Veterinary Hospital Assistant

A Rewarding Career in Animal Care in Just 9 Months

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Earn Your Diploma As a Veterinary Hospital Assistant
Program Highlights

Centre for Arts and Technology’s Diploma in Veterinary Hospital Assistant offers you an opportunity to learn the applied skills needed to pursue a rewarding career in animal care. In only 9 months, you will be ready to enter this fulfilling industry and provide compassionate care and superior client service, and optimal patient care at any veterinary hospital.

This extremely well-rounded, applied program covers the key veterinary assistant skills you’ll need to get noticed and hired, including:

Animal anatomy and physiology
An understanding of dog and cat breeds including the history of the breed, physical characteristics, and common traits
A foundation in livestock and exotic animals
Medical terminology, veterinary office procedures, and client communication
Clinical, dental, and surgical procedures
Immunology and vaccines
Parasitology
Small animal nutrition
Welfare and animal behaviour
A foundation in pharmacology, diagnostic imaging, and toxicology

Ready to Learn?

Start Your Career as a Veterinary Hospital Assistant
Work in Animal Care

You want the best vet assistant programs. Here’s what our program will do for you:

Industry Connections

Veterinary industry professionals as your Instructors and mentors.

Let’s Get You Working!

Well-rounded, focused curriculum and job shadow opportunities to get you successfully working as quickly as possible.

Education at Your Fingertips

Earn your diploma how you want to, with both on-campus and online learning options available.

Top Tech

Latest technology, facilities, and equipment in a dedicated veterinary classroom.

Xiola Latour-Woodward

The veterinary hospital assistant program helped me in every aspect of my career. I was able to get a job at the first clinic I applied to and because of the amazing schooling I received, I was able to grasp everything very quickly and excel …

Marilee Mason

Centre for Art and Technology is by far the number 1 program for those interested in expanding their knowledge and wanting to become a Professional and well-educated Veterinary Hospital Assistant. The Educators and support staff are made available for years after you finish your program, …

Kamryn Mcleay

Being part of the VHA program at CAT was one of the best decisions I made for myself. I had always had an interest in the Veterinary industry but never knew the endless opportunities it entailed until I became a student at CAT. My instructors …

Carmen Marcil

Taking this program was the best choice I could have made! CAT got me prepared, excited, and gave me connections to start my career in an industry that makes me so happy to go to work everyday.

A woman in a car with a dog in the back seat.

Kamryn Mcleay

Alumni Feature

Experience the CAT Difference
Why the Best Choose Us

We understand that choosing a post-secondary school is a big decision that usually involves input from some of the most important people in your life. Tuition considerations, support after graduation and key industry connections – these are all part of choosing the best graphic and web design school for you.

Here are a few reasons why you’ll be happy you chose Centre for Arts and Technology:

Hands-on, employment-focused education.

Employment-focused programs delivering the soft skills you need for lasting career success and hands-on experience with the latest, industry-standard technology. Your career starts here!

Personalized support from start to finish.

Financial guidance? We’ve got you covered. Career advice after graduation? We wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re more than a student number to us. We create a personalized experience that you won’t get anywhere else.

More one-on-one time with your Instructors and mentors.

Small class sizes mean you get more facetime and critical feedback from your education team, to achieve real growth and success.

Quality you can fact-check.

Centre for Arts and Technology holds a full designation through Education Quality Assurance and the Private Training Institutions Branch. You’ll only get the best at Centre for Arts and Technology.

Join the Program

Department Head
Kate Robertson

Born and raised in Guelph Ontario, Kate has always had a passion for working with animals. She attended Sheridan College obtaining a certificate in Animal Care in 2005 where she was a recipient of the Sheridan scholar award for her academic achievements.

Her career began in 2005 at a 24/7 Emergency Clinic that specialized in avian, exotics, and small animals as a Veterinary Assistant. From there she settled into a high-volume Veterinary Clinic, which featured seven doctors and treated both companion animals and large animals (horses, livestock, and even zoo animals!) Shortly after moving to Kelowna in 2009, Kate began working at the KLO Veterinary Clinic as a Veterinary Assistant while joining Centre for Arts and Technology as a part time instructor in 2011. Kate took time off in 2013 to grow her family and rejoined the VHA program in 2018, becoming lead instructor before moving into her current role as Department head in 2021. Kate is continually advancing her skills; her latest achievement is the completion of the Advanced Level of the Animal Welfare Certificate Program at Thompson Rivers University. Kate completed this program with outstanding grades, receiving an A+ mark.

She lives in Kelowna with her husband, 3 boys who keep her busy, and a loyal yellow Labrador retriever named Jersey. In her spare time, she volunteers for Alleycats Cat Rescue, and enjoys cheering her boys on from the sidelines of their various sporting activities.

Quarter Descriptions

Here’s How You’ll Build Your Animal Care Skills

Quarter 1

In the first term of the Veterinary Hospital Assistant program, students will gain a foundational understanding of animal anatomy and physiology, which will continue to be built upon throughout the program. Students will explore various domestic canine and feline breeds including their history, traits, and coat colours and patterns. Through a number of dedicated units, students will also have the opportunity to learn about various large animals and livestock such as: equine, bovine, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry. Quarter one also introduces units on exotic animals including avian, rabbits, reptiles, and other small mammals. Students will begin to learn the vital, front-end responsibilities in a clinic such as appointment booking, invoicing, client interactions, and medical record keeping as well as a familiarity with two commonly used veterinary software programs. Lastly, students will also receive a foundation in veterinary medical terminology throughout the first Quarter.

Quarter 2

Quarter two will continue students’ understanding of anatomy and physiology, including the function of the nervous, digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems in animals. Students will learn about the various canine and feline infectious diseases, treatment, and prevention including vaccine schedules. Various internal and external parasites affecting canines and felines will be covered, along with commonly used products in the veterinary clinic. In the second Quarter, students will get a chance to learn about and perform various diagnostic tests such as urinalysis, fecal floatation, and blood smears. The procedure and importance of taking vital signs and how to properly handle and restrain animals in the clinic setting be introduced. Students will learn life stage dietary requirements of small animals, assisted feeding techniques, nutritional management of diseases as well as familiarize themselves with the veterinary-exclusive diets found in a clinic. Quarter two will also cover the basics of canine and feline animal behaviour as well as an introduction to various training techniques.

Quarter 3

In the final Quarter of Veterinary Hospital Assistant, students will gain an advanced experience in veterinary hospital practices, explore various avenues in the animal welfare sector and build upon anatomy and physiology knowledge from the previous two Quarters. Animal welfare topics will include animals in captive settings (zoos and shelters) standards of care for livestock production animals, and an exploration of current animal welfare concerns. Students will receive in-depth training in diagnostic imaging including radiography, CT, MRI, and ultrasound scans. Students will be introduced to toxicology including commonly ingested toxins and applicable treatment methods including commonly used pharmacological protocols. An understanding of the fundamentals of dental procedures along with an introduction to surgical procedures will also be covered. Students will learn the identification and treatment of periodontal disease along with other canine and feline oral conditions. Students will explore commonly performed surgeries, instruments used in a clinic setting, aseptic techniques, sterilization, and foundations of anesthesia monitoring. Rounding out the final Quarter is a focus on practical experience including job shadow opportunities where students can apply their education and skills in a clinical environment.

I’m Ready to Build My Skills

Take advantage of what the school offers you! You have so many people that want to make your experience a positive one and they all want to see you succeed. Never be scared to ask for help or direction! In my course specifically, the fact that the instructors are from the industry gave us so much insight on everything and made going from school to a clinic so much easier …

Brittany Hartfelder

Veterinary Hospital Assistant Alumni

I’m extremely happy that I took the VHA course and pursued a career in animal care. It has been a life-changing experience with lots of personal growth, and the knowledge I gained from this program has been essential in the field. I would certainly recommend this course to anyone who wishes to follow a career path in animal care.

Aleesha Leslie

Veterinary Hospital Assistant Alumni

More Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s Get You Answers

Do I need prior knowledge of animal care before applying to CAT’s Veterinary Hospital Assistant program?

Prior knowledge and applied skills are always going to benefit you, however, we do not require program applicants to have any previous animal care experience. Throughout this program, you’ll learn how to be a veterinary assistant through hands-on courses taught by professionals working in the animal care industry! You’ll not only get the hands-on skills to assist with veterinary medicine but also the professional skills in communication, office procedures, and patient care needed to set you apart from the competition.

Our Program Advisors would be happy to walk you through our Admission Requirements and Application Process. Please reach out by completing an online inquiry form, and an Advisor will follow up with you!

Is CAT’s Veterinary Hospital Assistant Program accredited?

All of Centre for Art and Technology’s programs are backed by a designation through the Private Training Institutions Branch and British Columbia’s Education Quality Assurance Program. For additional information on our designation, please visit our Designation page.

Why is your program only 9 months, when similar programs offered elsewhere are 2 years?

While our program is extremely well-rounded and has many career options after graduation, we need to make a clear distinction between our program and alternative programs offered at other institutions. When you graduate from our Veterinary Hospital Assistant Program, you will be qualified for an entry level position at any veterinary clinic or animal care location. The primary tasks our graduates will perform on the job will vary depending on location but can include administrative and clerical duties, pre and post-procedural animal care, administering medication, some surgical assistance, and so forth. We cannot speak for every other animal care program offered elsewhere, but many of these longer programs will result in a diploma as a Veterinary Technician. A Veterinary Technician will often perform more medical-related tasks, again, dependent on location, but typically their duties are more technical in nature.

We feel that our shorter and more affordable program option can be a great way to dip your feet into this rewarding industry without committing your finances and time to a longer program. For complete details on our program and the option to take a tour of our Veterinary Hospital Assistant Lab classroom, please book an appointment with one of our Program Advisors!

What equipment will I need for this program?

Just a great attitude! Our Veterinary Hospital Assistant students get the benefit of a dedicated, lab-style classroom on campus, complete with industry-standard lab equipment, so there’s no need for you to have any of your own. In addition to the lab classroom, you’ll have access to computer labs on campus for any assignments or projects needing a computer.

We’d love to give you a tour of our dedicated Veterinary Hospital Assistant classroom on campus! Book a time to visit by reaching out to one of our Program Advisors through our online inquiry form.

Do you offer job placements or internships?

We maintain close connections with our veterinary industry partners. Throughout your program, you’ll have info sessions with industry guests and you will be exposed to many real-world scenarios, and become familiar with standard industry best practices. This early familiarity means that upon graduation, you’ll be more than ready to join the team at any clinic or animal care facility, ready to tackle anything that comes your way!

After graduation, you can count on continued support from our Education and Student Services team who will share job opportunities with you and provide connections and resources to help you find a placement you love!

Our Program Advisors are able to share more specific examples of graduate career placements. Please book an appointment by completing an online inquiry form to get started!

What does a day in the life of a Veterinary Hospital Assistant student at CAT look like?

A day in the life of a Veterinary Hospital Assistant student at CAT is varied and as a student, you may find yourself in a few different classrooms around campus. Schedules vary from Quarter to Quarter, so this is just an example of what an on-campus student could expect.

If you drive, you’ll park your car in our student-designated parking lot and make your way across the Landmark Plaza to our campus! If you’ve opted to walk, bike or take the bus, you’ll find lots of great scenery on the short walk from the bike lock-up or transit stop to campus. You have one of your favourite classes first thing today; Anatomy and Physiology. You’ve been learning about the anatomy of a canine ear and today there’s a quiz! (You have a dog at home who is quite ready for you to stop looking in his ear as “quiz prep”).

You have a free, working block next in your schedule, and you decide you need some energy, so you stop by the cafe for a quick coffee, all the cream, all the sugar. Once you’re refueled, you head off to meet up with some classmates to work on a project for your Dog and Cat Breed Identification class. There’s a quiz coming up next week on working dogs, so you settle in with your classmates to test each other!

Lunchtime! You take a break and hit up one of the many great eateries in the Landmark Plaza area. Mmmmm….pizza is on the menu today.

After lunch, you head back to the main campus building for a Professional Development class. Today you’re going to be diving into Personality Dimensions and starting on a self-portrait assignment. You’ll also be discussing how to find the balance between being true to your individuality and securing success for yourself professionally, a topic we take great pride in at CAT.

Time for your last class of the day; Medical Terminology, so you head to class to get yourself settled. You’ve been learning about some commonly used prefixes, suffixes, and root words and how they combine in real-life use. Today, you get a brief introduction from your Instructor before getting some free time to study in partners for an upcoming quiz on abbreviations of medical terms.

That’s it for today and you feel like you’ve earned some downtime, so you decide to meet up with some friends and head to the dog park! Let’s do this again tomorrow, shall we? New day, new classes, new opportunities.

If you’re interested in touring our campus and seeing the Veterinary Hospital Assistant classroom, you can do so by completing an online inquiry form. Once submitted, a Program Advisor will follow up with you, so make sure to mention you’d like a tour!

I only want to work with horses (or…insert other large animals here) in my career, will this course be suitable for me?

We love it when students have a clear interest and passion for their futures, so first, bravo for having your future career goals in mind! Our program does cater to small animals, so your resulting experience will mostly be tailored to our smaller furry friends like dogs and cats. You will, however, get some experience with larger animals in your Livestock and Exotics course in our program. Through this course, you will learn to identify common livestock breeds, medical conditions, safe handling techniques, dietary requirements, and preventative healthcare

For complete curriculum details, please reach out to a Program Advisor by completing our online inquiry form. Our Advisors can share in-depth course outlines with you, giving you an inside look at what to expect from our program.

Financial Aid For The Diploma in Veterinary Hospital Assistant
The Financial Guidance and
Support You Need

You have options available to you when it comes to financing your education with Centre for Arts and Technology. Our Finance team can answer any questions you may have on payment plans, bursaries and grants, and student loans. We believe in empowering people through education and proudly offer the support and guidance you need to ensure finances are not a barrier on your path to higher learning.

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