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Veterinary Office Assistant

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Veterinary Office Assistant

Program requirements for March 2025

Academic requirements
  • Language Arts – this requirement can be met with any of the following, or an equivalent course:
    • 50% in English Language Arts 30-1
    • 65% in English Language Arts 30-2
    • 50% in ESLG 1860
    • 65% in ESLG 1898
  • Mathematics – this requirement can be met with any of the following, or an equivalent course:
                  OR
  • Academic Assessment - Applicants who have submitted an application may be able to meet their academic requirements with a free assessment. Click here for more details or email student.advisor@norquest.ca to meet with an advisor.

Note: Academic admission requirements are different from English language proficiency requirements. NorQuest College English for Academic Purposes courses may be used to meet both requirements. See below for details.

This program has multiple pathways to admission.

You can apply with:

  • relevant high school qualifications
  • the NorQuest Open Admissions Pathway
  • qualifying Health Care Aide courses from NorQuest
  • verifiable medical training from another country
English language proficiency requirements

If English is your second language, you must provide proof of English language proficiency before admission. These results must be no more than two years old when you start your program.

Test scores we accept:

  • IELTS Academic: overall score of 6.5; no section score below 6.0
  • TOEFL iBT: 84; no section score below 21
  • Cambridge English Language Assessment: 180; no section score below 165
  • CAEL: 70; no section score below 70
  • PTE Academic: 59; no section score below 56
  • Duolingo: 115
  • minimum of:

Practicum/work experience requirements

Students need to travel to various locations to complete their clinical practice experiences. Within the time frame of the program, every effort is made to accommodate students in clinical placements. Students may need to travel up to 100 kilometres. Access to a vehicle may be needed. Students may need to work a variety of shifts during practicum including days, evenings, and weekends.

Before you attend your practicum, you will need:

  • to successfully complete all prerequisite courses.
  • a clear Police Information Check.
  • an up-to-date immunization record. We recommend you have rabies immunization before starting your practicum. Rabies immunization needs three doses, and the cost varies. We recommend you have immunization against tetanus and diphtheria also.

There may be costs associated with completing these requirements. See Completing work, practicum, and clinical requirements for details and further instructions.

International students: You must get a co-op work permit before beginning the work-integrated learning component of the program. A medical exam may also be needed. See Co-op work permit for more information.

Progression and graduation

Students must receive a passing grade in each course to progress through the program. To remain in good academic standing, a minimum term grade point average (GPA) of 2.70 and a passing grade in all Pass/Fail courses (no WF or F) is required.

The Academic Standing Policy and Procedure provide further details on the categories of academic standing, and the consequences and supports available if a student is not in good academic standing.
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.70 in the program’s courses is required to qualify for graduation.

Honours criteria

  • Overall grade point average (GPA) greater than or equal to 3.7
  • The student must not have failed or repeated any courses

Technology requirements

Students need a computer with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access), and a stable Internet connection for this program. Learn more about Bring your own device.

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