Become a Veterinary Partner
How it Works
1. Sign Up
Complete the interest form below.
2. Placement
We’ll connect you with students seeking clinical sites.
3. Training & Support
Our faculty will provide guidance on student expectations and required skills.
4. Hands-on Learning Begins!
Host students in your practice as students complete their clinical training.
Support Future Vet Techs While Growing Your Team
Great Falls College’s Veterinary Technology program prepares students for careers as licensed veterinary technicians. To complete their training, students need hands-on experience through clinical rotations with veterinary professionals like you!
What Does Being a Veterinary Partner Mean?
Veterinary partners provide mentorship and real-world experience to our students over four semesters of clinical training. This includes:
- Offering students supervised, hands-on experience in a veterinary setting
- Helping students develop essential clinical skills
- Providing valuable insight into daily veterinary operations
Why Partner With Us?
- Shape the Future of Veterinary Medicine – Help educate and train the next generation of vet techs.
- Expand Your Team – Many of our students seek employment post-graduation. A partnership allows you to work with potential future hires.
- Contribute to Your Profession – Support high-quality education in veterinary care and strengthen the local veterinary community.
Veterinary Partner Expectations
Once accepted as an official veterinary partner, you must identity one person within your practice to serve as a Clinical Assistant* and serve as the supervising “instructor” during student visits. Clinical assistants must be a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician.
Your role as a Clinical Assistant:
- Supervising vet tech students during their time at the practice, ensuring they are gaining hands-on experience and following the necessary protocols.
- Coordinating with students to ensure they are scheduled appropriately for their time at the veterinary practice.
- Providing an orientation at your veterinary practice for all new students, introducing them to key protocols, equipment and team members specific to your practice.
- Regularly completing student feedback forms to update the program on their progress and submitting these forms to the Vet Tech program. These forms can be completed online and should only take 3-5 minutes to complete.
- Attending approximately two online meetings per semester with the Vet Tech program director, each lasting about 30 minutes, to discuss student progress, address any concerns and collaborate on improvements to the program.
- Participate in program training for clinical assistants provided through Great Falls College.
Important Notes:
- Students can be expected to be at your site approximately 10 to 20 hours a week.
- Supervising clinical assistants will receive a small stipend of $150 per semester for helping our students.
- Great Falls College provides student professional liability insurance coverage for student projects undertaken while registered for academic credit. A certificate of insurance can be provided upon request. Professional liability insurance covers the negligent acts or omissions of student interns in clinical settings.
What is a Clinical Assistant?
Clinical Assistant: A paid employee or owner of the facility assigned by the facility to supervise and mentor student(s) at the facility; receive a stipend from the college. They are also the point of contact for the program/student(s) at the facility and are required to regularly (once or twice a semester) submit feedback on student performance. When the student(s) is present, the CA may be treating their own patients. Their primary role is to supervise the student(s) and answer questions regarding the material learned in the courses as it applies to the tasks they are observing or completing at the facility. These CAs meet with the students on a regular basis and receive a stipend from the college to complete regular feedback regarding student performance. They may also be asked to attend regular program meetings outside of their normal work hours.
Application Process
The application is a lengthy process and our dedicated veterinary technician program staff is here to guide you every step of the way. Here is a breakdown of what each step will require:
First: Complete the interest form.
Second: you will receive one of six total emails.
- Email 1: you will be asked to fill out either the Small or Large Animal Veterinary Partner Application Form
- Email 2: After successfully submitting your application, you will be asked to provide videos of specific aspects of your veterinary practice to ensure you meet all facility requirements. Please see the Facility Requirements dropdown below for a list of requirements. If you need assistance with taking and/or submitting the videos, we are glad to help. The videos will not be shared or accessible to anyone outside of the Veterinary Program department staff and are solely needed to provide proof that you meet the minimum facility standards as is required by AVMA CVTEA (American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities).
- Email 3: After we have received videos indicating you meet our facility standards, you will be asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and identity who within your practice will serve as the Clinical Assistant (please see the above Veterinary Partner Expectations tab above for more information on this role).
- Email 4: The clinical assistant will be asked to submit a form agreeing to the position and go over program expectations, roles and responsibilities and set up clinical assistant training.
- Email 5: The clinical assistant be asked to fill out and submit a Great Falls College payroll packet. This is required in order for the clinical assistant to receive the stipend each semester.
- Email 6: You’re done! Welcome and thank you for serving as a Veterinary Partner for the Great Falls College Veterinary Technician Program. We will reach out to set up your training and establish your availability before assigning students.
Facility Requirements
To be approved as a veterinary partner, veterinary facilities must meet certain minimum standards regarding hospital, staff, equipment and practice quality. Each veterinary partner site must agree to follow these standards to be approved. These minimum standards must be met to ensure students receive adequate exposure to quality veterinary medical practices and equipment.
List of Equipment for Vet Partners
Don’t meet all of the requirements? Don’t worry! If you don’t meet all the criteria for all of the required equipment, you can still get approved for some of our courses, and students may need to participate with multiple vet partners to practice all of their skills.
Video Footage Requirements: After successfully submitting your application, you will be asked to provide videos of specific aspects of your veterinary practice to ensure you meet all facility requirements.
If you need assistance with taking and/or submitting the videos, we are glad to help. The videos will not be shared or accessible to anyone outside of the Veterinary Program department staff and are solely needed to provide proof that you meet the minimum facility standards as is required by AVMA CVTEA (American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities).
Most newer iPhones (or android equivalent) provide video of sufficient quality, however, CVTEA recommends (1) using a ‘gimble’ stabilizer to allow for the smoothest video possible, (2) recording and uploading in the highest quality possible, and (3) making multiple, short videos. In each of your video tours, the site team will want to see (as applicable);
- Facilities/ Building Tour
- Animal housing and animal holding areas
- Safety labelling and signage (Radiology, biohazardous waste, refrigerators, eyewash stations, etc.)
- Secondary labelling (OSHA compliance)
- SDS binder(s) or description of electronic access
- Controlled substances storage, and controlled substances log
- Radiology safety equipment (PPE, dosimetry badge storage)
- Radiology equipment (fixed, portable, and dental radiology equipment)
- Anesthetic monitoring equipment
- Anesthesia machines
- Surgical suite (s)
- Clinical pathology equipment (blood analyzer machines, centrifuges)
- Microbiology incubator
If applicable or only for large animal vet partners:
- Required large animal equipment items
- Cattle chute (with images of all four sites)
FAQ
What is required to become a veterinary partner?
Veterinary partners must provide a safe and educational environment where students can practice their clinical skills under supervision. While having all required equipment is ideal, clinics that don’t meet every requirement may still qualify for some courses. Students may work with multiple clinics to gain a full range of skills.
Do I have to commit to all four semesters?
No! You can participate in one semester or multiple, depending on your availability and resources. Even if you can only support a student in certain aspects of their training, your contribution is valuable.
Do I need to hire the student after they complete their program?
No, there is no expectation to hire students once they finish their coursework. However, if you enjoy working with students, you are welcome to continue providing a training space for future cohorts.
Can I be a veterinary partner for my current employee?
Yes! If you have a staff member enrolled in our Vet Tech program, you can serve as their veterinary partner to help them complete their clinical requirements.
Can I take on a student who isn’t my employee?
Absolutely! We work with students across different locations and can match you with one in your area who needs a clinical site.
Do I have to pay the student?
No. Veterinary partners are not required to pay students. This is an educational opportunity where students practice their knowledge under professional supervision.
What if my clinic specializes in a particular field of veterinary medicine?
We welcome specialty clinics! If you offer a unique service—such as equine medicine, exotics or emergency care—please reach out to us. We may have students interested in gaining experience in your specialty.
