Trade Schools
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing career fields.
Whether it is people or pets, the chances of finding a good-paying job are excellent.
The rate of growth for Vet Techs is anticipated to be 19% over the next eight years.
More than 15,000 new Vet Tech jobs are expected per year during the same period.
Opportunities for learning to become a Vet Technician online are abundant.
You can choose how long it takes and how much you can afford to pay.
Earn your accredited, affordable Veterinary Technician Associate Degree online with Penn Foster!
Steps to Become a Vet Technician
- Graduate from high school or have a GED.
- Find a school that offers an online Vet Tech Program.
- Apply and get accepted into the program.
- Programs are offered in person and online.
- Complete the course.
- In some states, it is required to be a two- or four-year college diploma course.
- Check state certification or licensing requirements.
- Take and pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam.
- Find and apply for your dream job.
- Begin your career.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Technician
Many jurisdictions require a license to work as a vet technician.
It is essential that you check the regulations in the state where you are looking for employment.
A test may be required to display your knowledge.
Licenses need to be renewed and maintained.
Requirements for getting licensed vary from state to state.
Many states use the Veterinary Technician National Exam, as stated by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
Online Training Programs
Online programs for Vet Technicians provide either an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.
They take anywhere from 18 months to six years.
Penn Foster
At Penn Foster, the program is a Vet Tech Associate degree.
The total cost of the program is between $8100-$8500.
It is self-paced and fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The program includes two externships where you will get hands-on experience under the supervision of a real vet.
One externship is at the end of semester two and the other at the end of semester four.
The Semester 2 externship is 150 hours and is centered on cats and dogs.
The Semester 4 externship is 200 hours and involves cats, dogs, large animals, rodents, birds, and rabbits.
You can choose a local vet, or you can apply to VCA Animal Hospitals, which partners with Penn Foster.
Each semester can be completed in between nine months and 13 months.
An additional six months can be added to any semester.
The degree must be completed within six years.
The complete degree program is four semesters and includes 66 credits.
Applicants must be over 17 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.
High-speed internet and an email account are required.
A PC running Windows 10 or higher or a Mac with macOS Sierra Version 11.2 or higher is needed.
You will also need Microsoft Office 2019 or Microsoft 365.
The program includes:
- Interactive Content
- Short Lessons and No Deadlines
- Live Webinars
After graduation, students will be eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
This allows graduates to get the credentials they need to be a licensed veterinary technician.
The program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Contact Information
- 1-888-427-1600
- https://www.pennfoster.edu/
Purdue University
At Purdue University, this is called the Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program.
It is an Associate’s degree that is flexible to fit your schedule.
The program is 70 credits and costs $18.900.
Financial aid is available.
The course is science-based and vigorous.
What you will need:
- All students in the online program must have a PC or a Mac.
- The CPU must support the Operating System (OS) and applications.
- A webcam with an integrated microphone and audio output device.
- It is recommended that students have a headset or earbuds with a microphone.
- High-speed internet and email are a must.
Some parts of the course may be able to be performed on a tablet, smartphone, or Chromebook.
It is important to have a relationship with a veterinary practitioner as a volunteer or an employee.
You will need to complete a clinical mentorship with hands-on experience.
Three options are provided:
- Three-year pathway
- Six-year pathway
- Build your pathway
The three-year pathway is the official way to do this course and requires nine semesters.
That includes fall, spring, and summer coursework.
To be eligible for financial aid, you must have at least six credit hours per semester.
You need to apply between 3–5 hours per week per credit to complete the studies.
The six-year pathway allows fewer credits per semester and less study time.
The build-your-own pathway allows you to dictate how many credits you can handle one semester at a time.
The program includes 27 online courses and 18 clinical mentorship experiences.
In addition, all students must take an English Composition Course and one elective.
On completion, students earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Nursing.
The program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Graduates are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).
This provides professional credentials as a Veterinary Technician/Nurse in all 50 states.
Contact Information
- 765-494-7607
- https://vet.purdue.edu
SUNY Delhi
This is a two-year Veterinary Science Technology AAS degree program.
Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED.
Out-of-state tuition is $353 per credit hour, $295 in-state.
Financial aid is available as well as payment plans.
Mandatory courses are required of applicants in English, Math, and Science.
If you prefer to go on, it applies seamlessly to the four-year bachelor’s program in Veterinary Technology (BS).
The online program includes all the same courses as the on-campus course.
The minimum total credit hours is 64.
The school has technical standards for a variety of things that are required of students.
It is essential to be familiar with these standards to successfully apply and complete this course.
The program includes a 240-hour preceptorship placement where you choose to practice essential hands-on skills.
You can be full-time or part-time and study at your own pace.
The online learning platform is state-of-the-art.
You require a computer and fast internet.
Some coursework may be able to be completed on a tablet or smartphone.
Graduates of the course will have the knowledge needed to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).
Contact Information
- (607) 746-4000
- https://www.delhi.edu/
St. Petersburg College
The program at St. Petersburg College awards graduates a Veterinary Technology A.S.
The cost of the program is $111.75 per credit hour for Florida residents and $386.90 for out-of-state students.
Financial aid is available, and grants, scholarships, and payment plans are possible.
To be accepted into this program, students must have completed at least 15 of the 21 credits of the general education and support courses before admission.
Students must have internet access and a computer.
Must have worked or volunteered a minimum of 40 hours at a veterinary office.
280 hours (20 hours per week) of experience at a veterinary facility that you choose each semester is required.
A total of 73 credit hours of major core courses are required.
Students must have an agreement with a veterinary facility where their experience will be supervised by a credentialed veterinarian or technician.
A minimum grade average of C is required in all courses.
Graduates will have the required knowledge to successfully pass the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination).
Contact Information
- 727-341-4772
- https://www.spcollege.edu/
Salary
The median salary for a Vet Tech in the US is $44.040.
The lowest range is $30,180, and the highest end is $59,310.
Education and experience will be taken into account when finding employment.
Salaries vary from state to state, and California is quite a lot above the average.
The salary in the Los Angeles area can go over $70,000.
Jobs outside a veterinary office can also lead to higher salaries.
The skills learned offer the potential for many different career options.
U.S. Average Salary: $46280
Salary Information by State
| State | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2,260 | $33,310 | $16.02 | $43,470 | $26,920 |
| Arizona | 3,390 | $44,680 | $21.48 | $56,890 | $36,610 |
| Arkansas | 290 | $35,790 | $17.21 | $45,760 | $29,040 |
| California | 11,380 | $56,980 | $27.39 | $74,390 | $41,020 |
| Connecticut | 1,800 | $52,250 | $25.12 | $71,780 | $38,360 |
| Delaware | 580 | $46,480 | $22.35 | $60,620 | $36,640 |
| D.C. | 160 | $55,580 | $26.72 | $72,110 | $47,040 |
| Florida | 10,130 | $43,240 | $20.79 | $56,120 | $32,450 |
| Georgia | 3,280 | $42,860 | $20.61 | $57,280 | $31,290 |
| Hawaii | 300 | $47,680 | $22.92 | $58,020 | $36,780 |
| Idaho | 640 | $38,010 | $18.27 | $46,700 | $28,810 |
| Illinois | 4,840 | $47,710 | $22.94 | $58,860 | $36,480 |
| Indiana | 2,340 | $46,590 | $22.40 | $59,360 | $34,500 |
| Iowa | 1,070 | $44,930 | $21.60 | $61,430 | $34,750 |
| Kansas | 1,250 | $42,500 | $20.44 | $56,900 | $32,240 |
| Kentucky | 1,980 | $37,560 | $18.06 | $47,200 | $28,240 |
| Louisiana | 1,780 | $31,870 | $15.32 | $42,560 | $22,440 |
| Maine | 790 | $49,750 | $23.92 | $56,610 | $39,710 |
| Maryland | 3,090 | $48,110 | $23.13 | $61,020 | $37,260 |
| Massachusetts | 3,900 | $48,920 | $23.52 | $59,020 | $38,560 |
| Michigan | 2,880 | $47,300 | $22.74 | $59,280 | $37,370 |
| Minnesota | 4,320 | $51,940 | $24.97 | $62,650 | $38,510 |
| Mississippi | 880 | $36,090 | $17.35 | $45,100 | $24,120 |
| Missouri | 1,650 | $40,640 | $19.54 | $50,620 | $29,770 |
| Montana | 600 | $42,290 | $20.33 | $50,020 | $35,340 |
| Nebraska | 680 | $41,640 | $20.02 | $54,080 | $31,050 |
| Nevada | 910 | $48,880 | $23.50 | $62,260 | $34,210 |
| New Hampshire | 1,000 | $49,020 | $23.57 | $60,430 | $36,350 |
| New Jersey | 3,500 | $48,250 | $23.20 | $60,900 | $35,760 |
| New Mexico | 860 | $40,130 | $19.29 | $49,640 | $29,850 |
| New York | 5,480 | $59,540 | $28.63 | $78,350 | $46,780 |
| North Carolina | 3,650 | $45,350 | $21.80 | $59,030 | $34,770 |
| North Dakota | 330 | $43,370 | $20.85 | $56,420 | $30,050 |
| Ohio | 4,720 | $43,870 | $21.09 | $58,560 | $28,300 |
| Oklahoma | 970 | $39,670 | $19.07 | $48,180 | $30,370 |
| Oregon | 1,640 | $50,320 | $24.19 | $62,070 | $36,780 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,840 | $43,370 | $20.85 | $55,230 | $32,820 |
| Rhode Island | 550 | $45,480 | $21.86 | $58,470 | $37,390 |
| South Carolina | 1,890 | $42,680 | $20.52 | $61,200 | $29,900 |
| South Dakota | 300 | $43,100 | $20.72 | $49,080 | $33,280 |
| Tennessee | 2,270 | $39,000 | $18.75 | $48,630 | $30,250 |
| Texas | 16,170 | $39,750 | $19.11 | $49,390 | $28,800 |
| Utah | 1,590 | $40,390 | $19.42 | $48,660 | $29,060 |
| Vermont | 420 | $47,860 | $23.01 | $57,710 | $40,440 |
| Virginia | 2,800 | $55,050 | $26.47 | $72,260 | $39,600 |
| Washington | 2,250 | $58,920 | $28.33 | $74,520 | $47,050 |
| West Virginia | 460 | $37,130 | $17.85 | $47,710 | $27,660 |
| Wisconsin | 2,860 | $45,450 | $21.85 | $58,520 | $36,710 |
| Wyoming | 270 | $37,880 | $18.21 | $47,460 | $22,180 |
| Puerto Rico | 530 | $27,830 | $13.38 | $44,670 | $21,810 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
