COURSE CURRICULUM

The Veterinary Assistant program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in veterinary and animal care environments. In the first semester, courses cover grooming companion animals, employment preparation, and personal development, alongside essential subjects such as animal structure and function, clinical procedures, animal behaviour, and client relations. Students learn proper handling, restraint, and care techniques, as well as communication skills critical for client interactions. They also study anatomy and physiology focused on dogs and cats, emergency triage, pharmacology, and laboratory skills, preparing them for real-world veterinary settings. Additionally, students gain experience caring for animals in a simulated clinical environment through kennel duty and large animal studies, emphasizing livestock and equine care. The second semester deepens practical knowledge with an 80-hour field placement, allowing students to apply classroom learning in a veterinary clinic setting by assisting veterinarians and support staff. This semester also includes courses on Indigenous culture and awareness, shelter medicine, veterinary hospital management, and specialized software training for practice operations. Students further advance their understanding of nutrition, basic anatomy and physiology, and procedures related to sample collection, bandaging, and emergency care. The curriculum emphasizes communication skills, ethical workplace behavior, and technical competence, ensuring graduates are prepared for diverse roles within veterinary clinics, shelters, or animal care facilities. By combining theoretical instruction with hands-on practice, the program cultivates confident, knowledgeable veterinary assistants ready to support animal health and welfare in various professional settings.