Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program

There is limited funding in the program. Applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and evaluated according to the eligibility criteria, assessment criteria and funding constraints.

Submission of a completed application does not guarantee that the applicant will receive payment under this program.

Maximums
Eligible clinics will receive up to $10,000, as a wage incentive, for one veterinary student that works at the clinic between May 1 and August 31, 2026.

Eligible applicants

To be an Eligible Applicant, an Applicant must:

• be either a registered veterinarian or a permit holder, as defined in the Veterinary Profession Act
• own and operate a veterinary clinic in Alberta that is located outside Edmonton and Calgary
• have a Food Production Animal veterinary practice at the veterinary clinic, meaning the clinic provides veterinary services involving Food Production Animals, and
• be experiencing one or more of the following at the veterinary clinic:
  • have an unfilled veterinary practitioner vacancy that the eligible applicant has been unable to fill despite significant recruitment efforts
  • be seeking to fill a veterinary practitioner position that will become vacant within the next two years due to retirement, transfer, or other anticipated staffing changes, or
  • be planning to fill a future veterinary practitioner position that will be created by the expansion of the veterinary clinic

Eligible Student

To be an Eligible Student, a student must: 

• be either: 
  • a person enrolled in a professional degree program in veterinary medicine at a veterinary school in Canada, or
  • a Canadian citizen or permanent resident enrolled in a professional degree program in veterinary medicine at a veterinary school outside Canada
• be eligible to work in Alberta
• have completed, or be completing, at least their first year of veterinary school training by April 30, 2026
• be enrolled in, and be eligible to attend, the next level of veterinary school training in Fall/Winter 2026, and
• be the subject of consent by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association for the employment of the student by the Applicant, if required under s. 7 of the Veterinary Profession General Regulation

Step 1: Check your eligibility
Determine whether you are eligible by reviewing the Program Terms and Conditions.

If you have questions on eligibility or program criteria, contact us and a grant specialist will assist you.

Step 2: Complete application form
Download and complete all sections of the Application Form.

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. 

Step 3: Submit application
Submit the completed application form and all supporting documents.

Email 
Send the scanned application to: [email protected]

Once you have submitted your application and supporting documentation, you may be contacted for additional information.