Animal Health Technology Entrance Requirements at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Applicants must have successfully completed:
English 30-1 (English 30) or English 30-2 (English 33)
Math 30-1 (Pure) or Math 30-2 (Applied)
Chemistry 30
Biology 30
A complete application includes:
a completed application form, including fee
transcripts
a completed Verification of Work-Related Hours and Experience form
a Career Investigation report
The Verification of Work-Related Hours and Experience form confirms that the applicant has at least 80 hours of meaningful animal-health work experience at a veterinary clinic. This form must be completed by your supervisor. It is available online or can be obtained by calling the Animal Health Technology administrative assistant at 780.471.8922.
Additional Requirements and Information
To be successful in the Animal Health Technology program, you must have basic computer skills prior to admission, including word processing, presentation (PowerPoint) and e-mail skills, and basic spreadsheet skills. Instructional staff may require students to use these skills in learning, submitting assignments and interacting during the course.
All applicants are encouraged to obtain a high-school diploma, as some employers may require it.
Applicants with a credential in another NAIT health science program may be given some preference in the selection process.
For applicants with a minimum of 80 hours of experience in a veterinary clinic, Chemistry 20 and Math 20 may be considered in lieu of Chemistry 30 and Math 30. Students with Chemistry and Math 20 will not be considered until after all applicants with Chemistry 30 and Math 30 have been considered.
Academic Upgrading
Not meeting the requirements to enter the program of your choice? Consider the academic upgrading options offered at NAIT.
International Applicants
As English is the language of instruction in all programs at NAIT, you must have an adequate knowledge of written and spoken English as a prerequisite for admission. Regardless of your country of origin or citizenship status, you must demonstrate English-language proficiency prior to being accepted.
You are considered proficient if you have:
a) successfully completed the prerequisite English course or an approved alternative English course deemed equivalent to the prerequisite English requirement
AND
b) completed a minimum of three years of education in English in Canada or in a country where English is the principal language
If you do not meet this requirement, you must:
a) successfully complete the prerequisite English course or an approved alternative English course deemed equivalent to the specific English requirement
AND
b) complete the TOEFL Internet-Based Test with a minimum overall score of 83 broken down as follows:
speaking component – minimum of 23
reading component – minimum of 20
listening component – minimum of 20
writing component – minimum of 20
If the testing score is based on the older testing version, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), you must achieve a minimum score of 230, and your Test of Spoken English (TSE) score must be a minimum of 40.
Foreign credentials must be evaluated by the International Qualification Assessment Services branch of Alberta Labour. Please call the IQAS at 780.427.2655 for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Immunization Requirements
Once accepted into the Animal Health Technology program, students are given an immunization requirement form to be completed by their physician, public health nurse or health professional. Your immunizations must be up to date prior to orientation.
Don’t wait—start updating your immunization today. You will need immunization against tetanus and diphtheria. In Year 1 of the program, students receive rabies immunization at NAIT. There is a small fee for this service.
Selection Criteria
Student selection is competitive and based on criteria that may include academic achievement beyond the stated minimum prerequisites. The minimum academic achievement for competitive selection in 2007-08 was a combined average of 70% or more in English 30-1 (English 30) or English 30-2 (English 33), Math 30-1 (Pure) or Math 30-2 (Applied), Chemistry 30 and Biology 30. An assessment of your Career Investigation and work experience hours will also be performed.
Career Investigation
The Career Investigation is a report applicants prepare as part of the application process for many full-time programs at NAIT. Your Career Investigation must accompany your program application.
Advanced / Transfer Credit
Advanced credit can be awarded in the School of Health Sciences at the request of a student. For advanced credit to be awarded, NAIT must receive relevant information indicating that the student’s previous formal learning is equivalent (or substantially equivalent) to the learning outcomes contained in NAIT courses.
Students are responsible for:
deciding which courses(s) to request advanced credit for
gathering the appropriate records and documentation, including transcripts, course outlines and course objectives of previous courses taken
meeting with the course instructor to have course equivalency assessed
If approval is given, the associate chair will notify the student.
Successful application for advanced credit may affect a student’s eligibility for semester honours, the Dean’s Honour Role and honours diplomas/certificates or awards.
Advanced credit requests by students accepted into the program are considered during the first two weeks of each semester.