Veterinary Technology

It’s more than a love of animals that inspires people to become veterinary technologists – it’s also a keen interest in science and medicine. If you’re self-motivated and want to be part of a team working to make animals’ lives better, veterinary technology could be a great career fit. Veterinary technologists support veterinarians in vet clinics; work in livestock operations, animal shelters, zoos, diagnostic labs, the government in regulatory roles, such as food inspection and in the veterinary sales industry. 

Sask Polytech's two-year Veterinary Technology diploma program is offered at the Saskatoon campus. Get hands-on training in animal nursing, animal care and management, as well as clinical laboratory procedures. You’ll build the knowledge and skills you need to: 

• assist veterinarians in providing nursing care to patients; 
• provide assistance to veterinarians during surgery and anesthesia; 

• perform diagnostic procedures including lab tests and imaging; 
• perform animal care and husbandry in clinic, livestock and research settings; and 
• assist in client education. 

Diploma to Degree

Use your Veterinary Technology diploma as a stepping stone to a degree in Animal Bioscience at the U of S College of Agriculture and Bioresources, or Athabasca University in Alberta. Starting June 2019, graduates with a 2.50 GPA will also have the opportunity to directly enter into the 3rd year of a post-diploma B.Sc. (Agricultural Studies) or post-diploma B.A. (Agricultural Studies) at the University of Lethbridge.

Learning Environment

• There are lectures and labs in basic science (anatomy, genetics and chemistry), applied math and veterinary science.  You will be working with live animals, including dogs, cats, horses, cattle, swine and sheep.  
• Students are in labs, lectures or clinics from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  There may be tours and clinics that start earlier than 8:00 am.  Clinics and labs may be scheduled in the evenings and on weekends.  
• The program uses a combination of traditional and on-line lectures, in-person laboratories, and tours of farms and other animal handling/processing facilities.
• Learning also occurs off-site at clinics and other facilities located in and around Saskatoon and at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to off-site locations within Saskatoon and surrounding area. 
• Two 5-week offsite clinical practicums are required in semester 5. Students may select their locations in consultation with the program head.
• The opportunity for partial load studies is available; however, students with loans should consult with their granting agency to ensure loan-requirements can be fulfilled. Semesters 5 and 6 cannot be taken on a partial load basis.
• There are 26 applicants accepted into the first year of the program. 

For more information about this program refer to Frequently Asked Questions.

Your Career

As a veterinary technologist, your skills are in demand at veterinary clinics and hospitals, livestock operations, animal shelters, diagnostic labs, research facilities, zoos and game farms. There are also job opportunities with government agencies and in sales. You might also use your skills as the owner/operator of your own kennel or training facility. 

Potential Careers

80 weeks

Year 1 - 41 weeks; Year 2 - 39 weeks

• Saskatoon
• Online/Distance options available



Some programs offered online or otherwise by distance (i.e., correspondence) include on-site labs, clinicals, practicums or work experiences. They may be offered course-by-course or full-time, or both, and deliveries may change over time.

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 with a minimum of 70% in each of the following subjects: Biology 30, Chemistry 30, and Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30*
• A combined average of 70% in English Language Arts A30 and English Language Arts B30
• 60 hours documented veterinarian-supervised volunteer or work experience
• Completion of mandatory orientation
• English Language Requirement

Note

• Starting Fall 2021, we are offering 8 distance education seats. These students will complete the program through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning via distance and in-person residencies at the start/end of terms.
• Applicants may apply to either the in-person or distance option.
• Application process for in-person option:
  • Step 1: Submit application form and application fee. On the application form, under Program Information - location, select the Saskatoon option. This holds your place in the admissions queue.
  • Step 2: Submit the Mandatory Orientation within 60 days of Step 1.
  • Step 3: Submit Form A within 60 days of Step 1.
  • Step 4: Submit final academic transcripts.
  • Step 5: Complete required minimum of 30 clinic volunteer hours plus additional clinic hours or equivalent activities and submit Form B by August 1st.
• Application process for distance option:
  • Complete process as described for in-person option. On the application form, under Program Information - location, select the online or evening or distance option.
  • It is the student's responsibility to secure a partnership with a qualified clinic.
  • Submit Form C any time after Step 1 is completed. Form C must be submitted for entry to the distance delivery option.
• All steps must be completed prior to program start date.
• Veterinary Technology program-specific admissions forms:
• Form A describes requirements for volunteer hours and equivalent activities. A minimum of 30 hours of volunteer/work experience in a veterinary clinic is required. An additional 30 hours can be made up of clinic hours (in the same or different clinic) or equivalent activities. Volunteer or work experience must be completed within 5 years of expected entry to the program. Declare your plan for completing this requirement by completing Form A and submitting within 60 days of application.
• Form B is to be submitted by the veterinary practice upon completion of volunteer hours. The completed form must be received by August 1st of the year of expected entry to the program.
• Form C is an agreement between a mixed animal practice (Host Clinic), Clinic Mentor and applicant whereby the Host Clinic and Clinic Mentor agree to support the applicant for the duration of their studies through provision of space, clinical cases, direct supervision and mentorship for the duration of the distance program. Form C can be submitted by the student.
• For answers to common application questions, review Frequently Asked Questions
• Students require proof of protective rabies titer in order to take part in live animal activities including clinical site placements. A rabies immunization clinic is arranged by the program.
• Students must be registered, as a student member, with the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association (SVMA) in any term they are registered in the program. SVMA student membership is arranged by the program at the start of term; membership cost is paid directly by the student.
• Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of 2015 WHMIS Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification upon admission into the program. Recertification will be required every three years to remain current. The cost of WHMIS certification is your responsibility

*Previous Saskatchewan mathematics requirement also accepted:

• Minimum of 70% in a 30 level math

Alternative Admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

• 250 Arithmetic
• 252 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics
• 256 Reading
• 250 Writing
• 4 Writeplacer

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission Method

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

2021/22 Academic Year

Year 1 - $10,150
Year 2 - $9,015

Year 1 - Semester 1

APHY 101

Anatomy and Physiology 1 – Theory

3

APHY 102

Anatomy and Physiology 1 – Practical

2

CHEM 101

Applied Chemistry for Veterinary Technology

3

MATH 280

Mathematics for Veterinary Technology

3

VETR 182

Veterinary Nursing Skills 1

2

VETR 183

Clinical Rotations 1

4

VETR 184

Veterinary Tours 1

1

VETR 186

Human Animal Bond, Ethics and the Law

2

VETR 187

Animal Behaviour

2

VETR 188

Veterinary Medical Terminology

1

VETR 189

Veterinary Client Relations

1

Year 1 - Semester 2

ANIM 282

Care and Management of Domestic Animals

2

APHY 280

Anatomy and Physiology 2

3

APHY 281

Anatomy and Physiology 3

3

COMM 291

Interpersonal Communications

2

INDG 100

Introduction to Indigenous Studies

1

MICR 186

Clinical Microbiology

3

RDGR 183

Diagnostic Imaging 1

4

VETR 100

Animal Diseases 1

2

VETR 190

Veterinary Nursing Skills 2

2

VETR 287

Clinical Rotations 2

4

Year 1 - Semester 3

GENE 182

Veterinary Genetics

2

IMMU 281

Immunology

2

VETR 191

Large Animal Medicine 1

3

VETR 192

Veterinary Office Procedures

2

VETR 193

Exotics

1

VETR 286

Veterinary Technology Dentistry

2

VETR 288

Veterinary Tours 2

1

Year 2 - Semester 4

ANES 279

Veterinary Anesthesia 1

2

ANIM 182

Care and Management of Laboratory Animals

2

NUTR 200

Animal Nutrition

2

PATH 201

Clinical Pathology - Theory

3

PATH 202

Clinical Pathology - Practical

3

PHAR 203

Veterinary Pharmacology

3

PRST 280

Veterinary Parasitology

3

VETR 200

Animal Diseases 2

2

VETR 292

Surgical Nursing Skills

3

VETR 293

Veterinary Nursing Skills 3

2

Year 2 - Semester 5

ANES 281

Veterinary Anesthesia 2

2

PHAR 281

Veterinary Pharmacy Skills

1

PRAC 284

Veterinary Technology Senior Practicum

20

RDGR 282

Diagnostic Imaging 2

1

VETR 282

Large Animal Medicine 2

2

VETR 294

Veterinary Nursing Skills 4

1

VETR 295

Small Animal Medicine

3

Year 2 - Semester 6

ANES 282

Veterinary Anesthesia 3

5

CLIN 238

Large Animal Clinical

5

CLIN 239

Small Animal Clinical

5

VETR 289

Clinical Surgical Nursing

3

• Year 2; Semesters 5 and 6 - Most of these courses will be taken at the University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
• You must successfully complete all courses in Semesters 1 through 4 before enrolling in Semester 5. Semesters 4, 5, and 6 courses cannot be taken on a partial load basis.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See links below to get more information about PLAR and detailed PLAR candidate guides for the Arts and Sciences courses in this program. To discuss PLAR for other courses in this program, contact us at 1-866-467-4278 and ask for the Program Head of this program.

• Candidate Guide (Department of Arts and Sciences courses)
  • communications, mathematics, sciences, social sciences
• More about PLAR

Transfer Credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Our Veterinary Technology program is accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. This qualifies you to write the North American Veterinary Technology Exam (VTNE). You need to pass the VTNE and register with the Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists (SAVT) to work as a Registered Veterinary Technologist in Saskatchewan. 

Live Animal Use

Animal use in teaching and research at Saskatchewan Polytechnic is subject to ethics approval and review. As part of this federal mandate, all incident reports are investigated in accordance with Canadian Council for Animal Care best practices. Access the Animal Welfare Concern Reporting form, or visit the animal welfare page to learn more about procedures for reporting animal welfare concerns.

• Frequently Asked Questions.
• Personal Readiness