U of G's New Micro-Credentials Will Help Prepare Registered Veterinary Technicians for Elevated Roles in Primary Care Teams

New funding from the Ontario Government will support the University of Guelph (U of G) and the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in developing an innovative micro-credentials program for registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) that will empower them to take on advanced roles on veterinary healthcare teams.

“This is a significant step in helping to build capacity in the field of veterinary medicine and finding solutions to alleviate some of the strain stemming from workforce shortages, heightened barriers to care, eroding affordability and inconsistent availability of services across regions,” says Dr. Jeffrey Wichtel, Dean of the Ontario Veterinary College. “Further, the industry sees an unacceptably high loss of experienced RVTs from the profession within 10 years of graduation.”

Wichtel, who initially proposed the new micro-credentials offerings at U of G, says he hopes the courses will provide RVTs with targeted skill development that will enhance their role on primary care teams. The micro-credentials will also enable workers to get the skills and training required by industry and employers.

Wichtel is co-creating the micro-credentials program with U of G’s Open Learning and Educational Support (OpenEd) department, the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT), employers of RVTs. These parties bring expertise in veterinary education, adult education, curricular design and development, and evaluation. The courses will be offered in an online format and will include:

Other partners in the micro-credentials program development include P3 Veterinary Partners, McKee-Pownall Equine Services and Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians.

The U of G-led initiative stems from a second round of funding from the Ontario Government's Micro-Credentials Challenge Fund. In April 2021, the first round allocated $15 million to accelerate the development of more than 300 new micro-credential programs at colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes across the province. More than 6,000 learners benefitted from these projects. The second round offered $5 million in funding to support the co-creation or expansion of micro-credentials directly addressing labour market gaps, including veterinary medicine.

Micro-credentials provide professionals with opportunities to get the in-demand skills needed to help them take the next step in their careers. Skills learned through micro-credential programs can often be applied in the workplace immediately, enhancing learners' job performance and productivity.