Petco Love Registered Veterinary Technician Scholarship Fund

Geographic Scope: Nationwide (United States)

Focus Areas:

• Education and career development for veterinary technicians
• Addressing veterinary workforce shortage in animal welfare sector
• Training for nonprofit and municipal animal shelters
• Training for low-cost veterinary clinics
• Supporting employees in animal welfare organizations

Award Structure:

• Up to 100 scholarships available annually
• Full tuition coverage for Penn Foster online RVT Associate Degree program
• Program accredited by American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• Graduates eligible to sit for Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)

Eligibility:

• Current employees or volunteers at nonprofit or municipal animal sheltering organizations
• Current employees at veterinary clinics serving animal welfare organizations
• Candidates must commit to continuing work in animal welfare field
• Must work at organization for at least 2 years after certification
• Selected organizations nominate candidates

Background/Problem Addressed:

• 75% of shelters and low-cost clinics report veterinary workforce shortage
• 70% of shelters report delays in veterinary care
• 60% of organizations report 50+ animals waiting for spay/neuter surgery
• 80% of nonprofit affordable clinics report appointment delays of 1-6 months
• Rising costs of veterinary staffing creating organizational crises

Application Period: Rolling (determined by partner organization nomination)

Partner: Penn Foster (innovative online learning provider)

How to Apply

Application Process:

1. Organization Level: Nonprofit or municipal animal sheltering organizations or veterinary clinics contact Petco Love regarding scholarship eligibility
2. Organization Nomination: Selected organizations nominate a candidate (current employee or volunteer) to participate
3. Candidate Enrollment: Nominated candidate enrolls in Penn Foster's online RVT Associate Degree program
4. Program Completion: Candidate completes coursework while continuing to work at their organization
5. Certification: Upon graduation, candidate is eligible to sit for the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination)
6. Commitment: Candidate commits to continuing work in animal welfare field for minimum 2 years after certification

Required Commitment:

• Candidate must work at organization during program enrollment
• Candidate must continue working in animal welfare sector for minimum 2 years after certification

Program Details:

• Provider: Penn Foster
• Format: Online Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology
• Accreditation: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited
• Duration: Flexible timeline for completion
• Cost to Student: Full tuition covered by scholarship (no out-of-pocket cost)

Selection Criteria:

• Commitment to animal welfare work
• Current employment/volunteer status at eligible organization
• Ability to complete program while working

Contact: petcolove.org for organization eligibility and nomination process