Online Veterinary Technician Schools

Veterinary technicians are always expected to take on significant responsibilities in a veterinary establishment. While the duties of vet techs may not be as comprehensive and extensive as those of a veterinarian, they are still required to carry out many clinical and administrative roles that require significant training.

Naturally, when considering a training program as an aspiring veterinary technician, most candidates assume they must enroll in an on-campus program. However, several online training programs for future veterinary technicians are accredited, well-established, and operate at a very high educational standard.

Despite being online programs, these programs have been approved to train new veterinary technicians because they have proven they can provide the necessary theoretical and practical training.

The Need for Online Programs

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians is responsible for creating educational standards that all veterinary technician training programs nationwide must adhere to. Even though brick-and-mortar training programs can provide highly comprehensive training, some candidates, particularly those with other real-world commitments or who simply desire more convenience and flexibility, need a program that only requires their presence sometimes.

Of course, given the lofty criteria and educational standards these programs must meet to be accredited, there are few around.

These are some of the reasons why online veterinary technology training programs have become so popular. They allow candidates to receive comprehensive training online without traveling long distances.

They are also capable of providing hands-on training and clinical experience. Moreover, candidates may also leverage their time in an online program to network with other professionals and take advantage of employment opportunities.

What to Look for in an Online Veterinary Technician Program

The following are some of the most important criteria that all prospective veterinary technicians must look for in an online training program.

• Convenience & Flexibility - Convenience and flexibility are two of the most common reasons individuals opt for online vet tech programs. Thankfully, several top-class programs offer comprehensive training with enough flexibility, so candidates need not compromise on these criteria.
• Quality Theoretical & Hands-On Training - Candidates must ensure they enroll in an online vet tech program with a reputation for high-quality training. Just because a program is distance-based doesn’t mean it has to compromise on quality.

Of course, one of the best ways to ensure the quality status of an online vet tech program is to consider its accreditation.

• Accreditation - Enrolling in an accredited online vet tech program makes it easy for candidates to qualify for the Veterinary Technician National Examination and start their careers straightforwardly. The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities accredits offline and online vet tech programs.

We discuss more on accreditation for veterinary technician programs in the concluding section.

Online Vet Tech School Accreditation

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities – AVMA-CVTEA – accredits veterinary technician programs nationwide. The Committee utilizes strict quality criteria to decide whether or not a program will receive the much-coveted accredited status.

The AVMA-CVTEA accredits all of the entries above. In addition to having a straightforward entry path to begin their careers, candidates who attend these programs can rest assured that they are receiving a quality education tested by qualified professionals.

They will also enjoy the networking opportunities and career growth possibilities that attending a CVTEA-accredited program offers.

These programs may be structured as associate of science (AS), associate of applied science (AAS), or bachelor’s degree programs. Candidates typically have to meet some requirements themselves to be admitted.

These include having a competitive high school GPA, letters of recommendation, immunizations, and (possibly) SAT/ACT scores.

While it may be possible to work as a veterinary technician in certain states without attending a CVTEA-accredited school, most states will ask for this requirement. Additionally, candidates must graduate from such a program before they can sit for the crucial Veterinary Technician National Examination.

Accredited Online Vet Tech Programs

The following are some of the top veterinary technician training programs that fulfill the quality criteria highlighted above.

Explore online programs for other vet careers

• Online veterinary assistant programs