RVT Program FAQs
Technicians and Assistants may be eligible for this sponsorship program if they meet the following criteria:
(1) they have been employed full-time at AAVEC for a minimum of six consecutive months,
(2) they have demonstrated enthusiasm, excellent work performance, dedication, and are currently in good standing
(3) they complete and submit an Application of Intention to the Education Coordinator. This Application is evaluated by the employee's supervisor, the Education Coordinator, and the Hospital Director.
AAVEC is able to sponsor a maximum of five new students per semester (January 1 - June 30, and July 1 - December 31).
There are several technicians currently employed with AAVEC and other services who have attended or are currently enrolled at various schools to earn their RVT. They are excellent resources and can provide insight and information on the different programs offered.
There are also links to each of the school programs on the VetExploration website where you can get information directly from the schools regarding their curriculums, admission criteria, and course expectations. Please consider all the different aspects of each program, including cost, prerequisites, and clinical requirements to determine which might be the best fit for you.
Once you submit an Application of Intention to the Education Coordinator and are approved, you will meet with the Education Coordinator to discuss the education option you are electing. Depending on that choice, you will also go over the contract in detail to ensure that all parties are in agreement over the education sponsorship details. You can choose from three main options.
1. You may elect full sponsorship to Penn Foster. This option requires no out-of-pocket expenses for the student since AAVEC pays the tuition directly to Penn Foster. There is a contract you must sign for this education benefit.
2. You may elect financial assistance to another, approved vet tech program. You would be responsible for paying tuition, but AAVEC would reimburse a significant portion of that expense when you submit receipts and reimbursement requests. The total available amount of assistance is up to $10,000 per complete program (most are approximately four semesters). There is a contract you must sign for this education benefit.
3. You may also elect to independently pursue the vet tech program through Penn Foster, using the discount available through its partnership with NVA/Ethos. This option does not include any tuition support, but also does not require a contract with AAVEC. You would simply be taking advantage of a benefit of working at an NVA/Ethos hospital.
If you are choosing full sponsorship to Penn Foster:
- AAVEC will pay your full tuition directly to the school
- AAVEC will pay for several optional benefits (textbooks, large animal lab, VTNE prep course)
- Education Coordinator has overview visibility on your progress through the courses
- You must maintain a specified GPA per semester to maintain sponsorship
- You must be a full-time employee at AAVEC (minimum 30 hours per week) throughout program
- You will have a work obligation to AAVEC after completion of the program
- 9 months obligation per semester sponsored (4 semesters = 3 year commitment)
- Deadlines with generous time frames are established for several steps
- Passing the program (up to 48 months allowed, or 12 months per semester)
- Passing the VTNE (up to 12 months after program completion allowed)
- Obtaining state licensure (up to 12 months after passing VTNE allowed)
- Repayment obligations
- If program is not completed
- If employee leaves AAVEC prior to fulfilling contract requirements
If you are choosing sponsorship to another Vet Tech Program:
- You pay your tuition to the school
- AAVEC reimburses a portion of the tuition (receipts/invoices required)
- AAVEC's financial assistance can be applied to reimburse the optional benefits instead of tuition
- Education Coordinator has no visibility on your progress through the courses
- You'll be required to meet with the Education Coordinator regularly for progress check-ins
- You must maintain a specified GPA per semester to maintain sponsorship
- You must be a full-time employee at AAVEC (minimum 30 hours per week) throughout program
- You will have a work obligation to AAVEC after completion of the program
- 9 months obligation per semester sponsored (4 semesters = 3 year commitment)
- Deadlines with generous time frames are established for several steps
- Passing the program (up to 48 months allowed, or 12 months per semester)
- Passing the VTNE (up to 12 months after program completion allowed)
- Obtaining state licensure (up to 12 months after passing VTNE allowed)
- Repayment obligations
- If program is not completed
- If employee leaves AAVEC prior to fulfilling contract requirements
If you are choosing to self-pay through Penn Foster:
- You pay your tuition to the school
- You are encouraged to use the NVA/Ethos discounted rates (requires special sign-up portal)
- Education Coordinator has no visibility on your progress through the courses
- There is no contract to sign or work obligation after program completion
Each program varies in its expense. Some have a set cost per semester, and others have individual costs per credit hour. Additional fees may apply such as application fees, textbook costs, lab fees, and other miscellaneous fees. Please see each school's website for specific program information and costs.
October 2024 tuition ranged from $190-$400+ per credit hour at varying programs, with total program costs landing between $12,000-$29,000 for complete core program coursework (excluding cost of prerequisites, semester fees, and other costs).
Regular tuition for Penn Foster at this time is $1,999/semester (sometimes promotional discounts for the first semester apply). This means that the total cost is ~$8,000 for the program. With the NVA/Ethos discount to Penn Foster, each semester's cost is $1,700.
There is no reimbursement if AAVEC sponsors you at Penn Foster and pays your tuition directly. You have no out-of-pocket expenses.
If you elect another program, AAVEC will reimburse up to $10,000 for a full program of coursework (up to $2,500 per semester as most programs are four semesters).
If you select the education option for full sponsorship to Penn Foster, you are also eligible for some additional benefits. These include funds for textbooks (e-books are provided at no additional charge), financial assistance for a fast track large animal lab to meet some course requirements, as well as some coverage for VTNE Prep courses. These are optional benefits available that you can use as needed - you are not required to take advantage of all of these.
If you select the education option for financial assistance at another, approved vet tech program, you can use AAVEC's funds to pay for either your tuition or these other benefits.
If you select the self-pay option at Penn Foster, these additional benefits are not included.
Regardless of the program option you choose, AAVEC will reimburse you for the cost of the your VTNE registration fee (Veterinary Technician National Exam) once you successfully pass the exam. As of October 2024, the exam fee (per attempt) is $340.
AAVEC also will reimburse you for licensing fees associated with obtaining and maintaining your RVT license in Maryland. The current fees are $100 for the initial application and $100 for renewal. You need to meet certain CE requirements and renew your license every three years to maintain an active RVT status.
AAVEC's generous CE allowance can be used to meet the requirements necessary for actively maintaining your RVT license.
Each contract is unique and tailored to the individual employee and situation. In general, for each semester that you receive sponsorship or tuition reimbursement from AAVEC, you will be obligated to nine months of employment. If AAVEC reimburses you for a complete program (typically four semesters, usually self-paced), you would be obligated to three years of employment.
This employment obligation begins once you have successfully completed all coursework and exams for the program.
You are allowed a period of twelve months after program completion to sit for and pass the VTNE, and an additional twelve months beyond that to apply for and be granted your state licensure.
If you do not complete the program, are terminated, or choose to separate from AAVEC prior to completing your contractual obligation of employment, you will be required to reimburse the tuition expenses that AAVEC paid.
The contracts are legally binding and enforceable, with the repayment clauses stipulating exact details and timeframes of repayment should the situation arise.
You can - for any future semesters you need to complete. The sponsorship program does not work retroactively. Fill out the "Application of Intent" and submit it to start the process of sponsorship, and we can discuss how to move forward. Once you finish the current semester you are enrolled in, AAVEC can begin sponsorship starting with the next semester.
I have no idea. I typed some descriptors into an AI image generator and that's what it produced. Apparently computers are jealous of human ears so doubled up on the earpieces and decided that the stethoscope's bell simply wasn't necessary.
The dog looks a little weird too if you look too long at it, especially around the left eye and collar/dorsal neck area.
And don't even look at the messed up, bizarre fingers on her left hand!
Can't find your answer here?
If you have any additional questions regarding the RVT Sponsorship Program, contact Liz, the Education Coordinator.