Animal Health Technology - Diploma Program (Fairview)

Department	Animal Health Technology
Phone	780-835-6630
E-mail:	aht@gprc.ab.ca
Homepage:	Visit homepage

Program Dates

Intake	Application Deadline	Start Date	End Date	Final Exam Period
Fall (year 1)	Aug. 30/10	Aug. 30/10	Dec. 17/10	**
Winter (year 1)	Dec. 18/10	Jan. 3/11	Apr. 29/11	**
Fall (year 2)	Aug. 30/10	Aug. 30/10	Dec. 17/10	**
Winter (year 2)	Dec. 18/10	Jan. 3/11	Apr. 1/11	**
Spring Practicum (year 2)	n/a	Apr 4/11	May 13/11

** Final exams for these courses are incorporated into the course. Please refer to Course Outlines for details.

Program Options

DIPLOMA Program (Fairview Campus)

4 semesters (66 weeks), including a six-week work experience placement

107 credits

The Fairview Campus Animal Health Technology 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 and 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 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. However, membership requirements may vary from province to province. Therefore students must contact appropriate provincial associations for their specific requirements and cost of the exam.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.

Admission Requirements

The applicant must have the following prerequisites:

a High School Diploma
English 30-1 (English 30) or English 30-2 (English 33)
Math 30 (Applied or Pure)
Biology 30
Chemistry 30
and verification of animal care work experience.

Selection Criteria

The applicant must have at least 80 hours of meaningful animal health work experience at a veterinary clinic or equivalent. The applicant must provide a completed Verification of Work Experience form.

Additional Information

Applicants presenting other math courses, for example the previous Alberta Learning designates of Math 30 and Math 33, will be considered on an individual basis by the Registrar. For students with a minimum of 80 hours in a veterinary clinic, Chemistry 20 and Math 20 may be considered in lieu of Chemistry 30 and Math 30. Students with Math and Chem 20 may not be considered until after all applicants with Chem 30 and Math 30 have been given first priority.

Classroom and Study Hours

Students attend classes for an average of 35 hours per week, over the course of the two year program. Students should expect to spend at least one to two hours every evening in study, assignment completion and research. The average student also spends approximately 8 hours on the weekend, for a total of 15-20 hours of study per week outside of class. During the six week practicum, students are expected to work a 40 hour work week at the practicum site.

Practicum

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 may not be paid to students for work performed during the practicum, and any relocation expenses incurred are the responsibility of the student.

Diploma Program

Curriculum
First Year, 52.5 credits
Fall (16 weeks)

AH112 (4) Animal Behavior and Restraint I
AH141 (6) Anatomy and Physiology I
AH143 (2) Animal Science
AH144 (3) Office Procedures
AH160 (1.5) Communications
AH172 (1) Veterinary Terminology
AH173 (1) Applied Mathematics
AH174 (7.5) Laboratory Procedures and Microbiology

Winter (16 weeks)

AH241 (2.5) Anatomy and Physiology II
AH242 (2) Ethics and Client Relations
AH243 (2.5) Laboratory and Exotic Animals
AH244 (3) Nutrition
AH245 (5) Parasitology
AH246 (3) Animal Nursing I
AH247 (2) Pathology
AH248 (0.5) Procedural Review I
AH249 (6) Hematology

Second Year, 54.5 credits
Fall (16 weeks)

AH340 (3.5) Anesthesiology
AH342 (6) Laboratory Procedures II
AH343 (5) Diagnostic Imaging
AH344 (2) Applied Immunology
AH345 (5.5) Clinical Procedures I
AH346 (3.5) Animal Nursing II
AH347 (1) Surgical Assistance I

Winter (12 weeks)

AH441 (2.5) Dental Procedures
AH442 (3.5) Animal Diseases
AH443 (3.5) Theriogenology
AH445 (3.5) Pharmacy and Pharmacology
AH446 (0.5) Procedural Review II
AH455 (8) Clinical Procedures II
AH481 (2) Field Trip

Spring (6 weeks)

AH447 (4.5) Practicum

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete all required courses with a Grade Point Average of no less than 2.00 with no “F” grades. Students must also satisfactorily complete the work experience component in order to receive a 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. Graduates of the program may be eligible for credit towards a Bachelor of Science degree at Athabasca University, University of Alberta and University of Lethbridge.