Closed
Source verified August 3, 2026
Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program
Supports rural veterinary student recruitment and retention
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
Latest source updateLast Update: August 3, 2026Latest change: The program page now states that applications close on June 30, 2026, and 2026 funding is no longer being accepted, with a small process change to the application form links.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 3, 2026
Latest change: The program page now states that applications close on June 30, 2026, and 2026 funding is no longer being accepted, with a small process change to the application form links.
Applications close June 30, 2026
The program page now states that the Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program closed to applications on June 30, 2026, and that applications for 2026 funding are no longer being accepted. The step-by-step instructions no longer link directly to the application form, and the Resources section also removes the clickable Application Form link.
Funding available
$ 10,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Alberta, Canada
Who can apply
Registered veterinarians or permit holders, as defined in the Veterinary Profession Act, who own and operate a veterinary clinic in Alberta outside Edmonton and Calgary.
See full eligibility
Overview
The Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program provides up to $10,000 to eligible veterinary clinics in rural Alberta to support the attraction and retention of veterinary students and ultimately veterinary graduates. It supports hiring and training veterinary students in Food Production Animal veterinary services, with wages, related duties, and hands-on experience.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Attract or retain talent
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Alberta
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Rural or Northern Residents
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Hiring and training of veterinary students
- Employment of the Eligible Student at the Veterinary Clinic during the Work Term
- Training, development, and hands-on experience in the day-to-day work of a veterinary practitioner
Documents Needed
- A completed Program Application Form
- All documents required to be submitted pursuant to that form
- Any additional supplementary documentation requested by the Minister
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Registered veterinarians or permit holders, as defined in the Veterinary Profession Act, who own and operate a veterinary clinic in Alberta outside Edmonton and Calgary.
- Applicants whose clinic has a Food Production Animal veterinary practice and one or more of these staffing needs: an unfilled veterinary practitioner vacancy, a vacancy expected within the next two years, or a future position created by expansion of the clinic.
Who is not eligible
- A person looking to hire a student for summer help with no intention of hiring the student for full-time permanent employment following graduation.
- Municipalities.
- Post Secondary Institutions.
- Industry organizations.
- Federal and provincial governments, agencies and institutions, and similar organizations funded in whole or in part by the government, and any other person deemed by the Minister to be ineligible.
Eligible expenses
- Wage incentive for one veterinary student
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
- Outside Edmonton and Calgary
Selection criteria
- The distance of the Veterinary Clinic from a major urban centre.
- The nature and degree of the labour shortage the applicant is experiencing.
- The applicant’s efforts undertaken to date to fill the veterinary practitioner vacancy or position.
- The amount of the applicant’s client base that is Food Production Animals.
- The type and amount of work that the student will do during the Work Term, including hours, Food Production Animal practice time, training, development, and hands-on experience.
How to apply
- Check your eligibility by reviewing the Program Terms and Conditions.
- Complete all sections of the Application Form and read Part D: Certification carefully before signing.
- Print, sign and date the statement of certification; electronic or digital signatures will not be accepted.
- Scan your application and submit it by email.
- Submit the completed application form and all supporting documents to s-cap.vetstudentprogram@gov.ab.ca.
Processing and Agreement
- Once the application has been submitted, the applicant may be contacted for additional information.
- Applicants will be notified of the outcome once the assessment process is complete.
- Successful applicants must enter into a grant agreement to receive Program funding.
- The Grant will be paid after submission of a satisfactory Final Report.
Additional information
- There is limited funding in the program.
- An applicant may apply more than once to the Program, but an application may be in respect of only one student per Veterinary Clinic location.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program Program
What is the Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program?
The Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program provides up to $10,000 to eligible veterinary clinics in rural Alberta to support the attraction and retention of veterinary students and ultimately veterinary graduates. It supports hiring and training veterinary students in Food Production Animal veterinary services, with wages, related duties, and hands-on experience.
How much funding can be received?
Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program Funds up to $10,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program program?
To be eligible for the Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program program, you must:
The applicant must be a registered veterinarian or permit holder.
The applicant must own and operate a veterinary clinic in Alberta outside Edmonton and Calgary.
The clinic must have a Food Production Animal veterinary practice and be experiencing an unfilled veterinary practitioner vacancy, a vacancy expected within the next two years, or a future position created by clinic expansion.
What expenses are eligible under Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program?
Hiring and training of veterinary students
Employment of the Eligible Student at the Veterinary Clinic during the Work Term
Training, development, and hands-on experience in the day-to-day work of a veterinary practitioner
Who can I contact for more information about the Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program?
You can contact Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) by email at s-cap.vetstudentprogram@gov.ab.ca.
Where is the Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program available?
The Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program program is available the province of Alberta.
Is the Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program is a Grant and Funding