- Level
- 1-Year Post Secondary Certificate
- CIP code
- 01.8301
- Duration
- 1 year college certificate including a field place
- Field
- Biotechnology and Life Sciences
- Institution
- Public College
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
Program overview
A one year college certificate in animal care support, covering animal handling and restraint, clinic procedures, nutrition and welfare, basic diagnostics and supervised placement.
This shares CIP 01.8301 with the three year veterinary technology diploma, so it is the shorter aligned entry into the same field. The assistant role supports the clinic rather than performing clinical procedures, which is the practical difference between the two.
College Certificate - Veterinary Assistant is taught at St. Lawrence College Kingston campus, a public Ontario college. The veterinary assistant certificate sits below degree level, so a work permit depends on its field of study. St. Lawrence records the veterinary assistant certificate under CIP 01.8301 and lists it among its PGWP-aligned programmes, which supports a permit of up to one year. IRCC alone decides, so verify 01.8301 against the current eligible list before paying for the veterinary assistant certificate. Ontario also requires a provincial attestation letter before the veterinary assistant certificate can support a study permit.
Candidates for College Certificate - Veterinary Assistant present Grade 12 or equivalent at 50 percent. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, and tuition for the veterinary assistant certificate is recorded at CAD 17,428. St. Lawrence charges a CAD 100 application fee, and no scholarship is recorded against the veterinary assistant certificate. The veterinary assistant certificate lists two entry windows, the earliest in January 2027. Apply Study Visa manages your the veterinary assistant certificate application, the deposit, the offer, the attestation letter and the Canadian study permit as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: Grade 12 or equivalent at the percentage stated for this programme.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 78 with no component minimum; PTE Academic 55; or the Duolingo English Test at 110.
- Application and deposit: St. Lawrence charges a CAD 100 application fee. Confirm the tuition deposit and its refundability in writing before any money is transferred.
- Scholarship: No scholarship is recorded against this programme. Budget the full tuition.
- Additional requirement: St. Lawrence publishes its aligned list under a June 2025 heading and notes the IRCC codes were last updated in July 2025. That is older than the lists other Ontario colleges publish, so verify this CIP code against IRCC directly before paying any deposit.
- Work rights: St. Lawrence lists the veterinary assistant certificate as PGWP-aligned under CIP 01.8301, supporting a work permit of up to one year. Verify the code against the IRCC list before paying. A PGWP also requires a language test at CLB 5 in all four abilities for college credentials, taken within two years of applying. This is separate from the English test you need for admission. No dependant work permit.
- Study permit: Apply Study Visa prepares the attestation letter request, the financial evidence and the Canadian study permit submission with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- Bachelor's degree marksheets & final certificate
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
- Updated CV / resume
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction + GIC
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Veterinary Assistant: clinics and hospitals
- Animal Care Attendant: shelters and kennels
- Clinic Receptionist: veterinary practices
- Kennel Supervisor: boarding facilities
- Further Study: the veterinary technology diploma
- Practice Assistant: after experience
Reality check: a one year certificate supports a shorter work permit than the three year diploma, so progression is worth planning from the start.
About St. Lawrence College - Kingston
- Type
- College
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.7
- Established
- 1967
- Reference No.
- O19332845222
