Diploma in Animal Health Technology is a diploma in Animal Science programme offered by Cegep de La Pocatiere in La Pocatière, Canada. The programme runs for 3 years. Tuition for international students is CAD 11,740 per semester.
Techniques de santé animale is a three-year technical DEC offered at the La Pocatière campus, training animal health technicians to carry out clinical and laboratory tasks in animal care. Students work with a range of species, including companion animals such as dogs, cats, and small mammals; farm animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and poultry; and laboratory animals, with coursework covering anatomy, physiology, clinical procedures, pharmacology, parasitology, and nutrition across these groups. Training takes place in on-site animal facilities and a school clinic that offers surgical, dental, and diagnostic services, supplemented by laboratory work in microbiology, pathology analysis, and emergency protocols, and a variety of internships with veterinary practices, farms, research laboratories, or animal protection organizations. Admission requires Secondary 4 Science and Technology (or the applied equivalent) and a specified mathematics sequence; the program notes it is not well suited to students with animal allergies or physical limitations that prevent standing, bending, or lifting for extended periods. It suits students with an interest in animal welfare and medical or laboratory work who have good manual dexterity and can work well in a team. Graduates can enter veterinary clinics, diagnostic laboratories, government agencies, or research institutions directly, or continue to university through a DEC-BAC agreement in agronomy at Université Laval or related pathways in microbiology and biological sciences.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Beyond Cégep de La Pocatière's general college admission conditions (a Diplôme d'études secondaires or recognised equivalent), Techniques de santé animale requires one of two Secondary 4 science pathways — Science et technologie (055-444) with Science et technologie de l'environnement (058-404) plus Mathématiques Culture, société et technique (063-414); or Applications technologiques et scientifiques (057-416) with Science et environnement (058-402) plus that same mathematics sequence or the older Sciences physiques 436 and Mathématiques 514. No English- or French-language test score is stated, as instruction is in French. The page flags a health condition rather than an academic one: it advises the programme may not suit applicants with animal allergies or a condition limiting standing, physical exertion, or lifting, and recommends consulting a physician before enrolling.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through SRACQ (Service régional d'admission au collégial de Québec) for programmes starting in 2027: the Fall 2027 intake has a first-round deadline of 1 March 2027, with further rounds on 1 May, 1 June and 1 August 2027 filling remaining seats; the Winter 2027 intake closes its first round on 1 November 2026, then 1 December 2026 and 2 January 2027. International applicants outside France apply through SRACQ from 1 September 2026 and must complete their file by 1 February 2027 for Fall 2027 entry, after which no international candidate can be admitted; Winter entry is offered only to French citizens, who may apply until 1 May 2027 for Fall or between 15 May and 15 October 2027 for Winter 2028. Admission is not indefinitely rolling: each round carries a firm cut-off, though later rounds absorb whatever seats remain. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
