE | 2 |
| AHTT 2111 | ANIMAL NUTRITION | 3 |
| 16 |
Year 2: Semester V (Winter)
| AHTT 2303 | VETERINARY CARE III | 4 |
| AHTT 2309 | VETERINARY RADIOLOGY II | 3 |
| AHTT 2304 | VETERINARY SURGICAL ASSISTANCE | 3 |
| AHTT 2305 | VETERINARY GENETICS & THERIOGENOLOGY | 3 |
| AHTT 2307 | CLINICS II | 3 |
| 16 |
Year 2: Semester VI (Summer - Recommended)
Co-op semester recommended (a Co-op program is planned in future)