Veterinary Technician

Launch your future in animal health care with Fleming's Veterinary Technician Diploma.

As a Veterinary Technician, you will provide technical and medical support to veterinarians, offer compassionate care to animals, assist in surgery, perform diagnostic testing, administer medications, and educate clients on animal health.

Gain knowledge you need to start your career:

• Learn animal anatomy, physiology, behaviour, nutrition, clinical pathology, microbiology, radiography, genetics, and other areas.
• Simulation training: Refine your techniques and enhance hands-on learning by practicing essential skills in a risk-free simulated environment before you work with live animals.
• Essential hands-on clinical practice: Carry out routine laboratory and clinical procedures such as obtaining and recording patient histories; collecting and analyzing laboratory samples; examining and preparing patients, instruments and equipment for surgery; inducing and monitoring anesthesia; assisting in medical and surgical procedures; providing specialized nursing care; producing diagnostic radiographs; and performing dentistry.
• Industry-experienced faculty: Learn from Registered Veterinary Technicians and Doctors of Veterinarian Medicine who bring real-world expertise into the classroom, provide mentorship, hands-on guidance, and career-focused support to ensure you graduate with the skills employers need.

Hands-on, real-world experience is at the core of our Veterinary Technician program. Through a combination of immersive simulation and practical training and a 150-hour clinical placement, you'll develop the confidence and technical skills needed to excel in today's veterinary practices.

Simulation technology allows you to safely practice essential skills and refine your techniques before working with live animals.

The immersive delivery format will allow you to immediately apply skills in an active veterinary clinic, providing a unique learning experience that reflects actual employment.

In your clinical placement, you'll apply everything you've learned in a partnering animal care facility. This invaluable hands-on learning experience gives you an opportunity to refine skills and techniques, work with veterinarians, and develop professional competencies.

We are committed to providing quality education. Fleming is currently in the process of submitting an application for accreditation to the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT). This confirms our dedication to meeting all regulatory requirements for this program.

Submitting the application is not an accreditation status, nor does it mean future accreditation. If you need more information about our accreditation status or how this process may affect your future eligibility to practice as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), we encourage you to contact kevin.griffin@flemingcollege.ca, Dean, School of Health and Community Services.

To become a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and be licensed to practice in Ontario, applicants must apply through the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT).

Once you graduate from an OAVT accredited college program:

1. Register as a member of OAVT.
2. Write and pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
3. Complete OAVT's Professionalism and Ethics Workshop.
4. Submit a criminal record check.
5. Apply for registration with OAVT.

Graduates of the Veterinary Technician diploma program are well-prepared to pursue rewarding careers across a variety of animal health care settings. With Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT) aligned competencies, graduates have the skills to thrive in a dynamic and growing veterinary field.

Career paths include:

• Registered Veterinary Technician
• Veterinarian Technician
• Animal Health Technician

Work environments include:

• Animal clinical and hospital settings
• Animal shelters and humane societies
• Zoos and exotic animal care facilities
• Research laboratories
• Government agencies
• Pharmaceutical and veterinary product companies

With the veterinary technician job market growing nationally by 21% and in Ontario by 22%, graduates enter a field with strong employment prospects and diverse opportunities.

Success as a Veterinary Technician starts with a genuine commitment to animal care, strong communication and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.

• A clear communicator: You read, write, listen, and speak well, and can follow instructions or explain information to clients and teammates.
• Comfortable with numbers: You can use basic math to measure, calculate dosages, and interpret clinical data.
• A problem-solver: You think critically, make decisions confidently, and stay calm when challenges arise.
• Organized and tech-ready: You manage information accurately and feel comfortable using computers, digital tools, and diagnostic technology.
• A team player: You work respectfully with others, contribute to positive teamwork, and value diverse perspectives.
• Responsible and adaptable: You manage your time well, take ownership of your actions, and adjust easily to changing situations in a clinical environment.

Fleming College offers an exceptional learning experience to students who want to build a strong, career-ready foundation in animal health care.

What makes Fleming the right choice?

• Fleming College is a trusted name: For more than 55 years, Fleming is recognized as a leader in high-quality education and training across Canada — earning strong relationships with partners, employers, and industry professionals. Renowned animal care related programs include Fish and Wildlife Technician and Conservation Biology.
• Innovative simulation training: Veterinary Technician students develop clinical confidence through advanced simulation technologies that allow them to practice essential skills, refine techniques, and prepare for complex scenarios before working with live patients.
• Real-world experience: A 150-hour clinical placement and collaborations with facilities like the Peterborough Humane Society give students access to state-of-the-art equipment and hands-on practice in animal care centres.
• Employer-aligned, high-demand skill development: The program curriculum is shaped by veterinary professionals and reflects the competencies employers value — ensuring graduates are job-ready for clinics, hospitals, shelters, labs, and government agencies.
• Supportive, inclusive campus community: On-campus student support services — like career, health, computer technology, and learning services, plus a wide range of meaningful campus activities foster a College experience that helps students thrive personally, academically, and professionally.

Additional costs are required per semester for books, supplies, and materials. Clinical placements may also pose additional costs, such as uniforms and travel expenses.

Veterinary Technician program graduates can pathway into the Fish and Wildlife Technician or Conservation Biology programs to build a skill set that supports conservation and field-based research.

Individuals applying to the Veterinary Technician program must meet the following requirements:

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status, with the following:

• English: Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent course
• Mathematics: Grade 12 C or U, or Grade 11 U or M, or equivalent course
• Biology: Grade 11 C or U, or equivalent course

Mature Students

If you are 19 years of age or older and do not have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), you may still qualify for admission through the Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT). Based on your results, you may be asked to complete additional testing or academic upgrading to meet the program’s specific course requirements—such as English, Biology, or Math. Fleming College offers several pathways to help you succeed, including Work and Academic Upgrading. Our admissions team and upgrading services are here to support you every step of the way.

The following Non-Academic Requirements (NARS) are mandatory for this program:

• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis Vaccine
• Criminal Record Check
• Rabies Vaccine
• Communicable Disease Form