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Ministry-approved title: Animal Care
Love animals and want a career where you can make a difference? Animals are important members of our families and communities, and skilled animal care professionals play a vital role in supporting their health and well-being every day.
The Animal Care program prepares students for careers in veterinary hospitals, shelters, boarding facilities, zoos, training facilities and a wide range of animal care environments. In this accelerated eight-month program, students develop practical knowledge and industry-relevant skills in animal behaviour, handling, wellness, nutrition and basic nursing care, while exploring the unique needs of domestic animals, large animals, wildlife and exotics.
Through experiential learning opportunities and field placement, students build the confidence, professionalism and applied knowledge required to enter the animal care field and begin working in a variety of animal-focused settings.
Starting in September 2026, the Animal Care program will be offered at the Oshawa campus.
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The Animal Care certificate program is designed for individuals passionate about animals who are seeking a career in the animal care industry. In this accelerated eight-month program, students develop practical knowledge and industry-relevant skills to support animal health, welfare and well-being across a range of professional settings.
Students explore key areas including:
The program emphasizes experiential learning and professional development through a variety of applied opportunities, including second-semester field placement, guest speakers from veterinary and animal care industries, and field trips to farms, zoos, animal care facilities and related organizations. Students also engage with industry events and conferences and build professional networks within the animal care sector.
Career exploration is supported across a range of pathways, including companion animal care, shelter and rescue, wildlife, exotics, research and animal facility management.
Whether entering the workforce directly or pursuing further education in animal sciences, students develop a strong foundation for a career in the animal care field.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
Please note: Some courses may be offered during a different semester due to changes in program delivery. Students will still receive the same curriculum and have to meet the same learning outcomes. Questions related to program delivery can be directed to Admissions.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Hybrid
The rest of the coursework will be delivered using hybrid, flexible or online formats. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
Field placements provide an opportunity for students to apply classroom knowledge and develop practical skills in a professional animal care environment. During first semester, students prepare for placement through professional development activities, including exploring animal care settings and developing resume writing, cover letter and interview skills.
Completed in second semester, field placements allow students to gain industry experience while building confidence, professionalism, communication and workplace skills within the animal care field.
PRE-PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Students must provide the following at their own expense:
ACAR - Placement Requirements
Qualified graduates may be eligible to apply their academic credits towards further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.
Processor: i3 RAM: 4GB Storage: 256GB SSD Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1 Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version) Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter Camera: Webcam/built-in camera Internet connection
Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk.
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