Animal Assisted Wellness
Animal Assisted Wellness
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SarahJayne Biglieni
Human Services Enrolment Specialist
780 853 0902
780 853 0902
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You must have 30 post-secondary credits, the equivalent of a certificate, in order to apply to this program. Please see requirements for more details.
HS299 Clinical Experience is an in-person clinical experience. For questions or to explore additional options for completing the clinical experience, please contact the human services academic advisor.
Add new skills to your professional tool kit with Lakeland’s one-of-a kind animal assisted wellness program.
Our program is the first English college-level certificate in animal assisted wellness in Canada. Through the online post-credential program you can expand your professional practice.
Courses are offered online to provide you with flexibility.
- Part-time students can apply to start the program in the fall, winter or spring term.
At the core of the program is the animal-human bond. You’ll also cover:
- integration of animals into different settings
- law and ethics of animal assisted wellness
- counselling techniques
- animal wellness and behaviour
- animals in practice
You’ll learn from leaders in the field. One of those leaders, Eileen Bona, helped create this program. Bona is an animal assisted intervention pioneer in both services and education at the Dreamcatcher Animal Assisted Wellness Academy.
The final course of the program is a 3-day, in-person clinical experience. This experience takes place at Dreamcatcher Animal Assisted Wellness Academy, located in Ardrossan, Alta.
Requirements
More program details
Textbook costs vary depending on the course. Please view the bookstore to see the materials required for each course.
Below is the list of required courses and their descriptions.
Online courses are delivered over 3 semesters - fall, winter and spring.
- Part-time students can apply to start the program in the fall, winter or spring term.
To find the academic schedules and more information on application and registration dates, go to the important dates section.
Online course information
Enrolment is the final step after you've been accepted.
- You will self-register in your courses.
- You can expect an email from the Office of the Registrar beginning one week before registration opens. It will include instructions on how to self-register and pay tuition using My Lakeland.
Please work with the academic advisor to develop a plan for the courses you want to take.
Contact the human services academic advisor if you need help setting up a program plan:
- by email at hsacademic.advisor@lakelandcollege.ca
Notes:
- We recommend you start with YC 218 Animal Assisted Interventions.
- We recommend you limit registration to 2 courses if you are also working.
- Please check the course descriptions for pre and co-requisites.
- You must have successfully completed or be in the process of completing 9 AAW courses to register for HS 299 Clinical Experience.
The academic schedule found below includes refund information, deadlines, events and holidays. Most programs follow the same schedule, but any variations can be found here.
Check this page regularly as changes may occur.
- You must apply and be accepted before you can register for courses. How to Apply
- Part-time students can apply to start the program in the fall, winter or spring term.
- Once accepted, you can expect an email from the Office of the Registrar beginning one week before registration opens. It will include instructions on how to self-register and pay tuition using My Lakeland.
Notes:
- Before registering, check prerequisites on the animal assisted wellness courses section. It will also have the courses for each term.
- We recommend that you start with YC 218 Animal Assisted Interventions
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2024 | Applications open |
| Aug 6, 2025 | Course registration opens. Fees due in full at time of registration |
| Aug 7, 2025 | Applications close |
| Aug 14, 2025 | Last day to submit your application documents or complete entrance testing |
| Aug 28, 2025 | Course registration closes. Fees due in full at time of registration |
| Sep 8, 2025 | Course start date |
| Sep 22, 2025 | Last day to withdraw with full refund less $100 per course |
| Sep 30, 2025 | National Truth & Reconciliation Day, college closed |
| Oct 13, 2025 | Thanksgiving, college closed |
| Oct 17, 2025 | Last day to withdraw with W grade |
| Nov 11, 2025 | Remembrance Day, college closed |
| Nov 14, 2025 | Course end date |
| Dec 23, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026 | Christmas break |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2025 | Applications open |
| Nov 18, 2025 | Applications close |
| Nov 25, 2025 | Last day to submit your application documents or complete entrance testing |
| Nov 26, 2025 | Course registration opens. Fees due in full at time of registration. |
| Dec 18, 2025 | Course registration closes. Fees due in full at time of registration. |
| Jan 19, 2026 | Course start date |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Last day to withdraw with full refund less $100 per course. |
| Feb 16, 2026 | Family Day, campus closed |
| Feb 27, 2026 | Last day to withdraw with W grade. |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Course end date |
| Apr 3-6, 2026 | Easter break, college closed |
| Jun 5, 2026 | Convocation |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2025 | Applications open |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Applications close |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Last day to submit your application documents or complete entrance testing |
| Mar 25, 2026 | Course registration opens. Fees due in full at time of registration. |
| Apr 16, 2026 | Course registration closes. Fees due in full at time of registration. |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Course start date |
| May 11, 2026 | Last day to withdraw with full refund less $100 per course. |
| May 18, 2026 | Victoria Day, college closed |
| Jun 2, 2026 | Last day to withdraw with W grade. |
| Jun 26, 2026 | Course end date |
| Jul 1, 2026 | Canada Day, college closed |
| Aug 3, 2026 | Civic Holiday, college closed |
| TBD | Practicum |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2025 | Applications open |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Applications close |
| Aug 12, 2026 | Course registration opens. Fees due in full at time of registration. |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Last day to submit your application documents or complete entrance testing |
| Sep 3, 2026 | Course registration closes. Fees due in full at time of registration. |
| Sep 14, 2026 | Course start date |
| Sep 28, 2026 | Last day to withdraw with full refund less $100 per course. |
| Sep 30, 2026 | National Truth & Reconciliation Day, college closed |
| Oct 12, 2026 | Thanksgiving, college closed |
| Oct 23, 2026 | Last day to withdraw with W grade. |
| Nov 11, 2026 | Remembrance Day, college closed |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Course end date |
| Dec 21, 2026 - Jan 4, 2027 | Christmas break |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2026 | Applications open |
| Nov 19, 2026 | Applications close |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Course registration opens. Fees due in full at time of registration. |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Last day to submit your application documents or complete entrance testing |
| Dec 17, 2026 | Course registration closes. Fees due in full at time of registration. |
| Jan 18, 2027 | Course start date |
| Feb 1, 2027 | Last day to withdraw with full refund less $100 per course. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Family Day, campus closed |
| Feb 26, 2027 | Last day to withdraw with W grade. |
| Mar 26, 2027 | Course end date |
| Mar 26-29, 2027 | Easter break, college closed |
| Jun 4, 2027 | Convocation |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 7, 2026 | Applications open |
| Mar 11, 2027 | Applications close |
| Mar 17, 2027 | Course registration opens. Fees due in full at time of registration |
| Mar 18, 2027 | Last day to submit your application documents or complete entrance testing |
| Apr 15, 2027 | Course registration closes. Fees due in full at time of registration |
| Apr 26, 2027 | Course start date |
| May 7, 2027 | Last day to withdraw with full refund less $100 per course |
| May 24, 2027 | Victoria Day, college closed |
| Jun 1, 2027 | Last day to withdraw with W grade |
| Jul 1, 2027 | Canada Day, college closed |
| Jun 25, 2027 | Course end date |
| Aug 2, 2027 | Civic Holiday, college closed |
| TBD | Practicum |
If you need information on course planning or further support, please contact the human services academic advisor:
- email hsacademic.advisor@lakelandcollege.ca
- call 780 853 8661
- call toll-free at 1 800 661 6490 ext. 8661
Lakeland's animal assisted wellness program graduates are finding jobs in a variety of fields, all of which benefit from the unique skills and qualities that you'll grow in. Take your learning and passion to the next level.
