Offered by Conestoga College in Kitchener, Canada, Diploma in Veterinary Technician is a diploma in Animal Science programme. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 15,477 per year (CAD 3,508 per year for local students).
Veterinary Technician is a two-year Ontario College Diploma delivered in hybrid format at Conestoga's Kitchener - Doon campus for students on the path to becoming Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs). Blending science, hands-on training and compassionate care, the program covers anatomy, physiology, nutrition, microbiology and diagnostic imaging across both large and small animal care. Students first develop essential skills humanely on simulation models and realistic scenarios, then work with live animals during field placements.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Domestic entry: an OSSD or equivalent, or mature-student standing at 19 or older, with a minimum of 65% in each of Grade 12 English (C or U) or Preparatory Communications (COMM1251); Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U) or Preparatory Biology (SCIE1010 or SCIE1011); Grade 11 or 12 Mathematics (C or U) or Preparatory Mathematics (MATH1420); and Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry (C or U) or Preparatory Chemistry (SCIE1030). Completing Conestoga's Veterinary Assistant program with a 75% average (3.0 GPA) is an alternative route, and applicants short of the Chemistry or Mathematics requirement may enter at level 2 on the bridging design with extra Mathematics and Chemistry courses. The Pre-Health Sciences pathways at a 70% average also satisfy entry. Before the program starts, students must show pre-exposure rabies and tetanus vaccination (about $800 at their own expense) and an annual Canadian police criminal record check (about $40); a record that is not clear can block work-integrated learning. The college states the work needs manual dexterity, fine motor skills, long periods standing, lifting to 25 kg, and flexible shift availability including early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays. Prior animal experience is recommended. International applicants: Conestoga's standard diploma and certificate English minimums apply - IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80 with no skill below 20, PTE Academic 53, or Duolingo 110. Anyone holding transcripts from outside Canada, Canadian citizens and permanent residents included, needs a course-by-course credential evaluation from a service such as ICAS or WES, and must show English proficiency if the language of instruction was not English.
Application Details
Start Date:September, January and May
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca (college code CONS): for the Fall 2027 intake the online application opens 26 September 2026, the equal consideration date is 1 February 2027, offers may be issued from 1 November 2026, and accepted offers must be confirmed by 1 May 2027; most oversubscribed programs stop accepting applications after 1 February 2027, though many programs remain open afterward. Conestoga does not publish a separate equal-consideration date for its January intake. International applicants apply directly to Conestoga and are assessed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis until each program fills; no fixed international closing date is published. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
