Information for foreign-trained veterinary and animal health technologists and technicians
(3213) Verified: 2008 10 31
Information on requirements to practise
The professions of veterinary and animal health technologist and technician are regulated in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where membership in both the provincial veterinary medicine association and the provincial animal technologist association is required to practicer. In Ontario, the designations "Registered Veterinary Technician" and "Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT) are protected.
In all other jurisdictions, membership in the provincial associaiton is voluntary, but employers may request membership certification as a condition for employment.
All provincial associations, except Quebec, require members to pass the national certification exam -- the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). In Quebec, the exam is voluntary.
The Canadian Association of Animal Health Technologists and Technicians (CAAHTT) does not register or license AHT/VTs in Canada, but can provide further information on the profession.
- Canadian Association of Animal Health Technologists and Technicians (CAAHTT)
- 1545 East Heights
- Saskatoon SK S7J 3B4 Canada
- Phone : +1-306-956-0056
- Fax : +1-306-956-0607
- Email : info@caahtt-acttsa.ca
- http://www.caahtt-acttsa.ca/
Once you know where you will settle and work in Canada, you should contact the appropriate provincial association of AHTs/VTs for details on requirements to practise (see list below).
Information on assessment of qualifications
Although these associations will provide information on requirements to practise, they are not set up to assess foreign credentials prior to your arrival in Canada.
If you need to have your credentials assessed before coming to Canada, you may contact an evaluation service and consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada." Although the evaluation services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with credentials obtained in a Canadian province or territory, the evaluation is advisory only and does not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification purposes in Canada. Please note that they charge a fee for their services.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources Development Canada regarding:
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
List of regulatory bodies
Alberta
- Alberta Association of Animal Health Technologists (AAAHT)
- #950 Weber Centre, 5555 Calgary Trail NW
- Edmonton AB T6H 5P9 Canada
- Phone : (780) 489-5007 x227
- Fax : (780) 484-8311
- Email : aaaht@telusplanet.net
- http://www.aaaht.com/
Ontario
- Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT)
- Ontario Agricentre
100 Stone Road West, Suite 1041- Guelph ON N1G 5L3 Canada
- Phone : (519) 836-4910
- Fax : (519) 836-3638
- Email : oavt@oavt.org
- http://www.oavt.org/
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists Inc. (SAVT)
- P.O. Box 346, R.P.O. University
- Saskatoon SK S7N 4J8 Canada
- Phone : 1 866 811-7288
- Fax : (306) 955-4037
- Email : savt@savt.ca
- http://www.savt.ca/
List of provincial and territorial associations
British Columbia
- Animal Health Technologists Association of British Columbia (AHTA of BC)
- P.O. Box 74077
Hillcrest R.P.O.- Vancouver BC V5V 5C8 Canada
- Phone : +1-604-872-7737
- Email : ahta@shaw.ca
- http://www.ahta.bc.ca/
Manitoba
- Manitoba Animal Health Technologists Association (MAHTA)
- 6014 Roblin Road
- Winnipeg MB R3R 0H4 Canada
- Phone : (204) 832-1394
- Fax : (204) 896-6796
- Email : mahta@mts.net
- http://www.mahta.ca/
New Brunswick
- Eastern Veterinarian Technician Association Ltd. (EVTA)
- 146 East St.
- Port Hood NS B0E 2W0 Canada
- Phone : (902) 787-2437
- Fax : (902) 787-2531
- Email : bev@aetv.ca
- http://www.evta.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Eastern Veterinarian Technician Association Ltd. (EVTA)
- 146 East St.
- Port Hood NS B0E 2W0 Canada
- Phone : (902) 787-2437
- Fax : (902) 787-2531
- Email : bev@aetv.ca
- http://www.evta.ca/
Nova Scotia
- Eastern Veterinarian Technician Association Ltd. (EVTA)
- 146 East St.
- Port Hood NS B0E 2W0 Canada
- Phone : (902) 787-2437
- Fax : (902) 787-2531
- Email : bev@aetv.ca
- http://www.evta.ca/
Prince Edward Island
- Eastern Veterinarian Technician Association Ltd. (EVTA)
- 146 East St.
- Port Hood NS B0E 2W0 Canada
- Phone : (902) 787-2437
- Fax : (902) 787-2531
- Email : bev@aetv.ca
- http://www.evta.ca/
Quebec
- Association des techniciens en santé animale du Québec (ATSAQ)
- 2300, 54th Avenue, Suite 240
- Montreal QC H8T 3R2 Canada
- Phone : (514) 324-5202
- Fax : (514) 324-5202
- Email : atsaq@atsaq.org
- http://www.atsaq.org/