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Online vet tech degree

2K views 15 replies 11 participants last post by  Spotted Image 
#1 ·
Amyone here got an online veterinary technician degree? What college or program? What did you think of it?
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#5 ·
I also have heard the same from vets, they wont hire someone with an online degree.
Im not sure about your area but I have friends on the west coast that have went to a physical school for vet tech and still can't get a job at a large animal clinic...the money is in the small animals. I also know some large animal vets in the area we at right now that aren't doing well. Something to consider if you wanted to get a job working with large animals...
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#6 ·
I would be interested in working at a small animal clinic. I believe at least for some online programs that you need a certain number of hours working at a vet hospital in order to learn the physical things. My biggest worry is a vet not hiring me if I have an online degree, but there are schools that are AVMA accredited, doesn't that count for anything?
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#9 ·
I knew a few people who were getting an online vet tech degree. They were getting it through Penn foster college. In my state you don't need to be certified and vets will higher you more based on experience vs schooling. I worked at 2 vet hospitals for 2 years each in that time I worked with both certified and un-certified techs and was amazed at how under educated a lot of the certified techs were. My advice would be to ask around to some of the local hospitals and see if you can volunteer to learn the ropes of the job, if you do good enough they might even hire you(that is how I got my first tech job). If you have a vet that you already use for your pets, start there. Worst they can say is no :) . Good Luck!
 
#13 ·
I knew a few people who were getting an online vet tech degree. They were getting it through Penn foster college. In my state you don't need to be certified and vets will higher you more based on experience vs schooling. I worked at 2 vet hospitals for 2 years each in that time I worked with both certified and un-certified techs and was amazed at how under educated a lot of the certified techs were.
There are basically 3 levels -

Vet assistant (basic)
Vet tech (hands on)
Certified Vet tech (can sign off on labs, assist in surgery)

Doesn't matter what anyone goes to school for. The practical application can only be learned by getting your fingernails dirty. I would take experience over schooling any day of the week.

You know the old saying - "Those that can - do. Those that can't - teach."
 
#11 ·
If you choose to go the route of the online vet tech degree, your best bet is to get a job in a clinic now doing reception or cleaning poop from the cages so that you can get some hands on experience and then eventually be switched over to a vet tech position. It's not unheard of but it's definitely a harder route....
 
#12 ·
I know I'm probably going to be going to an school for Vet Tech. I was also told it's hard to get hired in Ohio at someone the smaller career tech school that the University would be the best way to get a job. I was told this by an vet tech, who has been out of school a couple years. I do know a lot of people look down an online degrees.
 
#14 ·
I've been thinking about doing online schooling for a vet tech degree because I would really like to work with animals, and going to a real, brick and mortar college will not work for me for various reasons. I don't want to do it of it's no benefit at all, but it seems a vet would be more likely to hire someone with an online degree over someone with no experience/schooling at all. And can't you get the hands on experience by actually working? I understand it being good to have already gotten some hands on experience at a real college, but I feel they could teach you a lot at a vet clinic, especially if you already learned a lot through an online degree.
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#16 ·
Online would be better than none, you would probably then have to work with a vet for so long after wards. I know the college I plan on going to makes you work 20 hours with a vet before they even allow to attend. They do a lot of hands on work in your second year, but if you did an internship with a vet tech it might be able to take place of the hands all work. No one can tell you want your area wants for sure, so your best bet would be to call 2 to 10 local vets and see what is preferred.
 
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