The primary goal of the great falls college's veterinary technician program enhancement (VT-PE) project is to integrate industry-recognized credentials into the existing curriculum

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Great Falls College Montana State University $637,000 on March 1, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Education and Workforce Development program (CFDA 10.310) to enhance its veterinary technician curriculum.

The project integrates National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) Associate Veterinary Assistant credentials into the existing veterinary technician program by incorporating a Certificate of Applied Studies as a stackable credential. Students completing the certificate become eligible to take the NAVTA Veterinary Assistant exam and achieve the AVA credential, creating an alternative career pathway for those unable to complete the full two-year veterinary technician program. The initiative strengthens industry partnerships through annual outreach and training opportunities to enhance work-based learning experiences and address the shortage of qualified veterinary assistants and technicians in Montana.

Performance occurs at Great Falls College in Great Falls, Montana, through February 28, 2029. The assistance type is a project grant.

By incorporating the veterinary assistant designation approved by the national association of veterinary technicians, students who complete the certificate of applied studies, a stackable credential within the veterinary technician program, will be eligible to take the national association of veterinary technicians in america (navta) veterinary assistant exam and achieve the associate veterinary assistant (AVA) credential. This provides graduates with an alternative career path if they are unable to complete the full two-year veterinary technician program. Additionally, the VT-PE aims to strengthen industry partnershipswith studentsthrough annual outreach and training opportunities, thereby enhancing work-based learning experiences.enhancing the stackable credentials to includepathways toward industry-recognized credentials meets the afri education workforce development (EDW) goals toembed credentials into academic programs. The program offering also supports EDW goals ofproviding work-based learning experiences while addressing the drastic shortage of qualified veterinary assistants and technicians. The ultimate goal of the project is to increase the number of certifiedveterinaryassistants and licensed veterinary technicians in montana that graduate from great falls college.