Animal Grooming

Post-Secondary Programs
Credential Earned: College Certificate (1 Year)
Campus: Haileybury
Program Length: 2 Semesters

Program Code: H133

Learn about the creative and satisfying work of being a professional Animal Groomer in our comprehensive one year certificate program, covering a wide range of related topics such as animal behavior, handling techniques, specific grooming styles for different breeds, and small business management. You benefit by getting a deeper understanding of animal grooming that prepares you for a wider range of job opportunities in the industry including self-employment.

Hands-on experience! You will gain far more hands-on experience than possible via shorter training courses because of our hands-on training sessions, working with live animals and practicing your grooming skills under the guidance of experienced instructors. It’s invaluable to quickly build your confidence and skills in animal grooming.

Prepare to become a Master Stylist! The winter semester has courses that prepare you for testing by a professional dog grooming association. A fast track way to grow your expertise, confidence, reputation and business!

Important Information for Graduates
A limited number of spots are available in our Veterinary Technician/Technology program for graduates of Northern College’s Veterinary Assistant or Animal Grooming programs. Graduates of those programs that wish to apply to the Veterinary Technician program must have – in addition to the usual requirements for direct entry from high school – a 75 percent minimum average (3.0 GPA) upon graduation from Veterinary Assistant or Animal Grooming programs. Applicants will be assessed according to highest academic achievement in their program. Please contact the Program Assistant at 705-672-3376 ext. 8854 or at vetsciences@northern.on.ca for more information.

Contact Information

For questions about being admitted into the program, please contact Northern College Admissions at admissions@northern.on.ca or by phone at 705-235-3211 ext. 7222.

For questions about the content of the program, contact the Program Coordinator.

Kellie Broderick
Program Assistant, School of Veterinary Sciences
Tel: 705-672-3376 ext. 8854
Email: vetsciences@northern.on.ca

Student Success & The Northern Experience

Our Animal Grooming program gives you hands-on experience and opportunities to work with live animals to practice your grooming skills. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, you’ll gain a solid base of technical skills and knowledge in animal grooming.

This program may be taken concurrently with our one-year Veterinary Assistant certificate program.

Does this program sound like a good fit for you?

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Course Information

Course descriptions can be found below.

Please note, course information is based on our current offering and is subject to change. Current students can find more information on courses in their student account.

If you have questions or require program information for previous academic years, please contact the Program Coordinator.

Semester 1

This course will educate students on how to handle and care for various companion animals, both large and small. This course will also prepare the student to work proficiently in a grooming facility. The student will learn and practise proper bathing procedures. The student will also be able to recognize and care for skin and coat conditions and will learn proper ear and nail care. They will also learn how to communicate effectively with their clients.

This course will deal with how to groom various companion animals, both large and small. The course will go into detail on how to handle a cat during the grooming process as well as why cats are groomed. Styles such as the lion cut will be taught, nail trimming, ear cleaning and bathing procedures. This course will also prepare the student to function properly in a grooming facility. All areas of care will be discussed and practiced; these will include bathing, nail trimming, scissor cuts and conditioning of the coat.

The course is designed to help students gain insights and skills to promote personal and professional development. Students will develop an understanding of how they manage their lives and incorporate skills to maximize their strengths and reduce the impact of less effective techniques. Students will learn about resources that are available to them and the intelligence of accessing additional support when needed. The content of this course provides students with the opportunity to lay a foundation for lifelong learning; learn to communicate effectively, build and value productive and satisfying diverse relationships and prepare for the challenges and rewards that make life meaningful.

Animal care providers often handle animals with behaviour problems. They must know what advice to give and when to refer the problem to the veterinarian. The technician/assistant/groomer must also know the procedure involved in referral to a behavioural specialist and/or an obedience trainer.

This one semester course is designed for the Animal Grooming, Veterinary Assistant, Veterinary Technician and the Veterinary Technology programs. The course is designed to look at their role in the daily operation of a veterinary practice. The course will include sections on customer service, telephone skills, and welcoming skills, confrontation and conflict resolution. The course will assist students in becoming more comfortable assisting clients through the grief cycle. There will be a component on Client Communication utilizing both oral and written communication in the veterinary practice. This course will have a self-directed on line grammar component. This course will enable the students to practice the skills required for effective work in client relations.

This course will outline the fundamentals of animal restraint and the factors that influence behaviour. Handling, restraining, feeding, and analyzing of cats, dogs and lab animals will be emphasized. Proper forms of animal approach, handling, restraint, and release will be demonstrated and practiced by the student. All classes will start with a lecture and/or demonstration on how to perform the procedure, followed by a lab of applying that knowledge.

This course will prepare the student to function in a veterinary environment. Students will provide care for the colony animals housed at Northern College. The use of Standard Operating Procedures will assist the student. The Veterinary Science facility simulates the professional environment and enables the students to learn the skills necessary to function as a productive team member.

 

 

Semester 2

This course will deal with how to groom various companion animals, both large and small. The course will go into detail on how to handle a cat during the grooming process as well as why cats are groomed. Styles such as the lion cut will be taught, nail trimming, ear cleaning and bathing procedures. This course will also prepare the student to function properly in a grooming facility, and how to interact with customers. All areas of care will be discussed and practiced; these will include bathing, nail trimming, scissor cuts and conditioning of the coat. The care of the equipment will also be discussed as well as products on the market.

This course will introduce students to the fundamental approach to starting and managing a small business in Canada. An examination of what is necessary to start a small business will encompass strategic areas such as goal setting, organizational set-up, financial planning, accounting, marketing, human resources and legal issues.

This course covers the basic concepts of nutrition and provides students with sufficient understanding to advise clients on the nutritional needs of large and small animals at various life stages. While the major focus of the course if on feeding the healthy animal, the dietary needs of dogs and cats with specific organ diseases are also covered. Students are introduced to common dietary toxicities and deficiencies encountered in small animal companion medicine

This course will outline the fundamentals of basic animal procedures that may occur in a small animal clinic setting. Handling and restraining will be emphasized during basic procedures such as; bandaging, emergency triage, proper sample collection and handling, equipment uses during emergency situations. All classes will start with a lecture and/or demonstration on how to perform the procedure, followed by a lab of applying that knowledge.

This course will encompass all aspects of grooming procedures for the companion animal. It will prepare the student to recognise and care for various skin disorders. All areas of concern will be discussed and practised in providing a safe environment for the groomer, workplace and the companion animal.

The purpose of this course is to develop the skills necessary to effectively use computer programs specific to the veterinary environment. This course will give the student practical skills on specialized veterinary software packages such as AVImark and Impromed. Students will be able to set up files for new clients and/or new patients. They will know how to bill for services and products, print appropriate certificates as well as prescription labels. Accepting payments will be practiced.

This general education course will provide students with an introduction to Canadian Indigenous Nations’ history, sovereignty, land titles, cultural history and current critical issues. Topics addressed include the content of Indigenous rights, economic and social development, community and political processes, and business law and policies, justice & social services. Canadian Indigenous History and Relations is a general education course that has been incorporated into all programs at Northern College.

42 Hours

This 2 hour/week grooming theory course prepares you for the finer points you’ll need to know about sporting, non-sporting and terrier dog breeds and their related styling requirements so you can earn two certifications through the industry-recognized Canadian Professional Pet Stylists:
1) Canadian Canine Bather Technician (CCBT1) – a Certified Bather/Dryer.
2) Canadian Canine Bather Double Coated Technician (CCBDCT1) – a Certified Bather/Dryer.

There will be an opportunity in the final week of April (after the other courses in the grooming program are completed) to write your theory exams and do the practical skill grooming exams for CCBT1 and CCBDCT1 credentials.

This course will prepare the student to function in a veterinary environment. Students will provide care for the colony animals housed at Northern College. The use of Standard Operating Procedures will assist the student. The Veterinary Science facility simulates the professional environment and enables the students to learn the skills necessary to function as a productive team member.

Graduate & Career Information

Important Information for Graduates

A limited number of spots are available in our Veterinary Technician/Technology program for graduates of Northern College’s Veterinary Assistant or Animal Grooming programs.

Graduates of those programs that wish to apply to the Veterinary Technician program must have – in addition to the usual requirements for direct entry from high school – a 75 percent minimum average (3.0 GPA) upon graduation from Veterinary Assistant or Animal Grooming programs. Applicants will be assessed according to highest academic achievement in their program.

Please contact the Program Assistant at 705-672-3376 ext. 8854 or at vetsciences@northern.on.ca for more information.

 

Our Veterinary Technician program is accredited by:

     

Career Opportunities

Graduates may find employment in a number of settings such as veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, pet grooming centres, pet stores. Graduates may also start their own business.

 

Admissions Information & Requirements

Program Specific Requirements

Animal Grooming Requirements [PDF, 562 KB]

Rabies vaccine series and titre prior to start of program (at student’s expense).

Students are expected to provide a basic grooming kit.

 

Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent
  • Grade 12 English (C, U, or E) or equivalent
  • Proficiency in word processing recommended

 

Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.

Applicants who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent and will have reached the age of 19 years on or before the start of the program must undergo academic testing and may be required to complete Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) process to demonstrate equivalency of admission requirements prior to admission into a program.

For more details, please contact the Admissions Office at 705-235-7222 or admissions@northern.on.ca.

Additional Requirements for International Students

In addition to the admission requirements, international students must have proof of English Proficiency and meet the requirements below.

1. Proof of Senior High School Diploma/Certificate.

2. English Proficiency (we will require one of the following):

  • IELTS Academic International English Language Testing System: minimum overall score of 6.0 must be achieved with no individual band score under 6.0; however, we will accept one band at 5.5.
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – Internet Based Test (iBT) overall minimum score of 79.
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic – Graduate Diploma: 58+.

If your country of citizenship has English as its official language, we may accept alternate proof of English Proficiency.

All educational documents must be submitted in English and will be dependent on the country of citizenship.

For more information, please contact admissions@northern.on.ca.

Tuition, Fees & Payments

Tuition and fees are updated yearly for the upcoming Academic Year by May 1.

Current amount may be based on last years amounts and are subject to change. Ancillary fees vary by campus and program.

If the tuition and fee information for international students does not appear on this page, visit northerncollege.ca/international/tuition to see amounts for general programs.

Please refer to your Student Account for the most up-to-date information.

Student Year Campus Program Code Tuition Ancillary Fees Total Fees
StudentDomesticYear1CampusHaileybury - HLProgram CodeH133Tuition$2,720.56 Ancillary Fees$1,012.50 Total$3,733.06
StudentInternationalYear1CampusHaileybury - HLProgram CodeH133Tuition$14,382.00 Ancillary Fees$1,535.58 Total$15,917.58
Tuition & Payment Information

Find Your True North.

At Northern College, you’re a part of a community.

From your teachers to support staff and administrators, we are all here to help you get an education and make some lasting connections along the way.

Your success is incredibly important to you, so we provide student supports to help you achieve your goals. From study assistance and accessibility services to mental health supports and financial aid, we’ve got you covered.

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