Program Code: H133 – Haileybury Campus (HL) H133W – Hybrid Haileybury Campus (HL) January Intake
Program availability varies by academic year. Refer to the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) for Domestic Students or OCAS International for the most up-to-date availability. Applications open in October prior to the next academic year.
Program Progression
The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the programs.
H133 Fall Intake Sem 1: Fall 2026 Sem 2: Winter 2027
H133W Winter Intake Hybrid Sem 1: Winter 2027 Sem 2: Spring/Summer 2027
Students dive into a world of creativity, experiencing the art of pet grooming through hands-on activities and immersive learning experiences in our one-year Animal Grooming certificate program. The program’s courses cover topics such as client relations, animal behavior, handling techniques, skin and coat care, grooming styles for different breeds, effective tool utilization, and small business management.
Students apply their skills in real-world settings through supervised practicum experiences that prepare them for a broad range of career opportunities in the industry, including self-employment. Strive to excel as a Master Stylist!
The Animal Grooming program is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge for the Canadian Professional Pet Stylists Certification Exam, Canada’s only Pet Grooming Certification. Grow your expertise, confidence, reputation, and business!
H133W January intake hybrid program
Our January intake features one semester of online asynchronous learning, followed by a second semester spent at the Haileybury Campus completing all practical classes. Students will be able to access our residence during the spring and summer months for their on-site stay.
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 Tel: 705-672-3376 ext. 8854 Email: vetsciences@northern.on.ca
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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The courses listed below may be part of your Program of Study.
Please note that the courses and course descriptions listed below are based on our current offering and are subject to change. Current students can find information on the courses they are enrolled in by logging into their Student Portal Account.
Information for previous academic years can be found in the Program Outline Archive.
If you have questions or require more information, please contact the Program Coordinator.
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.
84 Hours
This course introduces students to the principles of companion animal care within animal grooming and veterinary assisting settings. Topics include basic grooming techniques such as bathing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and coat care, along with proper use of grooming tools and products. Students also explore basic canine and feline anatomy, breed identification, skin and coat health factors, client communication, and workplace safety, including ergonomic practices.
42 Hours
General Education Courses are selected online each semester by the student from a list provided and exposes students to a related area of study outside of their immediate academic discipline. Certain programs have predetermined electives.
Improving your knowledge and understanding of the history of the Indigenous peoples of what we now call Canada is an important step to enable Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, organizations, and communities to work together more respectfully. Throughout this course you will have the opportunity to learn, discuss and reflect about many topics that are relevant in the learning journey towards reconciliation.
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 animal care provider must also know the procedure involved in referral to a behavioural specialist and/or obedience trainer.
28 Hours
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.
14 Hours
This course will help the students to prepare for their testing towards their Master Stylist Certification. Three groups of dogs will be covered, including the Sporting, Non-Sporting and the Terrier group. They will learn how to identify each dog from the assigned group as well as learn the characteristics of each and their grooming requirements. A total of 89 breeds will be covered.
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.
70 Hours
This course provides students with practical, hands-on skills in companion animal care for grooming and veterinary assisting roles. Emphasis is placed on safe animal handling and restraint, including bathing, drying, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and finishing techniques, with a focus on animal comfort and welfare. Students will learn to select appropriate grooming products based on coat and skin needs, manage shedding, recognize common skin conditions, and respond appropriately to behavioural challenges in clinical and grooming settings.
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 one semester course is designed for the Animal Groomer, Veterinary Assistant and the Veterinary Technician and their role in the daily operation of a veterinary practice. The course will include sections on oral, written and electronic communication, team work and group practice and customer service. There will also be components on the human animal bond, grief support, compassion fatigue and ethics in the veterinary practice. This course will enable the students to practice the skills required for effective work in client relations.
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.
Description TBD.
28 Hours.
This course will give the student practical skills on specialized veterinary software packages such as Pulse (a “cloud-based” software-as-a-service solution you can access from anywhere via a web browser), and AVImark (a popular software used in veterinary office clinics which is installed on our on-campus computer lab workstations). Students will learn to set up files for new clients and/or new patients, bill clients for services and products, print appropriate certificates and prescription labels, as well as practice accepting payments.
Articulation Agreements
A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program coordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option. Additional information can be found at Articulation Agreements.
Canadian Field of Study/CIP Code List
CIP Code: 01.0504
International students: check the Canadian Field of Study/CIP Code List to see if your program is eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Career Opportunities
Graduates may pursue careers in a variety of settings, including veterinary clinics and hospitals, pet grooming salons, and retail pet stores.
They can also choose to start their own successful animal grooming business, applying their skills and passion to build a rewarding career in the animal care industry.
Explore labour market information for related careers and employment trend data from the Government of Canada Job Bank.
Work Integrated Learning Opportunities
In semester two, each week, students complete the entire grooming appointment, from intake to discharge. Under the supervision of a grooming professional, students learn how to interact confidently and professionally with clients and how to assess client needs. Students receive valuable feedback from clients to identify areas of strength and areas needing improvement.
Graduation Window
Students unable to adhere to the program duration of one year (as stated above) may take a maximum of two years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.
Graduate with a Double Certificate
This program may be taken concurrently with the Veterinary Assistant program. The student would then graduate with a double certificate. Please contact the Program Assistant at 705-672-3376 ext. 8854 or at vetsciences@northern.on.ca for more information.
Accreditation
The Veterinary Science Centre and our Veterinary Technician program are accredited by:
To graduate from this program, a student must attain a minimum of 60% or a letter grade of CR (Credit) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline. Students should consult departmental policies and manuals for additional details and exceptions.
Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.
For more details, please contact the Admissions Office at 705-235-7222 or admissions@northern.on.ca.
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):
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.
Refer to the program page for Animal Grooming Program Requirements [PDF, 358 KB]
The tuition and fees information is typically updated yearly for the upcoming Academic Year in May. The amounts are for the full academic year.
Amounts may be based on last years tuition and fees and are subject to change.
If you are a current student, please refer to your Student Account or see a Student Services Clerk for the most up-to-date information.
Domestic: $2,774.97
International: $15,715.60
Ancillary fees are paid in full for the entire academic year in the first semester.
Please see Detailed Ancillary Fees for more information.
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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