Animal Health Techniques
This program will prepare you to assist veterinarians or researchers in carrying out their work. You will learn how to test animals, care for them and use your technical laboratory skills in animal experimentation.
About the program
Program objectives
This program trains individuals to become animal health technicians, working mainly in the clinical and research sectors.
The work done by technicians consists mainly of supporting veterinarians or researchers working with testing animals in their everyday functions. In both cases, they are called upon to perform tests on animals, provide these animals with the required care and implement systems for effectively performing various animal health techniques. Both types of jobs require mastery of specific abilities—customer service skills in veterinary clinics and technical laboratory skills for animal testing positions.
The skills acquired as part of the Animal Health Technology program enable graduates to practise their profession in any environment where care must be provided to animals. For example: veterinary clinics or hospitals, government or private research centres, research centres in hospitals or universities, teaching laboratories or sample analysis laboratories, the federal or provincial government, municipalities or food inspection departments, the pharmaceutical industry, humane societies, zoos, pet stores, agricultural businesses or mills.
Graduates can generally work in positions with the following job titles:
animal health technician
animal care attendant
animal caretaker
veterinary assistant
animal technician
veterinary clinic receptionist
laboratory technician
sales representative
With experience, animal health technicians can be promoted to team leader, supervisor or director.
N.B.:Animal allergies can interfere with the pursuit of studies.
This program trains individuals to become animal health technicians, working mainly in the clinical and research sectors.
The work done by technicians consists mainly of supporting veterinarians or researchers working with testing animals in their everyday functions. In both cases, they are called upon to perform tests on animals, provide these animals with the required care and implement systems for effectively performing various animal health techniques. Both types of jobs require mastery of specific abilities—customer service skills in veterinary clinics and technical laboratory skills for animal testing positions.
The skills acquired as part of the Animal Health Technology program enable graduates to practise their profession in any environment where care must be provided to animals. For example: veterinary clinics or hospitals, government or private research centres, research centres in hospitals or universities, teaching laboratories or sample analysis laboratories, the federal or provincial government, municipalities or food inspection departments, the pharmaceutical industry, humane societies, zoos, pet stores, agricultural businesses or mills.
Graduates can generally work in positions with the following job titles:
animal health technician
animal care attendant
animal caretaker
veterinary assistant
animal technician
veterinary clinic receptionist
laboratory technician
sales representative
With experience, animal health technicians can be promoted to team leader, supervisor or director.
N.B.:Animal allergies can interfere with the pursuit of studies.
Condition of admission
Before applying to a program leading to a Diploma of College Studies (DCS), applicants who studied in Québec must meet the following three requirements:
The applicant must have a Secondary School Diploma and be in one of the following situations:
The applicant has a Secondary School Diploma (SSD)*
NOTE: a SSD holder that has not passed the following courses may be required to complete remedial courses:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
Secondary 4 Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Applied Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Physical Science
Secondary 4 History and Citizenship Education or Secondary 4 History of Quebec and Canada
The applicant holds a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) and has successfully completed the following subjects*:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
The applicant has training deemed equivalent by the College.
The applicant has training and experience deemed sufficient by the College and has interrupted full time studies for at least 24 months.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, the special conditions for admission established by the Minister which specify the program prerequisites*.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, any special conditions for admission established by the College for each of its programs.
*If the applicant is enrolled in school and completing his or her secondary studies at the time of application, the grades sent by the school must demonstrate that the applicant is passing in all the courses required to complete the SSD and required to fulfill the admission requirements.
The applicant must have a Secondary School Diploma and be in one of the following situations:
The applicant has a Secondary School Diploma (SSD)*
NOTE: a SSD holder that has not passed the following courses may be required to complete remedial courses:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
Secondary 4 Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Applied Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Physical Science
Secondary 4 History and Citizenship Education or Secondary 4 History of Quebec and Canada
The applicant holds a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) and has successfully completed the following subjects*:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
The applicant has training deemed equivalent by the College.
The applicant has training and experience deemed sufficient by the College and has interrupted full time studies for at least 24 months.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, the special conditions for admission established by the Minister which specify the program prerequisites*.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, any special conditions for admission established by the College for each of its programs.
*If the applicant is enrolled in school and completing his or her secondary studies at the time of application, the grades sent by the school must demonstrate that the applicant is passing in all the courses required to complete the SSD and required to fulfill the admission requirements.
Available in 6 institutions
3 years
Technical Program