The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is now accepting Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program (RVIP) applications for the 2024 cycle. Applications may be submitted through Sept. 1, 2024.

The purpose of the Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program (RVIP) is to encourage veterinarians to practice in qualifying rural Texas counties.

This program provides educational loan repayment assistance or payment of tuition and fees of up to $180,000 to eligible veterinarians and veterinary medicine students in return for commitment to work in designated rural areas in Texas.

“The TAHC is pleased to help administer this incentive to encourage veterinary services to be accessible in all parts of Texas,” said Dr. Bud Dinges, TAHC executive director and state veterinarian. “The RVIP benefits both veterinary practitioners and designated rural communities by providing an opportunity to receive up to $45,000 for each year of full-time veterinary service in rural communities in need of veterinary practitioners.”

To qualify for this program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • be a currently enrolled student or graduate of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Texas Tech University’s School of Veterinary Medicine or Texas A&M University’s School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences;
    • graduates must have graduated within four years of the application date and be a licensed veterinarian.
    • students currently enrolled in an out-of-state accredited college of veterinary medicine may apply if they graduated from a Texas high school or undergraduate institution.
  • be a U.S. citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident;
  • not be currently fulfilling another obligation to provide veterinary medical services as part of a scholarship agreement, an educational loan agreement, or another educational loan repayment agreement;
  • have received an eligible education loan for at least 50 percent of the funds for tuition and fees for one or more academic years while enrolled in an accredited school of veterinary medicine;
  • agree to practice veterinary medicine full-time in an eligible rural county in Texas for at least one calendar year; and
  • be otherwise eligible to receive payment from the funding source.

Applications are submitted to the RVIP Committee through a process facilitated by TAHC. Applicants should submit the completed RVIP Application Form and all required attachments by email to rvip@tahc.texas.gov or by mail to Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program; Texas Animal Health Commission; P.O. Box 12966; Austin, Texas 78711.

For the 2024 application cycle, participants are only eligible to receive assistance for qualified educational loan debt incurred after March 3, 2021 and can only receive assistance for service obligation periods that will be completed before Dec. 31, 2024.

Learn more about the RVIP, who qualifies, and how to apply at tahc.texas.gov/vets/rvip.html.