"I LOVE it! There is SO much to see and do, it's amazing. I love the hands-on work,
I don't think I will ever be able to go back to an office job, this is just too interesting."
Tanya (Graduate Class 50): About her career as Veterinary Assistant.


The VOA® Diploma Program

The VOA® Diploma Program is 24 weeks in duration and includes a three-week practicum in a veterinary clinic. School hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The VOA® Diploma Program was developed by Granville Business College in 1993. We are proud of the contribution we have made to the veterinary industry. Our graduates are employed by veterinary clinics worldwide.

The VOA® Program consist of six courses that prepare the student for the day-to-day duties as responsibilities of a Veterinary Assistant. These courses are regularly reviewed and revised to ensure that the knowledge and skills that truly reflect today's workplace demands are provided. These six courses cover the following:

The fundamentals course focuses on providing core knowledge and skills essential for the VOA® relating to the duties and responsibilities generally assigned to them in an animal hospital setting. Students learn about laws, regulations, and association guidelines relating to, and regulating, the work that can be performed by a VOA®, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, breeds and their behavioural traits, restraint and handling, radiology, equipment identification and use, pharmacology and laboratory test procedures.

Students are provided with knowledge about surgical procedures to maintain the flow of accurate and pertinent information between staff and clients relating to small animal surgery. The course covers the common surgical procedures that are performed in an animal hospital setting, anesthesia procedures, surgical equipment and terminology and home care for patients required after surgery.

Animal Health Management focuses on providing the learner with knowledge and skills considered important and pertinent to the health and well-being of animals commonly examined and treated in an animal hospital. Students will learn about medical conditions, nutrition and diets, management of parasites, fleas and heartworm, vaccinations and euthanasia.

In any animal hospital, clinic or related animal welfare business, effective communication is considered important and necessary to maintain the flow of accurate and pertinent information between staff, suppliers, associates and clients. This aspect of the course will cover the promotion and delivery of client services expected from a professionally managed animal hospital following guidelines for effective communications. Students will apply their knowledge and skills during role-play and other training activities to client services, telephone communications, emergency calls, dispute resolution, handling complaints and the topic of euthanasia.

Students are provided career training important and necessary to prepare for a practicum prior to completion of the program and for job search prior to, and after graduation. Topics covered will be resume preparation, career planning, job search strategy, and interview techniques.

Students are provided skills relating to the front office business procedures generally assigned to a Veterinary Assistant in an animal hospital setting. Students learn about the job description of a Veterinary Assistant, managing medical records and appointment scheduling, general billing procedures, animal health product sales, and liaising with industry product representatives.

Students also participate in a 3-week practicum. The practicum is arranged by the College in consideration of student requests for location and the nature of the Veterinary Clinic. Students are expected to apply their newly acquired skills in an actual workplace environment in as many areas as allowed by the Clinic. The learning during this practicum will be invaluable for its hands on application and for the presentation of the student's abilities to a potential employer.

The Veterinary Assistant Program includes; lectures, mock veterinary clinics, animal handling and restraint classes. Guest speakers include representatives of leading pharmaceutical companies including Merial, Wyeth, Pfizer, Bayer, Hills, Nestle Purina, Novartis, Pacific Vet Sales, and MediCal/Royal Canaine; representatives from Winvet software; Pet Plan Insurance; and Dr. Greenberg, DVM who speaks on holistic medicine. Class field trips include the SPCA, the Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic, the Canada West Veterinary Specialists & Critical Care Hospital and Vancouver Animal Control.

The VOA® program is taught by Animal Health Technologists. Granville Business College VOA®'s are in demand in veterinary clinics and other organizations where the health and welfare of animals is of primary importance.

Instructors
Cathy
Student Video