Veterinary Technology (Diploma)
Domestic applications
Fall 2025 (Full-Time): Applications Closed.
Fall 2025 (Part-Time): Applications Closed.
Overview
Become a valuable member of the veterinary medical team with the Diploma in Veterinary Technology. You'll get both theoretical and practical training in medical and surgical nursing, anesthesia, anatomy and physiology, radiography, dentistry, laboratory procedures, nutrition, pharmacology, workplace communications and more.
You'll get hands-on experience working with small and large animals on campus or at off-site facilities including veterinary clinics, stables, farms and animal care centres.
Get certified
Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to write the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). Once you have passed the exam, you can register in Canada and in many parts of the United States as a Registered Veterinary Technologist.
Get paid, full-time work experience during your studies
Earn money and get relevant work experience before you graduate with the optional Co-operative Education Program.
International students are not currently eligible for this program. For more international information, contact Douglas College International.
Please note that the part-time hybrid option is currently not accepting applications due to a funding shortfall. Therefore, we are currently only accepting applications to the Fall 2025 full-time cohort.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
- General College Admission Requirements
- Government regulations and program policy require students to be a minimum age of 18 years by December 31 of year of program start
- Completion of the following courses (or equivalents) by the application deadline (exception for secondary school students). Official transcripts are required (photocopies or electronic copies are not accepted):
- Chemistry 11 with a minimum of C+ (Chemistry 12 with a minimum of C+ fulfills this requirement)
- Biology 11 with a minimum of C+ (Biology 12 with a minimum of C+ fulfils this requirement)
- One grade 12 Science course with a minimum of C+ (Chemistry 12, Biology 12, Geology 12, Physics 12)
- Foundations of Math 11, Pre-Calculus 11 or Pre-calculus 12 with a minimum of C
After official transcripts have been reviewed by Enrolment Services determining that you have met the program academic prerequisites, the following additional program documents are required:
- A short Veterinary Technology Entrance Questionnaire
- A Task Observation Form (this will detail your minimum 80 hours of veterinary experience).
- Structured Reference Letters (2)
All of the above documentation must be received by the program application deadline date. It is then reviewed and ranked.
Accepted applicants will be admitted into one of two cohorts: the full time cohort will complete the Veterinary Technology diploma in 2 years (4 semesters) and the part time cohort will complete the program in 3 years (9 semesters). Applicants can indicate their preference at the time of application.
Cost
Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more.
For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts.
Program Requirements
Graduation Requirements
- Successful completion of 65 credits
- A minimum of 50% (33 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
- A minimum grade of "C" is required in all courses
- Good academic standing
- 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)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Semester 1 |
||
| VTEC 1101 | Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology 1 | 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 1201 | Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1202 | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 2 | 4.00 |
| VTEC 1203 | Veterinary Nursing 2 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1204 | Veterinary Pharmacology | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1205 | Veterinary Diseases | 3.00 |
| 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 2110 | Animal Behavior and Welfare | 2.00 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| VTEC 2311 | Veterinary Nutrition | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2313 | Veterinary Nursing 3 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2304 | Veterinary Surgical Assistance | 4.00 |
| VTEC 2315 | Veterinary Genetics and Reproduction | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2307 | Lab Animal and Exotics | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2309 | Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2312 | VTEC Practicum 3 | 2.00 |
| Total Credits | 65.00 | |
Note: Courses are listed in their recommended order, but the order may change according to the available course offerings.
Course requirements for part-time hybrid cohort (see note 1)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Semester 1 |
||
| VTEC 1301 (see note 2) |
Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology Basics | 3.00 |
| CMNS 1111 (see note 2) | Workplace Communications for Veterinary Technology | 3.00 |
| Math 1183 (see note 2) | Mathematics for Veterinary Technology | 2.00 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| VTEC 1302 (see note 2) | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 1 Theory | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1303 (see note 3) |
Veterinary Nursing Skills | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1112 (see note 2) | Veterinary Administrative Procedures | 3.00 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| VTEC 1304 (see note 2) | Pharmacology Basics | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1305 (see note 2) | Systems 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1306 (see note 4) |
Veterinary Nursing Skills Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 1307 (see note 4) |
Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 1 Lab | 1.00 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| VTEC 1311 (see note 5) |
Clinical Placement 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1313 (see note 2) | Veterinary Nursing & Animal Behaviour | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1315 (see note 2) | Systems 2 | 3.00 |
| Semester 5 | ||
| VTEC 2411 (see note 5) | Clinical Placement 2 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1312 (see note 2) | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 2 Theory | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2408 (see note 2) | Veterinary Anesthesia Theory | 2.00 |
| Semester 6 |
||
| VTEC 1314 (see note 4) |
Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 2 Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 2406 (see note 4) |
Veterinary Anesthesia Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 2109 (see note 3) |
Veterinary Radiography | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2112 (see note 3) |
Veterinary Elective Procedures | 3.00 |
| Semester 7 | ||
| VTEC 2401 (see note 5) | Clinical Placement 3 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2405 (see note 2) | Systems 3 | 3.00 |
| Semester 8 | ||
| VTEC 2402 (see note 5) |
Clinical Placement 4 | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2407 (see note 2) | Large Animal Clinics Theory | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2404 (see note 2) | Lab Animal and Exotics Theory | 2.00 |
| Semester 9 | ||
| VTEC 2403 (see note 3) |
Veterinary Nursing & Career Planning | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2309 (see note 3) |
Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2417 (see note 4) |
Large Animal Clinics Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 2414 (see note 4) |
Lab Animal & Exotics Lab | 1.00 |
| Total Credits | 65.00 | |
NOTES:
1. 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.
2. This course will be fully online.
3. This course will be hybrid with a mix of in-person and online classes.
4. This is a condensed in-person course with 2-3 weeks on campus.
5. This is a work placement/practicum course.
Program Guidelines
Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
FAQs
The Veterinary Technology Diploma program (VTEC) is now available in two formats: You can choose to study either full-time (in-person) or part-time (hybrid).
Graduate in two years with the full-time, in-person cohort (four semesters and a practicum).
In the three-year, (nine semester) part-time hybrid cohort, almost all courses will be online during the Fall and Winter semesters (September to April). Each year, mostly during the summer semesters, you'll be on campus for two to three weeks for in-person condensed lab courses where you'll be taught the practical skills required to become a veterinary technologist. You are required to work in a small animal or mixed Veterinary Hospital for at least four of the nine semesters.
No. You must decide when you apply which cohort you are applying for: the in-person, on campus, two-year option, or the hybrid part-time, three-year option.
There is a strict maximum of 30 student in each cohort. The differences in teaching methods means that many of the courses in the part time option are structured and sequenced differently than the full time, on-campus option and therefore even if there were space, it will be difficult to match up courses to switch between the part time and full-time cohort (or vice versa).
You will not be able to submit an application after after the January deadline if our programs are fully subscribed. In the unlikely event that we are not able to fill all 60 seats, the application process will be reopened as needed over the summer.
Yes, you do. The prerequisite courses are in place to ensure you can be successful in the program and successfully write the Veterinary Technologist National Board Exam (VTNE). There is a lot of theory that requires some basic background in the sciences, including math to calculate dosages, etc.
All applicants must spend 80 hours working in a veterinary hospital or clinic, observing or working with a Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT) and/or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) so that the Task Observation Form (TOF) can be completed. Hours and TOF must be signed off by a veterinarian, RVT, or hospital manager.
Please log all animal related work experience (e.g. volunteer work in rescues, shelters or with wildlife, work experience at a dog daycare, boarding facility or pet store, farm work, horse riding, etc.). The more work experience hours and the wider the variety of work experiences you have, the stronger your application to the VTEC program will be.
No. We use a “Preferential Admissions” process. The applicants that submit their completed applications by the application deadline are reviewed and “scored” on all the components of the application. Seats are offered to the top 30 candidates for each cohort based on those scores.
Criteria reviewed for scoring are:
Required high school courses and grades
Additional post-secondary courses, certifications or degrees (please submit transcripts for ALL post-secondary academic qualifications, completed undergraduate courses, etc.)
Short answer questionnaire
Reference letters
Veterinary hospital work experience hours (80 hours required)
Other animal work experience or volunteer hours (optional, but the more the better)
Yes. There is typically a waitlist for applicants that do not receive the first seat offers for each application. If a spot becomes available, those on the waitlist are contacted.
If you are waitlisted for the on campus full-time VTEC diploma option, you may get offered a spot for the part-time hybrid VTEC diploma option (if there is space available). If you are waitlisted for the part-time hybrid VTEC program option and do not get offered a seat, please let admissions know if you wish to be considered for the following year’s student intake.
Once the program begins, all applicants are removed from the waitlist and must re-apply for the following year.
Yes. You can apply for the following year using the same documents, but you must re-apply on Education Planner BC.
If you do not get offered a seat in either the part time or full time VTEC cohort and wish to reapply the following year, we strongly recommend you take the time to obtain additional work experience by applying for a job as a veterinary assistant in a veterinary hospital. Or consider taking a Veterinary Office Assistant Certificate program (typically 6 months). These are offered at many BC Colleges, including Douglas College. If you improve your application in this way, you will need to re-submit new documents to the Registrar’s Office to update your application.
Starting salary is typically $22 - $25/hour but varies depending on where you work (general practice, emergency, specialty medicine, etc).
Upon successful completion of the Veterinary Technology Diploma, graduates are eligible to write the Veterinary Technologist National Exam (VTNE). Once this exam is successfully written, you can apply to your provincial veterinary technologist association. Once accepted, you will be a Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT). Most Douglas VTEC students will be eligible for funding to cover the cost of writing the VTNE.
Yes. You will be on campus for three weeks in each of the three years of the program (David Lam Campus, Coquitlam, B.C.). The first week on campus will be in February of the first year, all remaining weeks will be in the Summer semester (May to July). These are mandatory condensed lab courses where you will learn and practice your practical essential skills required for graduation.
Yes. There are four Clinical Placement courses for which you will be required to work in a veterinary hospital/ clinic, in the fall and winter semesters of the second and third year. Each student is required to complete a minimum of 120 hours work for each of these four courses – we recommend two to three days per week of work.
It is not a requirement to work in a veterinary clinic during the first year of the program, however, it may help with your studies, and will allow you to establish the productive mentor-mentee relationships that you will need for your second- and third-year clinical placement courses. You will need access to a compliant dog and cat in the second semester of the program, to practise restraint and physical examination skills.
You will need to reach out to your VTEC program co-ordinator and each situation will be assessed individually. We will work with you and your clinic to help support you, however, the program requirements must still be fulfilled to proceed in the program.
No. It is the student's responsibility to arrange a clinic placement, however if you cannot find a suitable placement we can put you in contact with local veterinary industry managers looking to hire VTEC students. It is important that the student discuss and confirm the clinical placement mentorship requirements with the clinic that they are interested in working with. It will be beneficial to work at the hospital/clinic before it is required in the second year to ensure it is a good fit for both the student and the clinic.
The clinic must be a CVBC/CVMA approved full-service small animal (or mixed animal) veterinary hospital or clinic and must agree to host the student for a minimum of 120 hours per semester (starting in the Fall semester of second year).
The host veterinary hospital or clinic must have a DVM or RVT (with a minimum two-years clinical experience) available and willing to supervise and mentor the student. These mentors will be the student’s clinical supervisors and will work with the students to help them completing their learning outcomes, assignments and video evaluations on live animals. Students can have more than one clinical supervisor.
If you're working in a clinic in your first year, clinic participation in your education is not required (although support is appreciated).
You must have a DVM or RVT (with a minimum two-years clinical experience) supervising and mentoring you during your Clinical Placement courses in years two and three. You can have more than one clinical supervisor; however, all supervisors must be listed on the Clinic Affiliation Agreement.
The clinical supervisors are not required to teach or deliver any lessons. You'll receive a course outline and you are responsible for reviewing it with your supervisor so that you are aware of the course topics that you are learning, equipment required and essential skills that you must complete to successfully complete your courses. You are responsible for discussing the essential skills assignments with the clinical supervisor, and the supervisor should assist you in finding suitable patients, ensuring you are is prepared for the skills assessment, watching you complete the skill, giving you feedback and signing any relevant paperwork that needs to be submitted to the College with the essential skill evaluation photos/videos.
You'll complete your exotic and large animal essential skills during the condensed three week on-campus labs in the final semester of the program in the summer of the third year of the program.
Testimonials
More Information
Tuition deposit
When offered a seat in this program a non-refundable, non-transferable $350 tuition deposit is required.
Application documents
To access and download the application documents, visit the VTEC faculty page.
For more information regarding the full time or part time VTEC study options, and/or for questions about the work experience admission requirement, please email the VTEC Program Coordinator: vtec@douglascollege.ca.
Career Pathways
Registered veterinary technologists typically work alongside veterinarians in small animal (dogs and cats), farm animal, equine, and exotic animal (small mammals, birds, and reptiles) hospitals. They may also work in shelters, rescue organizations and wildlife facilities.
Other career pathways include:
- Laboratory Animal Technician
- Specialty practice – many veterinary technology specialties exist. For more details, visit the Registered Veterinary Technologists and Technicians of Canada (RVTTC) specialties page.
- Practice manager
- Industry representative/ product specialist
- Researcher
- Educator
- Federal government (e.g. BC Centre for Disease Control)
- Regulation & facility inspection
For more information about career pathways, visit the RVTTC website.