Continuing Education
Continuing Education
Veterinary
The Veterinary Administrative Assistant certificate program teaches you the skills needed to become an integral part of an animal care facility team.
Are you a fast thinker with a passion for animals and strong interpersonal skills? It’s time to put your skills to work as a veterinary administrative assistant. Learn the tools to excel as an assistant to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Utilize your current skill sets and develop new ones in a challenging and rewarding way!
In addition to greeting customers and scheduling appointments, learn to provide effective and compassionate care for animals and their owners. This 660-hour certificate program concludes with a practicum designed to give you valuable experience in a veterinary office, which you can take with you into your future career.
Credential: Certificate
Format: Full time
Delivery: In person
Duration: 7 months
Days and times: Thurs-Sat, 8:30 am-3:00 pm
Location: Chilliwack campus — Canada Education Park
Tuition*: $7855
Program eligible for financial aid
Practicum required? Yes
Start dates: September
Application deadline:
Students can apply at any time and will be considered for the next available intake.
In order to enter this program, you must complete the application process on Education Planner BC. There are no other entrance requirements.
View program information in the UFV Academic Calendar.
This 660-hour certificate program consists of ten courses and a practicum component designed to provide you with hands-on experience in a veterinary office. Students will also complete the Fear Free certification. The courses are as follows:
Course |
Title |
Hours |
| VAA01 |
Veterinary Business Fundamentals |
60 |
| VAA02 |
Veterinary Hospital Fundamentals |
60 |
| VAA03 |
Veterinary Surgical Fundamentals |
60 |
| VAA04 |
Anatomy, Physiology, and Common Diseases |
60 |
| VAA05 |
Introduction to Veterinary Pharmaceuticals |
60 |
| VAA06 |
Grooming |
60 |
| VAA07 |
Animal Behaviour and Nutrition |
60 |
| VAA08 |
Animal Shelters and Animal Lab Husbandry |
60 |
| VAA09 |
Bookkeeping |
32 |
| VAA10 |
Three-week practicum |
120 |
| VAA11 | Review | 28 |
Fall 2024 Veterinary Administrative Assistant (VAA) Course Schedule
Students complete a three-week practicum at the end of their program that provides a meaningful work-like experience and exposure to a veterinary setting. In order to qualify for the practicum, you must have successfully completed the first nine modules and met the attendance requirements.
View the practicum webpage for more information.
You will receive a mark for each course based on classroom participation, assignments, study projects, and examination results. You must achieve a grade of 75% (B) in each course to be eligible for the practicum.
You must successfully complete all courses and the practicum to obtain your certificate.
Veterinary administrative assistants can find employment in veterinary practices, animal care agencies, shelters, and animal boarding facilities. Practices typically focus on companion animals or livestock and range in size from small clinics to large animal hospitals.
In recent years, growth in the veterinary industry has been driven by pet owners spending more on animal care and technological and medical advancements. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association reports that fifty-seven per cent of Canadian households own pets and they’re spending more money than ever on their companions. According to the Canadian Pet Market Outlook, household spending on pets amounts to $9.2 billion today and will continue to rise.
Veterinary clinics that also offer non-medical services such as pet sitting, dog walking, pet daycare, grooming, and spas are best positioned to take advantage of the boom in pet spending.
Veterinary administrative assistants who find this work rewarding may choose to pursue further studies to start a career as a veterinary technician or a veterinarian.
This program does not require textbooks. Course packs containing required readings will be provided.
Phone: 604-851-6324
Toll free: 1-888-504-7441 ext. 6324
Email: continuingeducation@ufv.ca
Or ask online