AVC – Veterinary Technician Student Recruitment Program

Eligibility

Who is eligible for this program?

Individuals who meet the following criteria will be considered eligible for this program:

• Students in good academic standing in the final year of a registered Veterinary Technology (DipTech) Program in Canada; and
• Applicants eligible and able to successfully complete the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) within the six-month probationary period of their position; and
• Applicants who are legally authorized to work in Canada.

Bursary Scholarship Award

What is the Bursary Scholarship Award?

• A one-time Bursary Scholarship Award of $5,000 is available to support final (second) year students of the Veterinary Technology Program selected for full-time postgraduation employment at the AVC.
• Start date of employment with the AVC-VTH must be within two months of graduation, and a return in service agreement must be signed and approved, with an effective date equal to the start date of employment.

Is there a return-in-service commitment?

Yes, graduate RVTs who receive the Bursary Scholarship Award, must work at the AVC-VTH for 3,900 hours (equivalent to full-time employment for 2 years) after graduation. The return-in-service agreement must be signed by the applicant and the employer prior to the commencement of work.

Is the Bursary Scholarship Award taxable?

Applicants are advised to contact Canada Revenue Agency or seek independent financial advice to confirm any tax implications of this.

Application Process

How can I apply?

Eligible students can apply for an open Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) position at UPEI’s Careers page (upei.ca/hr/competitions) starting in November of the second year of their program.

You will need to complete these steps to submit an on-line application:

1. Identify the Competition number(s) for the position of interest.
2. Review the Competition details, including the Responsibilities, Qualifications and Application instructions.
3. Please submit electronically a cover letter, quoting the competition number, a resume and reference list to be received no later than the closing date via the link on the relevant Competition page.
4. In their electronic submission, applicants applying for the Bursary Scholarship Award should also include a brief statement (no more than 400 words) to detail their academic accomplishments, their professional interests and their reason for applying for the Bursary Scholarship Award.

What vacancies exist?

All current RVT position vacancies will be posted as Open Competitions on the UPEI’s Careers page (upei.ca/hr/competitions).

What other information is required to complete the online application?

You will need to provide the following information to complete the online application:

• Personal identity and contact information, including a valid email address.
• Academic information including your educational institution, program of study and expected date of completion.
• Canadian residency status.
• A list of Referees who may be contacted after your interview.

What happens after application?

After the competition’s closing date, all applications will be screened in accordance with UPEI policy and relevant Collective Agreements.  Applicants deemed suitable for interview will be contacted by UPEI Human Resources to schedule an interview.

What training will be provided if I am successful in my application?

AVC offers a supportive teaching environment across our Small and Large Animal Hospitals, with state-of-the-art technology including advanced imaging modalities such as CT and MRI. Over 20 specialist veterinarians work alongside talented primary care veterinarians with a dedicated team of veterinary technicians and support staff. We take pride in providing superior service to our patients and clients!

All Veterinary Technicians will undergo an onboarding process, supervised and supported by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Operations Manager and Assistant Managers – Technical Services.

Onboarding will include orientation in the VTH so that you are familiarized with the various primary care and specialty services operating from the Small Animal and Large Animal Hospital and how these may fit with your particular role.  This will include systems training, reviewing various VTH and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) policies and training materials to ensure that you are able to work safely and effectively.

With mentorship and support from VTH Administration and hospital personnel, you will work through onboarding checklists to provide training on the VTH’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) so that you are aware of how specific veterinary technical tasks are performed in this environment.

We also provide in-house continuing education (CE) by expert veterinarians at the AVC as well as attendance at or access to external CE courses such as Fear Free and the RECOVER Initiative CPR training. You will be supported throughout your transition into the workplace and future professional growth.

As employees of the AVC-VTH, we offer staff discounts on veterinary services and pet food, on-campus access to our sports and fitness centre, swimming pool, restaurants, cafes, health and wellness centre, physiotherapy and rehab facilities.  Eastern Veterinary Technicians Association (EVTA) membership dues are paid, and our staff can also access professional development funds.

With regular check-ins and support during your onboarding and probationary period, we are committed to accompanying you through a smooth and successful transition into your new position.  We hope this will just be the start of your rewarding career in the Atlantic Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

All VTH positions are posted for competition on the UPEI Careers website here.