Fall 2026: Applications Closed
Application deadline January 15th 2026
Please see the updated September 2026 Program Guideline
Please visit the International application deadline page to find out when applications may be available.
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.
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.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
*In most cases, with permissions, university transfer (UT) courses completed with a minimum grade of C- in the above subject areas can be used as approved substitutions for the required secondary school courses.
When there are more qualified applicants than seats available in the program, a selective admission process will be used to rank qualified candidates based on the academic admission requirements and suitability for the program. Those with a higher ranking will be offered seats first.
Prerequisite for Veterinary Technology courses
Following an offer of admission into the Veterinary Technology program, a current record of immunizations for the following must be provided:
Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition and 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.
Graduation Requirements
Notes on Program Delivery (i.e. cohorts):
Course Requirements for Full-Time In-Person Cohort (see note 1)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Semester 1 |
||
| VTEC 1301 | Anatomy & Physiology Basics | 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 1305 | Systems 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1202 | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 2 | 4.00 |
| VTEC 1203 | Veterinary Nursing 2 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1304 | Pharmacology Basics | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1315 | Systems 2 | 3.00 |
| Clinical Placement | ||
| Clinical placement (see note 2) | Clinical placement | 0.00-2.00 |
| 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 2405 | Systems 3 | 3.00 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| VTEC 2403 | Veterinary Nursing & Career Planning | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2304 | Veterinary Surgical Assistance | 4.00 |
| VTEC 2317 | Lab and Exotic Animals | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2309 | Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2320 | VTEC Practicum 2 | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2321 | VTEC Practicum 3 | 3.00 |
| Total Credits | 63.00-65.00 | |
Notes:
1. Courses are listed in their recommended order, but the order may change according to the available course offerings.
2. For the clinical placement, students may take VTEC 1211 (VTEC Practicum 1) or Co-Operative Education to satisfy this requirement. Students who take VTEC 1211 will graduate with a total of 65 academic credits. Students who take COOP will graduate with a total of 63 academic credits and 9 additive COOP credits. The clinical placement is done over the summer term between semesters 2 and 3. VTEC 1211 takes place over two weeks and Co-Op is a minimum of 12 weeks.
Course Requirements for Part-Time Hybrid Cohort (see note 3)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Semester 1 |
||
| VTEC 1301 |
Anatomy & Physiology Basics | 3.00 |
| CMNS 1111 | Workplace Communications for Veterinary Technology | 3.00 |
| Math 1183 | Mathematics for Veterinary Technology | 2.00 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| VTEC 1302 | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 1 Theory | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1303 |
Veterinary Nursing Skills | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1112 | Veterinary Administrative Procedures | 3.00 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| VTEC 1304 | Pharmacology Basics | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1305 | Systems 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1306 |
Veterinary Nursing Skills Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 1307 |
Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 1 Lab | 1.00 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| VTEC 1311 |
Clinical Placement 1 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 1313 | Veterinary Nursing & Animal Behaviour | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1315 | Systems 2 | 3.00 |
| Semester 5 | ||
| VTEC 2411 | Clinical Placement 2 | 2.00 |
| VTEC 1312 | Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 2 Theory | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2408 | Veterinary Anesthesia Theory | 2.00 |
| Semester 6 |
||
| VTEC 1314 |
Veterinary Laboratory Procedures 2 Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 2406 |
Veterinary Anesthesia Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 2109 |
Veterinary Radiography | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2112 |
Veterinary Elective Procedures | 3.00 |
| Semester 7 | ||
| VTEC 2401 | Clinical Placement 3 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2405 | Systems 3 | 3.00 |
| Semester 8 | ||
| VTEC 2402 |
Clinical Placement 4 | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2407 | Large Animal Clinics Theory | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2404 | Lab & Exotic Animal Theory | 1.00 |
| Semester 9 | ||
| VTEC 2403 |
Veterinary Nursing & Career Planning | 3.00 |
| VTEC 2309 |
Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging | 2.00 |
| VTEC 2417 |
Large Animal Clinics Lab | 1.00 |
| VTEC 2414 |
Lab & Exotic Animal Lab | 1.00 |
| Total Credits | 65.00 | |
NOTES:
3. Courses are listed in their recommended order, but the order may change according to the available course offerings. For up-to-date information on whether the courses are online, hybrid, or in-person, please see the FAQ tab.
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.
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 seats, the application process will be re-opened 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 “Selective/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.
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.
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:
For more information about career pathways, visit the RVTTC website.