Pets play important roles in many families as sources of love, companionship, and friendship. Thus, it goes without saying that pet care comprises an industry that is as large and career-rich as
any component of humanity’s healthcare industry.
For individuals who possess a true love for animals, the pursuit of a program or degree in veterinary technician training provides a quick, rewarding, and satisfying entry into the field of pet care.
Currently, there are over 45 accredited colleges and universities across the country that offer two-year degree programs for veterinary technician training.
All of those programs are fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMS), and they include valuable course instruction in pet-related laboratory testing, urinalysis, anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and care techniques.
Highly dependent on the school offering the program, a 2-year degree program for veterinary technician training generally costs between $6,000 and $20,000 to complete.
Fortunately, tuition costs for degree programs in this field can be lowered through awesome grant and scholarship opportunities. With that said, here are the 5 Best Grants & Scholarships for Veterinary Technicians…
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National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America Program
This program rewards two scholarships per year to students who are enrolled in a veterinary technician degree program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Each scholarship is worth $1,000.
In addition, qualified applicants must be current members of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians.
Applications for this scholarship opportunity can be downloaded and submitted online at navta.net.
Irwin Foundation
The Irwin Foundation was established in 1995, and it provides grant and scholarship opportunities for students who are enrolled in the AVMA-accredited veterinary technician degree programs that are offered by Michigan State University, Purdue University, Cornell University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Each college or university that is mentioned above is responsible for selecting qualified students for this foundation’s grant and scholarship opportunities.
For more information, students can visit irwinfoundation.com.
Laurie Page-Peck Scholarship
This scholarship opportunity is funded through the Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians Foundation, and it rewards $1,000 to students who possess the following: current enrollment in a veterinary technician degree program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA); the desire to work as a veterinary technician in a zoo setting; and an agreement to create a scientific paper for presentation at the foundation’s annual conference.
Applications for this scholarship opportunity can be filled out and submitted online at azvt.org.
Oxbow Scholarship
This scholarship is funded by the Oxbow Animal Health Organization, and it rewards $500 to students who desire to pursue working with exotic animals as veterinary technicians. Qualified applicants for this opportunity must also meet the following prerequisites: a letter of reference, current enrollment in a veterinary technician degree program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), a current resume, and a personal essay. A
Applications must be submitted through the mail to the Oxbow Animal Health Organization.
Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England Grant
The Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England Grant is rewarded to students from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont who desire to pursue a veterinary technician degree program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Applications for this grant opportunity must be submitted through the mail to the Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England.
American Kennel Club Veterinary Technician Student Scholarship
Each year, the American Kennel Club, Bayer K9 Advantix, and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America work together to provide students of veterinary technician degree programs with a total of $25,000 in scholarships.
Qualified applicants for this scholarship opportunity must possess the following: a one-page essay, current membership with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, work and research experience, and proof of current enrollment in an accredited veterinary technician degree program.
Applications for the American Kennel Club Veterinary Technician Student Scholarship can be submitted online through either the American Kennel Club’s website or the National Association of Veterinary Technician’s website.
Federal & State Government Need Based Grants
Federal need based grants (like the Pell grant) which are distributed based on income, can pay out quite handsomely, should you be eligible for funding.
We always recommend you apply for available Federal grants by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Many state grants (the number of which will vary according to your state) use the data from the FAFSA to determine eligibility for the grants they offer, so submission covers a lot of bases.
