Veterinary Technology Frequently Asked Questions

To work as a veterinary technologist in Saskatchewan, individuals must be a registered veterinary technologist (RVT).  This requires having completed a Veterinary Technology (Vet Tech) or Animal Heath Technology (AHT) diploma from an accredited program, passing the Veterinary Technology National Exam (VTNE), and being accepted to the membership list of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association (SVMA).   Find out more about working as an RVT in Saskatchewan.

Sask Polytech’s Vet Tech program is accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and individuals who have successfully completed our program are eligible to write the VTNE.

People who consider this profession have a deep love and respect for animals and a desire to provide them and their owners with the best care possible.  They are interested in working within a team-work environment.  They have a strong interest in health sciences and animal sciences.

Sask Polytech’s Vet Tech program is a two-year diploma program.  As a student in the program, you will learn how to perform all aspects of veterinary nursing care, including: client communication, performing laboratory tests and radiography, anesthetic nursing, surgical nursing, assisting in veterinary dentistry, and providing nursing care. The program is built on a math and health sciences background, and you will also learn basic anatomy and physiology, animal behavior, medical math, microbiology and pharmacology.

Sask Polytech offers the only Vet Tech training program in Saskatchewan and is accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). CVMA-accreditation ensures training in required essential skills and subjects. Our program emphasizes training in small animal medicine and provides an introduction to working with animals in research. From the time students enter the program, they are introduced to veterinary practices through clinical rotations – the majority of graduates are hired by one of the practices they were introduced to through work placements.

Our program is distinct as students spend their final semester in clinical rotations that take place at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) located at the University of Saskatchewan. The WCVM is the training centre for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) for Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and the territories. During your final clinical rotations, you will be taught by the same specialists and professionals that teach western Canadian veterinary students. Your time at the WCVM includes clinical rotations in anesthesiology, emergency and intensive care, large animal medicine and field service, and surgical nursing. In addition, you will complete two separate 4-week practicums at private clinics or other facilities (other than the WCVM) towards the end of your program.

Our program is accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), the national accrediting body for Animal Health Technology and Veterinary Technology diploma programs. In order to work as a veterinary technologist in many provinces and states, you will require a diploma from an accredited program. Many provinces and states also require successful completion of the Veterinary Technology National Exam – you must have a diploma from an accredited program to be eligible to write this exam. Our program has one of the highest VTNE-pass rates in Canada.

Find out more about accreditation.

The courses you take are more focused on veterinary technology and there is dual emphasis on hands-on skills learning and the supporting theory. Most students find the workload at Saskatchewan Polytechnic to be more demanding than at university. Students can expect to be in classes 25 hours per week plus additional clinical hours. Expect to be in classes Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., plus up to six Saturdays per academic year in clinical placements. Attendance is mandatory.   Expect related homework in the evenings and weekends in order to keep pace.

Applicants who are in the distance stream can return to the regular in-person admissions pool by contacting Enrolment Services. Ability to return to the in-person queue will depend on seat availability.

In exceptional circumstances assessed on a case-by-case basis and where the student is in good standing, distance students who have started the program can switch to the in-person program at the start of a semester provided space is available. Note that students who have started in the in-person cohort may not switch to the distance stream.

Volunteer hours must be obtained in a general veterinary practice.  It may be a small animal, mixed animal or large animal practice.  The purpose of the volunteer hours are to ensure that you have prior exposure to the veterinary industry and are aware of the scope of practice of an RVT – basically, to make sure this is the right profession for you before committing your time and finances to the program.  The majority of graduates work in general practice and the skills performed in general practice accurately reflect the scope of practice of a veterinary technologist. For this reason, hours cannot be completed at kennel, shelter, arena, training center, etc. The exception is where the shelter also has a licensed on-site clinic and hours must be performed in the clinic (not the general shelter).     

Clinics may be located anywhere in Canada.  Volunteer hours in the United States are accepted provided the clinic and veterinarian is licensed as per state requirements.  To find a list of veterinary clinics in Saskatchewan, go to Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association (Search by city). When applying for volunteer hours to a clinic, it is recommended that you provide a cover letter and resume explaining the reason you are looking for volunteer hours and when you are available.  Follow-up phone calls are usually required.  You may be required to travel to find a clinic that is accepting volunteers.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to find a clinic, to provide the clinic with the required paperwork, and to ensure the clinic submits the signed form to vt@saskpolytech.ca prior to August 1 of the application year. It is the clinic’s choice to sign or not sign the volunteer form. For a list of veterinary practices in Saskatchewan, go to Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association (Search by city).

Volunteer hours must be signed off by a facility veterinarian. The practice does not have to employ an RVT in order to provide the supervised hours. Hours must be within 5 years of your application year. For example, if applying for September 2023 entry, your hours must be completed between January 1, 2018, and August 1, 2023.

To confirm all receipt of your required documentation, log into your Saskatchewan Polytechnic user account. If you have difficulty accessing your account, contact ITS  at 1-888-733-5333.

• A clean white lab coat, a pair of clear safety glasses for the science labs
• One pair of Sask Polytech scrubs (available from the Campus Store) and a minimum of two pairs of clean scrubs
• One set of clean coveralls (must be short-or long-sleeved for the WCVM), rubber boots or hiking boots
• Stethoscope (such as Littman III Classic), calculator
• You will also require a desktop or laptop and reliable Internet.
• Distance students require high-speed Internet that supports video conferencing and uploading/downloading of videos. 

We consider all qualified applicants.

We have designated seats for Indigenous students.

Applicants with a professionally diagnosed and documented disability need to meet with the equity counsellor prior to entry into the VT program where available accommodations will be determined and relayed to the program head. Accommodations can also include partial course load and extension to your study time.

In cases where a disability is suspected during the course of studies, the student will be referred to the equity counsellor for assessment and accommodation. These activities take an extended period of time to complete and will delay implementation of accommodations so applicants with a suspected, but as yet undiagnosed learning problem should make an appointment to see a counsellor to move the diagnosis and testing process along before registration.

To request an appointment with a counsellor, send your request to counselling@saskpolytech.ca.

If you are missing a high school prerequisite, there are a few options to complete the course requirement. You can either pursue studies through the high school system or you can complete the high school equivalent at Saskatchewan Polytechnic or the University of Regina or Saskatchewan. The following are guides to what the course equivalents would be:

High School pre-req. courses	U of S* equivalents
BIOLOGY 30	BIOL110.6*  (check U of S website for updated course codes)
CHEMISTRY 30	CHEM 112.3
ENGLISH A & ENGLISH B 30	ENG 110.6
MATH LEVEL 30	MATH 100.6

 

High School pre-req. courses	U of R* equivalents
BIOLOGY 30	BIO 100
CHEMISTRY 30	Students can take CHEM 100 if they do not presently have CHEM 30 OR if the CHEM 30 grade is below 70% OR if CHEM 30 was taken more than five years ago.
ENGLISH A30 & ENGLISH B 30	ENG 100
Any Level 30 Math is accepted.
MATH LEVEL A30	AMTH 001 (non-credit) OR Math 101 (credit)
MATH LEVEL B30	AMTH 002 (non-credit) OR Math 101 (credit)
MATH LEVEL C30	AMTH 003 (non-credit) OR Math 101 (credit)

* Courses from other Universities or Colleges will be evaluated individually for equivalency.

Students who are missing the Math or English prerequisite may write the Accuplacer test at Saskatchewan Polytechnic to achieve the necessary standing.

You will be notified by mail regarding the status of your application. The first round of acceptances are sent in mid November, however, if there are still seats available in the program or if seats become available, you may be notified at any time prior to the start date of the program.

Congratulations! To hold your seat in the program, a deposit of $600 or a letter from your sponsoring agent is required within 30 days of the date on your acceptance letter. This fee can be paid in person at any of the four Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus Registration Service offices or by phone if paying with Visa or MasterCard.

Expect to be in classrooms and labs seven hours every weekday. Many courses also require an additional two-three hours of studying in the evenings and weekends.  Some mandatory clinics and labs take place on Saturdays.  

It is strongly suggested that students have their finances in place before they start to avoid having to work while going to school.

This program will train you in the skills and knowledge needed to work in a veterinary clinic, animal production facility, research, education or sales. There is training in basic, animal and health sciences and training in animal handling and clinical skills. The main species taught are dogs, cats, horses and cattle. There are no animal holding facilities at Saskatoon campus, so the program has partnered with the Saskatoon SPCA and the University of Saskatchewan to offer live animal labs. There are also tours to animal facilities, rotations in local veterinary practices, Saturday clinics, seminars and guest speakers.

In the first year of the program, you are introduced to the basic health and animal sciences and basic clinical skills. In the second year of the program, there is emphasis on clinical theory and skills, including animal disease, pharmacology, anesthesia, pathology, general nursing and surgical nursing. At the end of the program, you will attend clinical rotations at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre, which is a referral and emergency hospital, and complete two 4-week long senior practicums that could include small, mixed or large animal practice, research or other facility that employs veterinary technologists. 

Expect to be devoted to your patients and clients and for ensuring the best medical and surgical care possible. Animal health is a service profession and a clinic’s success is based on patient care, satisfied clients, communication and teamwork, hygienic surroundings, personal responsibility and attention to detail. You will work as a team member with good organizational skills and a high level of professionalism. 

Veterinary technologists are part of the veterinary team concept and depending on where you work, your duties may include any or all the following:

• You will work under the direction of veterinarians to provide nursing care, anesthetic nursing, dental nursing and surgical nursing to patients. This requires a knowledge of animal anatomy, physiology, disease processes (pathology), veterinary drugs and pharmacology.
• You will run diagnostic tests including blood work and radiology.
• You will look after hygiene and cleanliness, stock exam rooms and the pharmacy, look after veterinary equipment, wash and prepare surgical instruments, and manage the clinic space.
• You will communicate with clients about their animal’s health, preventative care and recommended therapies.
• You will create medical records and communicate with other members of the veterinary team. Accuracy is required for safe calculation, preparation and administration of medications.
• You will restrain all manner of patients, assist with patient monitoring and assessment, perform triage.
• You will take part in and advise on animal husbandry.   

There is no task too large or small that should escape your attention. The veterinarian is relying on you to be self-directed, follow safety regulations and to always put the patient first. You must remain calm and composed in the face of an emergency, whether it is performing triage or giving comfort to a distraught owner. You are expected to be competent in many areas.

Around 95% of new graduates take their first job in a general veterinary practice. Other graduates work at a larger referral and specialty practices, including the WCVM. Some graduates join animal research facilities, such as the University of Saskatchewan and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization. Many graduates choose to work in industries that do not require a Vet tech designation – but where having one is considered a benefit – such as livestock production including swine, feedlots and dairy, shelters and animal welfare organizations, pet food and veterinary pharmaceutical industries.

Many graduates continue their education and credentialing with business diplomas, undergraduate Bachelor’s degrees, and Veterinary Technology Specialties.  

There is a recognized need for veterinary technologists in rural areas of the province. There is also a need for veterinary technologists in 24-hour emergency medicine.

Our graduates are eligible for jobs in provinces across Canada and into some states in the USA (please see www.navta.net) for requirements for specific states.

You must pass the VTNE to work as a registered veterinary technologist in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. Upon successful completion of your diploma, you will be eligible to apply for the VTNE which is administered by the AAVSB – it is NOT part of the program. However, the program provides an orientation on the VTNE application process and confirms that you are eligible to write the exam. The VTNE is not part of the program. Graduates are eligible to write the exam in either the July-August or October-November test windows following convocation. Graduates may work as provisional veterinary technologist from the time of completing their diploma until they pass the VTNE.   

For information on writing the VTNE, including costs, go to the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) website.

Within the veterinary clinical setting, veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists are professional designations and the training and licensing requirements for each are described in the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association website. Other support staff positions within a veterinary practice include receptionists, animal attendants and clinic assistants.  Specialized training is not required for these support staff positions, although there are programs in Canada that provide training for Veterinary Office Assistant and Veterinary Assistant. Other career options that allow for working with animals without an Vet Tech diploma include: animal production, animal attendant, groomer, animal trainer and many more.