2026 Veterinary Student Employment Program (VetSTEP)

Manitoba Agriculture values the practical experience that veterinary, pre-veterinary and veterinary technology (VT) students gain during a summer work term with a rural veterinary practice. To encourage this work experience, clinics and businesses can apply for a VetSTEP grant to provide summer employment to:

• Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) students who have completed their first, second or third year
• Veterinary Technologist (VT) students who have completed their first year from a Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) accredited program or
• Pre-veterinary students who have completed their first, second, third or fourth year of

VetSTEP Grant Assistance Available

The grant assistance is available to employ:

• WCVM students who have completed their first year ($6500), second and third year students ($5000)
• VT students who have completed their first year of a CVMA accredited program ($6500)
• Pre-veterinary students who have completed their first, second, third or fourth year of science ($6500)

To receive the full grant, the applicant must employ the student for 471.25 hours or more during the summer. If the student is paid fewer hours, the grant payment will be prorated based on the hours worked.

Who Can Apply for VetSTEP Grants?

Veterinary practices and practitioners licensed to operate an active, large or mixed animal practice located in rural Manitoba are eligible to participate in the program. Clinics and practitioners specializing in small animal medicine are not eligible.

Businesses and non-profit organizations operating livestock operations in rural Manitoba are eligible if they employ or have a service contract with a veterinarian licensed to practice large or mixed animal medicine in Manitoba. The veterinarian must directly supervise the student.

Connecting Students and Employers

Veterinary clinics and practitioners interested in hiring a veterinary student can place an online job posting on the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association’s Student Practice Opportunities webpage (https://www.mvma.ca/student-practice-opportunities/ ). Clinics looking to hire a veterinary technology student can place and online job posting on the Manitoba Veterinary Technologists Association’s (MVTA) Student Summer Employment web page (https://mymvta.ca/vt-student-summer-employment)

Summer job opportunities can also be posted on the Summer Employment for Veterinary Students web page (https://wcvm.usask.ca/students/dvm-program/summer-employment/summer-jobs-all.php) for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).

Manitoba Agriculture does not place students in veterinary clinics or practices. It is up to students and employers to plan for the summer work term. The department does not determine wages paid.

Application Process and Deadline

Interested employers must submit their Application Form by May 7, 2026, to Email: VSD@gov.mb.ca

Both the student and employer must sign the application form.

Application Review

If applications exceed the available funding, positions will be filled in considering the following criteria:

• Home province and year of study of student being hired
• Type of large animal services provided, and number of students requested by the employer
• Date of application

Employers will be informed as soon as possible by email if their grant application has been approved. They will receive a funding decision letter that must be signed and returned to VSD@gov.mb.ca.

Claim Process

When the summer work term is completed, the employer submits three documents:

• Claim Statement signed by the employer
• Copy of the student’s Record of Employment (ROE) for the summer work term
• ROE Declaration Form signed by the student

For More Information and Applications

For more information, contact VetSTEP by emailing VSD@gov.mb.ca or calling Omotola Ologbenla (204-729-1387)

Applications, claim forms and other program documents can be accessed by visiting the VetSTEP web page at https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/funding/vetstep.html.