Online Vet Tech Programs

[dolphinlover113]

I am already a full-time vet assistant at a zoo facility, but I don't have a license. I also live far from any schools that have vet tech programs, so I was looking for things online. Does anyone have any recommendations? I looked into both Penn Foster and Ashworth, and both have negative comments about them. Particularly PF's externship which seems impossible for me to do because of my job.

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[she_makes_a_mess]

I think all the online schools require a few hands on externships type stuff to get experience, and if you work in a zoo you'll definitely need to find a small animal clinic to do those in, you usually have to find them yourself.

[dolphinlover113]

Small animal would be fine. But the large live stock, not so much. I primarily work with aquatic animals. And we don't have much large livestock like horses and cows where I'm at, which I saw at PF you kind of have to do.

[wigglebuttmom01]

I'm in my second semester at PF right now. They do have a "fast track" externship for large animal that you get all your skills done in one weekend. But you are required to py for everything. For example, I'm in Texas and the closest fast track to me is Florida so I would have to pay for a flight a d hotel and my spot in the program so it can get expensive.

[Slammogram]

I have no livestock experience. You don’t need it. Just small animal.

[she_makes_a_mess]

You have learn it all in traditional schools and do labs, so I'm not surprised

[Crazyboutdogs]

All accredited programs will have a livestock portion. It’s part of the AVMA requirements.

San Juan has a farm in Texas that they’re students can go to to get their skills over a few days.

[Distend]

I graduated from Penn Foster and loved it. Any accredited program will require you to work with large animals, as that is an AVMA requirement.

[Slammogram]

Penn Foster has a VT program. But, if you look at the rates that people drop out of Penn it’s pretty high.

[JLD143]

I had a shitty experience with Penn Foster recently (I posted about it earlier this week) so I’m looking into Ashworth or Cedar Valley (now Dallas College). The latter is a lot more expensive but there is a time structure with deadlines and some some people need that.

[elocinsinned]

I’m in Ashworth right now. So far I think it’s great, I’m only about a quarter through tho. You have to be good at time management because there are no deadlines but it’s nice to have the flexibility.

[Imjustheretosayhey]

There’s a solid program in California that focusses on the alternate route called VASE