Certificate in Veterinary Medical Assistant

at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Canada

All students in the Biological Sciences Technology program take a common first semester before entering into their specialization - Lab and Research, Renewable Resources or Environmental Sciences. The common first semester provides students with strong fundamentals in Biological Sciences while semesters two, three, and four build on these fundamentals with additional specialization-specific education and training. 

Graduates of Biological Sciences Laboratory and Research program are highly skilled, hands-on technologists with the ability to use and apply current technologies and research methods in animal physiology, molecular biology, cell culture, immunology, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology. Graduates are valued for their professionalism, effective communication, lab competency, and work safely and efficiently in a team environment. They are aware of the changing industry, and are committed to lifelong learning.

The Digital Media and IT (DMIT) program is multi-disciplinary in its approach. Spanning a range of career opportunities from business analyst to visual designer, this innovative program allows you the ability to meet industry demand while developing skills aligned with your individual talents and inclinations.

In the Game Programming area of emphasis, you will learn how to give life to video games. You will create and implement game code and scripts that support environments, characters, vehicles, cameras and special effects and allow them to interact with each other.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
The courses in this area of emphasis offer a multi-language approach to object-oriented programming (OOP), which is an approach to designing modular, reusable software systems. You'll also learn how multi-language programming functions on various game engines and platforms.

You will become familiar with programming languages such as C++, C# and JavaScript, languages that are at the core of game programming. You will then learn how to plan and create small games – on your own as well as with your classmates.

Co-op Opportunities
As a result of DMIT's close connection with industry, various co-op opportunities exist for students in the DMIT program. Many companies offer our students paid co-op positions that provide direct experience in specific areas of study. Co-op is also seen as a staffing strategy for many organizations.

The Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology diploma program with teach you how to diagnose and repair machinery in the heavy equipment industry competently and safely. The program focuses on highway and off-highway mobile equipment, as well as engine-powered stationary equipment used in mining, logging, trucking, agriculture, gas processing, oilfield servicing and construction.

Industries including mining, logging, trucking, agriculture, transportation, gas processing, oilfield servicing and construction are all in-demand for heavy equipment service personnel with an advanced level of technical training to tackle the challenge of advancing technology.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant training
Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology is a two-year diploma program consisting of four 15-week semesters. Studies include

• Fluid mechanics
• Petroleum chemistry
• Fuel and hydraulic systems
• Electricity and electronics
• Fleet maintenance
• Communications
• Leadership

The training is divided equally into theoretical and practical learning. Local industrial field trips will be taken.

Train at NAIT
Students can expect to spend, on average

• 30 hours per week attending classes over the course of a semester
• 10 to 12 hours per week studying and completing class assignments

Training is provided at NAIT Main Campus in Edmonton. Some training is also delivered in the NAIT HET Building (11940 - 109 st NW), just north of Main Campus. Labs are fully equipped with mock-ups and training aids, which students disassemble, inspect and reassemble.

With NAIT's Bachelor or Business Administration (BBA), your classes will have a business focus from day 1.
Because many professional associations require a degree before they will grant a designation, a business degree is a great way to further your career potential. Earn a general BBA by completing core courses and your choice of electives or declare an emphasis in the following subjects:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• Management
• Marketing

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
Hands-on expertise with leading software applications and business processes set BBA grads apart. The degree focuses on experiential learning, including the use of simulations, interactive case studies and applied research assignments. Critical thinking, communication and teamwork skills are also key objectives.

Practical education, small classes and a welcoming environment make the JR Shaw School of Business the ideal place to start or continue your business education.

Technology
Business and technology are linked in today's work environment. The School of Business prepares students for success by integrating mainstream technology into our teaching tools and assignments.

The JR Shaw School of Business highly recommends our students acquire and make use of a computer (laptop or tablet*) in and away from the classroom in order to successfully engage and complete JR Shaw curriculum.

Your computer will be used to access key learning resources critical to your success in the program and therefore must be in good working order. It is also important to have a battery with sufficient life to allow for use when a plug-in is not available; as your battery should be able to last throughout your daily schedule/classes.

The Digital Media and IT (DMIT) program is multi-disciplinary in its approach. Spanning a range of career opportunities from business analyst to visual designer, this innovative program allows you the ability to meet industry demand while developing skills aligned with your individual talents and inclinations.

The Game Design area of emphasis teaches you how to plan and create video games from concept through to creation.

Hands-on, industry-relevant skills:-
In the DMIT - Game Design program, you will get first-hand experience designing, building and assembling a working prototype of a game level. You will learn the art and technical aspects involved in creating and implementing visual game assets, such as environments, characters, vehicles, cameras and special effects. Courses will also focus on developing story and audio.

Some of the specific tools you will learn to use include 3D Studio Max, Unity 3D and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

You will leave this program prepared to enter the industry, armed with practical experience and a well-crafted portfolio that highlights your talent.

The Personal Fitness Trainer program combines the hands-on practice of physical training and safe exercise with the knowledge of nutrition and lifestyle counselling to create one of the most in-demand fitness programs in Alberta.

NAIT’s Personal Fitness Trainer faculty have an average of 20 years of industry experience and the program incorporates business management and marketing practices for entrepreneurial graduates that want to start their own fitness empire.

The Personal Fitness Trainer program is offered online and in-class.

Are you interested in outdoor spaces? Do you have an eye for detail, a flair for design or an interest in emerging technologies? If so, we have a program for you!

In this program, you will explore the practice of landscape architecture and technologies used to produce designs and construction drawings for a variety of outdoor environments including:

• Streetscapes
• Plazas
• Parks, and recreation areas
• Trails
• Entry features
• Wayfinding signage

You will have the opportunity to visit many of the places we design, and to also participate in a construction experience, an industry work week placement, and many other program field trips.

You want to learn the skills and knowledge of conventional machining operations to utilize drill presses, lathes, milling machines and various grinding machines, including using Computer Numerical Control (CNC) programming, set up and operation. You will also receive introductory CAD/CAM training, as well as inspection and quality control training.
Successful completion of this 1-year certificate can allow you to challenge the first year apprenticeship exam for the Machinist program.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant training

• Graduates of the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machinist certificate are responsible for manufacturing components for the oil and gas, mining, forestry, construction and transportation industries. A CNC machinist will demonstrate trade specific skills in programming, setup and operation of computer controlled tools. Graduates will also perform competently when working with manual machine tools.
• Machinists are able to work efficiently on their own and/or in team environments where problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills and current knowledge of technological trends and quality practices are essential to daily work. A graduate with a CNC Machinist certificate may be given the opportunity to apprentice in the machinist trade. This program has both fall and winter intakes.

Is this program for you?
To be successful as a machinist, you must have:

• Good hand-working skills
• Good problem-solving capabilities
• Mechanical inclination
• An ability to work well with others
• Competence in math
• Mature attitudes towards learning and work
• During the first semester of the CNC Machinist certificate, you will receive training on manual machines such as engine lathes, milling machines, drill presses and grinders.
• In the second semester, you will receive training on the operation, set up and programming of CNC (computer numerical control) turning and milling centres.
• The final component is an 8-week  work placement, which gives you an opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge in an industrial setting by working in a machine shop.

Veterinary medical assistants provide support to clients, animal health technologists and veterinarians. Duties may include administration, animal handling and support with nutritional and pharmaceutical products. They also assist with record keeping and other clinical procedures and tasks.

This 1-year certificate program will provide you the skills and confidence you’ll need to work in a front-line position as a veterinary medical assistant in private veterinary clinics, livestock centres and animal shelters. In addition to classroom instruction, you’ll get in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in animal clinics across Alberta.

Good attention to detail? Thrive on a fast pace and heavy workload? These are important traits of people interested in this program. If you are a people person and enjoy helping them with their animals, this program is a good fit for you.

What You Will LearnCareer 
Hands-on, industry-relevant training
To work as a veterinary medical assistant, you will need to have a genuine interest in animals and their welfare. It’s important to understand that you will need to be comfortable working with a variety of animals, both large and small.

After a year of classroom instruction, your clinical placement will give you hands-on experience at an animal clinic where you’ll get a taste of what your future career could look like. Travel may be necessary as some placements are outside of Edmonton.

You will also regularly support the animal health technologists at the NAIT Animal Clinic. 

As a student in the program, you can expect to spend on average:

• 26 hours per week attending classes over the course of a semester 
• 15 to 20 hours per week studying and completing class assignments

NAIT's Bachelor of Technology degree is the only program of its kind in Alberta and one of just a few similar programs in Canada. If you've graduated with a recognized 2-year technology diploma, the BTech program offers the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree with 2 additional years of study.

The BTech degree has been developed to help you bridge the gap between the job you started as a technologist and a career in management. We've received industry demand for leading-edge technologists who have the technical theory, innovative skills, and ethical and social awareness required for sustainable industry. We have also been challenged to prepare critical-thinking practitioners who are able to address technological challenges in today's economy.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
In the Bachelor of Technology (BTech) program, you'll build on your strong technical background, adding leadership and critical-thinking skills you'll need to take on management and supervisory roles. You'll gain a global perspective, focusing on social, economic and environmental issues.

You'll also develop skills in:

• Innovation, transition and change management
• Effective multi-media communications
• Planning and strategy development
• Staffing and supervision
• Critical thinking and problem-solving