Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists

The Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists program is intended to encourage veterinarians and veterinary technologists to practice in under-served rural communities by forgiving a portion of Saskatchewan Student Loans.

The amount of eligible forgiveness you could receive is calculated annually and is paid as a reduction to your provincial student loan. Veterinarians and veterinary technologists will receive forgiveness of one-fifth (20%) of their outstanding Saskatchewan Student Loan debt, up to $4,000 annually, for up to five years, to a maximum of $20,000.

The total amount of forgiveness an applicant will be eligible for is calculated on the value of the provincial student loan the day before the start date of the forgiveness period of the first application. This balance is divided by five to calculate the total amount allowed, up to $4,000 annually.

Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists Fact Sheet

To be eligible for Saskatchewan Student Loan Forgiveness, you need to:

• practice as a veterinarian or veterinary technologist in a designated rural community or provide services to livestock clients from designated communities. Designated communities include any Saskatchewan community with a population of 10,000 or less;
• have started your current employment (full-time, part-time, or casual) on or after January 1, 2021;
• provide a minimum of 400 hours of eligible services over a full year (12 consecutive months);
• hold a valid licence to practise in Saskatchewan as a:
  • Veterinarian
  • Veterinary Technologist
• have a Saskatchewan Student Loan in repayment (or be in your grace period) and in good standing; and
• submit an application form within 90 days of completing your year of service.

Veterinary professionals working in a clinic in any Saskatchewan community with a population of 10,000 or more may also be eligible if they provide 400 hours of livestock services over 12 consecutive months.

It is acceptable to work in multiple designated communities during the year as long as you complete a minimum of 400 hours of service over 12 consecutive months.

Saskatchewan Loan Forgiveness is not restricted to newly graduated veterinarians and veterinary technologists; however, you must have begun work in a designated rural community on or after January 1, 2021 to qualify. Your employer must also attest to this on your application. Please indicate if you work in a self-employed practice – supporting documentation may be requested.

If you have any questions about eligibility, the application process or administration of the Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists program, please contact the National Student Loans Service Centre toll free at 1-888-815-4514.

After you have completed 12 consecutive months, as outlined above, you have 90 days to apply for loan forgiveness. If the National Student Loan Service Centre does not receive your application within the 90 days, it will be denied.

After each year of service, you must re-apply for the benefit. A reminder letter will be sent to you each year, as long as records indicate you would be eligible. You must complete each year of loan forgiveness before you can re-apply for a subsequent year.

Application Deadline

Once you have completed a year of service in a designated community, you have 90 days to apply for loan forgiveness. For example, for an employment period of April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, you would have until June 30, 2024, to submit an application for that period.

Download Application

Veterinary professionals may work in one (or multiple) designated communities (Scenario 1) and/or provide services to livestock clients from designated communities, including mobile/ambulatory services (Scenario 2).

Scenario #1 only – providing services in a designated community (population of 10,000 or less):

• A veterinary professional provides services in a designated rural community. The applicant would show 400 hours of services over 12 consecutive months.

Scenario #2 only - providing livestock services, including mobile/ambulatory services, to clients from a designated community:

• A veterinary professional working out of any Saskatchewan community provides livestock services to a client on a farm several miles from the clinic in a nearby rural municipal area.
• The applicant would show 400 hours of livestock services over 12 consecutive months (with a start and end date). The applicant must provide the client's rural postal code on the application (not the clinic's postal code).

To apply, forward the completed Saskatchewan Student Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists Application by mail to:

National Student Loans Service Centre
P.O. Box 4030
Mississauga, ON L5A 4M4

Toll Free: 1-888-815-4514

Your Responsibilities

During your year of service before you can apply, you must make regular monthly payments on your Canada-Saskatchewan Student Loan. Note that the Saskatchewan forgiveness amount is only calculated on the Saskatchewan loans portion and does not include the Canada loan portion. Once your application for loan forgiveness has been approved, your Saskatchewan Student Loan balance will be reduced. Your monthly payments will also be reduced. If you do not wish your monthly payments to be reduced, you can opt out of this reduction when you apply. Federal funding represents the greater part of the initial student loan funding. Payment amounts will be prorated and applied to the loan balances. Information about your student loan balances, including the Canada and Saskatchewan portions, will be provided in your initial assessment letter and updated on your student portal account. Applicants on the Repayment Assistance Plan may also be eligible for loan forgiveness.

Break in Service

You are not eligible for loan forgiveness if you leave a designated community before the year of service is complete. However, you may change a designated community provided you re-establish employment in another designated community. A break in service is permitted up to 31 days for relocation.

Sick, Compassionate or Parental Leave

You remain eligible for loan forgiveness if your leave is less than one month and you are able to complete a minimum of 400 hours of service over 12 consecutive months.

If your leave is longer than one month and/or prevented you from completing the 400 hours of service, you may still be eligible if the leave was because of an illness, childbirth or to care for a family member. You must have received at least one of the following Employment Insurance (EI) benefits:

• Maternity benefits
• Parental benefits
• Sickness benefits
• Compassionate care benefits
• Benefit for parents of critically ill children

If you had a break in service and received Employment Insurance benefits, you will need to complete the Break in Service, EI consent section in the application. This consent allows the program administrator to contact the EI office to verify your EI benefits.

If you have any questions about eligibility, the application process or administration of the Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists program, please contact the National Student Loans Service Centre toll free at 1-888-815-4514.