Animal Health Technology Diploma 
Loading... The Animal Health Technology (AHT) program has a long-standing reputation for producing highly skilled and capable professionals.
Students receive training in animal nursing, surgical assistance, anesthesiology, laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging, pharmacology and dental procedures. Studies include animal diseases, animal behavior, parasitology, nutrition, microbiology, hematology, ethics, anatomy, physiology, pathology and terminology. Students also practice communications, office procedures and client relations.
Our campus features a working farm with a variety of large animals plus companion animals on site. These provide our students with many opportunities to gain experience in handling, treating and caring for live patients of all sizes. Practical expertise is emphasized and complemented with relevant theory taught by highly qualified, skilled and experienced veterinary professionals.
Students also have the opportunity to spend time in veterinary clinics and other veterinary facilities. In addition to more traditional lecture and laboratory settings, students in second year will do rotations in the on-site small animal clinic and a six-week clinical practicum at facilities throughout Canada.
Graduates of our Animal Health Technology program are eligible to write the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) for membership in the Provincial Association.
Admission Requirements
For additional information on this program, please see Important Documents under Admissions on our website.
The applicant must have the following prerequisites:
- High School Diploma
- English 30-1 or English 30-2
- Mathematics 30-1 (minimum 50%) or Mathematics 30-2 (minimum 65%)
- Biology 30
- Chemistry 30
- Verification of 40 hours job shadowing experience
Selection Criteria
The applicant must have at least 40 hours of job shadowing with a Registered Animal Health Technologist in a veterinary practice environment. The applicant must provide a completed Verification of Work Experience form.
The Animal Health Technology program can be oversubscribed and therefore applicants must meet or exceed all academic course requirements and complete the volunteer and/or paid animal care work experience hours.
Additional Information
Special Requirements
- Students of the AHT program are expected to follow a dress code as written in the Orientation Manual and AHT Policies and Procedures Manual provided upon registration.
- Students are actively involved in animal care throughout the program. This will include several week-long rotations involving evenings, weekends and holidays. Students are on these rotations from September to April of each year.
- Special requirements for students registered in an Animal Health Technology Program within the Province of Alberta now require that all students have an active student membership with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) under the Province of Alberta’s Veterinary Act and General Regulation. It is the student’s responsibility to submit application prior to attendance in the Fall. www.abvma.ca/AAAHT
- Students are required to purchase a stethoscope and nurse's watch. Clothing requirements are a white lab coat, scrubs (minimum 2 sets), coveralls, rubber insulated boots, and warm outer clothing for outside animal care rotations such as dog walking, lambing and calving.
- There are numerous practicum sites from which to choose. Students may opt to gain their practicum experience at one of the following: small animal clinic, large animal clinic, mixed animal clinic, referral or emergency clinic, wildlife rehabilitation facility, or zoo. Salaries might not be paid to students for work performed during the practicum, and any relocation and housing expenses incurred are the responsibility of the student.
- All students registered in the Animal Health Technology program are required to be immunized against Rabies. The Rabies vaccine series will be provided at Fairview Campus during the first year. Students who have received the rabies vaccination previously will be required to have titre checked for verification.
Program Curriculum
First Year (34.5 credits) Fall (16 weeks)
- AH112 Animal Behavior and Restraint (2.5)
- AH141 Anatomy and Physiology I (4.5)
- AH143 Animal Science (1.5)
- AH145 Office Communications and Management for the VT (3)
- AH172 Veterinary Terminology (1)
- AH173 Applied Mathematics (1)
- AH174 Laboratory Procedures and Microbiology (4.5)
Winter (16 weeks)
- AH240 Advanced Anatomy and Physiology (2.5)
- AH242 Client Relations and Ethics for the VT (1)
- AH243 Laboratory and Exotic Animals (1.5)
- AH244 Nutrition (2.5)
- AH245 Parasitology (3.5)
- AH246 Animal Nursing I (1.5)
- AH248 Comprehensive Preparation and Discovery I (0.5)
- AH249 Hematology (3.5)
Second Year (36.5 credits) Fall (16 weeks)
- AH340 Anesthesiology (3)
- AH342 Laboratory Procedures II (3.5)
- AH343 Diagnostic Imaging (2.5)
- AH344 Applied Immunology (1.5)
- AH345 Clinical Procedures I (2)
- AH348 Animal Nursing and Surgical Assistance for the VT (4)
Winter (12 weeks)
- AH441 Dental Procedures (1.5)
- AH442 Animal Diseases (3)
- AH443 Theriogenology (3)
- AH445 Pharmacy and Pharmacology (3)
- AH446 Comprehensive Preparation and Discovery II (0.5)
- AH455 Clinical Procedures II (3)
- AH481 Field Trip (1)
Spring (6 weeks)
Option: AH601 Introduction to Artificial Insemination Large Animal (1)*
*This course is not a requirement of the Animal Health Technology program. Program students will receive credit extra to the diploma. This course is also open to community members.
Progression Criteria
To be promoted from one year to the next, the student must successfully complete all the required AHT courses of the previous year.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete all required courses with a GPA of no less than 2.00 with no “F” grades. Students must also satisfactorily complete the practicum component in order to receive a diploma. Program must be completed within a four year period.
Post-Diploma
Pre/Post Graduation Affiliation
Graduates of the program must comply with the Animal Health Technologist Association of the province in which they will be practicing. Membership requirements vary between provinces. Students are encouraged to become student members while attending the program.
Post-Diploma Degree Options
Graduates of the program may be eligible for credit towards a Bachelor of Science degree at Athabasca University, University of Alberta or University of Lethbridge.
Contact Information
