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Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation

Physical rehabilitation is becoming part of everyday veterinary medicine. Northern College’s Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation program is designed for individuals passionate about improving the well-being of animals. The program combines in-depth theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience

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Referenced from: Program Outlines Archive

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Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Academic Year

2024 - 2025

Credential

Graduate Certificate

Program Delivery

Full - Time

Duration

1 Year

Length

2 Semesters

Program Code

H151 (HL) - Haileybury Campus

DESCRIPTION

Physical rehabilitation is becoming part of everyday veterinary medicine. Northern College’s Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation program is designed for individuals passionate about improving the well-being of animals. The program combines in-depth theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience to prepare students for rewarding careers in private rehabilitation clinics, veterinary clinics, and fitness/conditioning centers.

Our curriculum is taught by experts in the field and carefully crafted to provide students with a solid foundation in advanced anatomy and physiology, therapeutic techniques, and neurologic and orthopaedic conditions. Students work directly with animals, including clinical cases, applying their knowledge and skills in real-world settings.

With its strong focus on specialized patient care, this one-year graduate certificate will add to your knowledge and skill set, extending the range of services offered to a patient. This certificate will increase your valuable contribution to any companion-animal care team.

Please note : This program is a graduate certificate available to graduates of an accredited Veterinary Technician two-year diploma program. If applying directly from high school, please choose our Veterinary Technician program, program H058. Upon graduation from a Veterinary Technician program, you will qualify to apply for our Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation program.

The OAVT accredits this program for 20 continuing education credits in Category 1 (Medical/scientific).

CAREER OPPPORTUNITIES

Graduates are able to establish their own physical rehabilitation business working with referring veterinarians, veterinary practices with rehabilitation services, private rehabilitation facilities, and organizations with conditioning/fitness programs.

VOCATIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

  1. Perform patient examination and collect data on vital signs on patients needing physical rehabilitation.
  2. Restrain and manage small animal patients in clinical situations where physical rehabilitation is required.

Program Outline | March 2024

Disclaimer: Information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Content of programs and courses are revised as needed and/or required. Program outlines and information are subject to changes and may be delivered in different or alternate ways then listed in this document. You are advised to always reach out to Northern College if you have questions related to content on the website or outline publications.

Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation

  1. Administer medications by common drug routes and prepare pharmaceuticals as prescribed by the veterinarian for patients undergoing physical rehabilitation therapy.
  2. Produce standard diagnostic radiographs on patients requiring physical rehabilitation.
  3. Collect and process samples of diagnostic laboratory work on patients requiring physical rehabilitation.
  4. Perform common veterinary diagnostic tests, such as blood chemistries, differentials, culture and sensitivities, and ECGs on patients requiring physical rehabilitation.
  5. Perform basic veterinary practice management including computer applications.
  6. Using techniques such as “pain scoring”, recognize and evaluate painful conditions from which the veterinarian may prescribe physical rehabilitation therapy.
  7. Counsel clients, especially in the area of pet nutrition, for patients requiring physical rehabilitation.
  8. Perform functions to enable the patient’s optimal physical function by contributing to the development, implementation, and modification of intervention/treatment plans, under the supervision of and in collaboration with the veterinarian.
  9. Perform effectively within the roles and responsibilities of the physical rehabilitation technician through the application of relevant knowledge of veterinary sciences, and animal health conditions.
  10. Practice competently in a legal, ethical, and professional manner within the role of the companion animal physical rehabilitation technician.

PROGRAM COURSES

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the program. Programs at Northern College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities.

| Semester 1 | Semester 1 | Hours | |

Source: https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/08/Companion-Animal-Physical-Rehabilitation-2024.pdf