8 Best Online Vet Tech Training Programs

If you love animals and want to quickly begin working with them, a career as a veterinary technician can let you do so in just two years.

You’ll still have room for advancement because you could become a veterinarian.

With projected job growth of 15 percent through 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and certification and licensing that only requires an associate’s degree, you could quickly launch yourself in this career while your friends continue working on their bachelor’s degrees.

There’s a strong need for vet techs, as the position is also called, and the job outlook for this position is growing faster than most career fields.

Veterinary technicians earn a median salary of $36,260 or $17.43 per hour, depending on whether the veterinarian pays on a salaried or hourly basis.

This job provides an entry-level position where you can work part-time or full-time, and you can hold this position while attending veterinary school.

The Best Online Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

#1 Penn Foster College

About the School

Penn Foster College offers a fully online Associate Degree in Veterinary Technician, designed for students who need flexible scheduling.

The program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and prepares graduates to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam.

Students progress through the program at their own pace, with most completing it in about 24 to 36 months.

Hands-on training is completed through required externships at approved veterinary facilities.

Courses Offered

The program includes approximately 66 to 71 credit hours, depending on course sequencing.

Coursework covers animal anatomy and physiology, veterinary medical terminology, pharmacology, clinical pathology, parasitology, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, surgical nursing, laboratory procedures, and both small and large animal care.

Students must complete two externships totaling about 350 clinical hours during the program.

Program Cost

Total tuition for the Veterinary Technician Associate Degree is typically between 8000 and 9000 dollars.

Penn Foster offers monthly payment plans starting around 75 dollars per month.

Additional costs may include textbooks, supplies, and travel related to externships.

Contact Information

• Address: 3133 W Frye Rd Suite 215, Chandler, AZ 85226, United States
• Phone: +1 888-427-6500
• Website: Visit School Website

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#2 Ashworth College

About the School

Ashworth College offers an online Veterinary Technician Associate Degree that follows the same curriculum as Penn Foster College.

The program aligns with AVMA accreditation standards and is structured for students who want a self-paced learning format.

Students complete coursework online and fulfill required clinical experiences locally.

Courses Offered

The curriculum includes roughly 72 credit hours and covers animal nursing care, veterinary pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic imaging, laboratory procedures, surgical assistance, and office management.

Clinical skills are completed through approved veterinary facilities and supervised assessments.

Program Cost

Total program cost is generally in the range of 8000 to 9000 dollars.

Tuition may vary based on payment plan selection.

Students should also budget for externship-related expenses and required learning materials.

Contact Information

• Address: 5051 Peachtree Corners Cir Suite 200, Norcross, GA 30092, United States
• Phone: +1 888-427-6500
• Website: Visit School Website

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#3 San Juan College

About the School

San Juan College offers an online Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology that is fully accredited and well known for strong national exam outcomes.

The program combines online coursework with supervised clinical instruction completed at approved veterinary sites.

Full-time students typically complete the degree in about 2 years.

Courses Offered

The program requires approximately 76 to 80 credit hours.

Courses include veterinary nursing skills, animal anatomy and physiology, anesthesiology, surgical assistance, diagnostic imaging, microbiology, parasitology, emergency care, large animal management, and professional ethics.

Clinical skills are reinforced through structured mentorships.

Program Cost

In-state tuition averages around 60 to 65 dollars per credit hour, while out-of-state tuition can be closer to 190 to 200 dollars per credit hour.

Total tuition costs vary widely depending on residency, ranging from roughly 5000 dollars for residents to more than 15000 dollars for non-residents.

Contact Information

• Address: 4601 College Blvd, Farmington, NM 87402, United States
• Phone: +1 505-326-3311
• Website: Visit School Website

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#4 Dallas College

About the School

Dallas College offers an online Veterinary Technology Associate Degree that has been accredited for several decades.

The program is delivered through distance education with required hands-on clinical mentorships at approved veterinary clinics.

Students typically complete the program in five semesters.

Courses Offered

The degree includes about 60 to 61 credit hours.

Coursework covers veterinary anatomy, clinical pathology, pharmacology, radiology, anesthesia, surgical nursing, equine management, food animal care, and veterinary hospital procedures.

Clinical training is completed throughout the program under supervision.

Program Cost

Tuition depends on residency.

In-county students may pay around 80 dollars per credit hour, out-of-county students around 135 dollars per credit hour, and out-of-state students around 200 dollars per credit hour.

Total tuition for the full program generally ranges from 4800 to 12000 dollars.

Contact Information

• Address: 1601 Botham Jean Blvd, Dallas, TX 75215, United States
• Phone: +1 214-378-1500
• Website: Visit School Website

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#5 Colby Community College

About the School

Colby Community College offers an online Associate Degree in Veterinary Nursing Technology designed for students seeking hands-on veterinary skills through distance education.

The program emphasizes practical experience and mentorship and can typically be completed in about 2 years.

Courses Offered

The program consists of approximately 82 credit hours.

Students study veterinary nursing, pharmacology, diagnostic imaging, animal nutrition, laboratory techniques, small and large animal clinical care, and exotic animal handling.

Hands-on skill demonstrations are completed through approved facilities and scheduled lab experiences.

Program Cost

Online tuition typically ranges from 150 to 205 dollars per credit hour, depending on residency.

Total tuition for the full program usually falls between 12000 and 17000 dollars, not including supplies or travel costs.

Contact Information

• Address: 1255 S Range Ave, Colby, KS 67701, United States
• Phone: +1 785-462-3984
• Website: Visit School Website

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#6 St. Petersburg College

About the School

St. Petersburg College offers an online Veterinary Technology Associate of Science degree with required in-person clinical practicums.

The program is accredited and prepares students for national credentialing exams.

Students usually complete the program in 2 to 3 years, depending on course load.

Courses Offered

The curriculum includes approximately 73 credit hours.

Coursework covers veterinary nursing, anesthesia, surgical preparation, diagnostic imaging, dentistry, parasitology, clinical pathology, and office procedures.

Students complete more than 250 clinical hours per term at approved veterinary facilities.

Program Cost

In-state tuition generally ranges from 110 to 115 dollars per credit hour.

Out-of-state tuition is higher and can exceed 400 dollars per credit hour.

Total program tuition varies based on residency and credit load, but often falls between 8000 and 20000 dollars.

Contact Information

• Address: 6605 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710, United States
• Phone: +1 727-341-4772
• Website: Visit School Website

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#7 Lone Star College

About the School

Lone Star College offers an online and hybrid Veterinary Technology Associate Degree designed to be completed in five semesters.

The program prepares students for entry-level veterinary technician roles and national licensure exams.

It is part of a large community college system in Texas.

Courses Offered

The program includes about 60 credit hours.

Students complete courses in veterinary anatomy and physiology, clinical nursing, pharmacology, laboratory diagnostics, anesthesia, radiology, animal care, and veterinary hospital management.

Clinical experience is completed through approved local veterinary practices.

Program Cost

Texas residents typically pay between 80 and 100 dollars per credit hour.

Out-of-state students pay higher rates.

Total tuition for in-state students usually ranges from 5000 to 7000 dollars for the full degree.

Contact Information

• Address: 4141 Victory Dr, Houston, TX 77088, United States
• Phone: +1 281-260-3500
• Website: Visit School Website

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#8 Cedar Valley College

About the School

Cedar Valley College, part of Dallas College, offers an online Veterinary Technology Associate Degree focused on distance education with supervised clinical training.

The program has maintained accreditation for many years and is structured to support working students.

Courses Offered

Students complete approximately 60 to 61 credit hours covering veterinary anatomy, pharmacology, clinical pathology, nursing care, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, and surgical assisting.

Clinical skills are practiced under supervision at approved veterinary facilities.

Program Cost

Tuition follows Dallas College rates.

In-county students may pay under 5000 dollars total for tuition, while out-of-county and out-of-state students may pay between 8000 and 12000 dollars, depending on credit load and residency.

Contact Information

• Address: 3030 N Dallas Ave, Lancaster, TX 75134, United States
• Phone: +1 972-860-8201
• Website: Visit School Website

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Schools Summary Table

	Rank	School
	#1	Penn Foster College
	#2	Ashworth College
	#3	San Juan College
	#4	Dallas College
	#5	Colby Community College
	#6	St. Petersburg College
	#7	Lone Star College
	#8	Cedar Valley College

What Courses Are in an Online Veterinary Technician Training Program?

You’ll need to complete about 270 clinical hours of training for a veterinary technician program.

The curriculum covers courses in:

• Animal breeds
• Medical records and recordkeeping
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Veterinary acronyms
• Medical terminology
• Nutrition
• Pharmacology
• Veterinary practice business management
• Ethics
• Legal and professional standards
• Large animal care
• Surgery
• And related topics.

Can You Earn an Online Veterinarian’s Technician Training Program Certification Completely Online?

You can earn an online veterinary technician training program completely online.

You will need to complete 270 clinical class hours and pass the licensing exam.

How Long Does it take to earn an Online Veterinary Technician Training Program Certification?

Once you complete the associate’s degree, you can take the licensing exam.

You must first complete your college training.

You can immediately take your exam after graduation.

How Much Does an Online Veterinary Technician Training Program Certification Cost?

The cost of these schools varies widely.

The range starts at about $1,300 and tops out at about $12,000.

Schools like Ashworth College and Penn Foster offer dependable programs.

They number among the 25 online schools in the US that received accredited status.

Types of Online Veterinary Technician Training Program Certifications

You can choose from a vocational school program or a college program.

If you choose the latter, you’ll need to decide if you want to pursue an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s program.

Also, consider the transfer of credit when choosing a school.

You can typically transfer credits earned at a college if you decide to pursue a higher degree.

Benefits of Online Veterinary Technician Training Programs

Attending an online veterinary tech training program affords you many advantages and benefits over attending an in-person program.

Many of these benefits apply to virtually any online training program, but not all.

1. It Requires No Transportation

You might not currently have a vehicle or need to care for a child or elderly parent temporarily.

If due to COVID-19 restrictions, injury, or illness, you cannot leave your home, or you reside in a rural area with no local schools, you can complete your schooling long-distance.

Whatever the reason, attending school online provides convenience.

2. Programs Only Feature Required Courses

Unlike your friends who pursue a four-year degree, you’ll only need to take courses that focus on the practical skills required of a veterinary technician.

You won’t have to deal with prerequisite courses, typically.

3. Small Class Sizes Provide Individualized Attention

You can choose to attend the lectures when they’re delivered live or watch them when it best suits your schedule.

This means you might be the only one watching at any given time.

Most online programs keep class sizes small, so students receive individualized attention from their professors or instructors.

When questions arise, you simply email the instructor and ask your question, or schedule an appointment for a video conference.

4. Self-paced Learning

When you enter an online veterinary technician training program, the school provides the curriculum with a minimum and maximum time limit for completion.

Most vet tech programs let you take up to 24 months to complete the degree.

You can complete the coursework more quickly than that if desired.

5. Interning Gets You Experience

Like most medical positions, completing the training for a veterinary technician position requires the student to intern at a veterinarian’s office or an animal hospital.

This could consist of paid or unpaid work, but it can help you determine if you want to enter a general practice environment or specialize.

For instance, a specialty in radiology requires added training.

You’ll also uncover your strengths and weaknesses within your training.

6. Preparation for Certification

Unlike working as a veterinary assistant, a vet technician position requires certification or licensing.

You’ll need to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).

7. Job Placement Assistance

While many brick-and-mortar schools provide job boards, online veterinary tech programs offer job placement services.

They want to actively assist their graduates in finding a job.

This helps their students and also provides their college with impressive statistics.

Students completing their program get jobs.

Drawbacks of Online Veterinary Technician Training Programs

Some drawbacks exist, although these typically involve the student, not the school.

This includes the best way you learn individually and how many individuals in your area attend the same school or a similar program.

1. Online School Requires Self-Motivation

When you attend one of these online programs, you set your own pace and decide when to attend the lectures.

You’ll have a set amount of time to complete certain assignments, but that starts from the lecture in which they are assigned.

Unlike attending high school or a typical college campus, you won’t have secondary motivations like socializing, sports, or after-school activities.

You’ll have to schedule yourself to do your work on your own, so you make it to any course chats, meetings with the instructor, and you complete your homework, write papers, etc.

2. You Need In-Person Instruction

Maybe you’re an individual who learns best with an instructor physically present, so the professor can show you how to do something.

That kind of hands-on learning you can only get from a bricks-and-mortar school.

You’ll get more structure by attending school on a traditional college campus.

3. You Study Best With a Group

Introverts excel at online learning, but many extroverts have problems with it because they lack a local study group and socialization.

Sometimes, you can attend a school large enough that you’ll have a local student population to form a study group, but it occurs rarely.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Veterinary Technician Training Program Training Programs – Summary Table

4 Self-Study Tips for Online Veterinarian’s Technician Training Program Online Students

We offer a few study tips to help you get started taking classes online.

It may seem like virtual school will work just like going to a brick-and-mortar school, but it does not.

These four tips can help you jumpstart your online learning.

Tip 1: Take Handwritten Notes

Psychology shows that you improve your memory by writing your notes by hand.

You don’t have to use pen and paper to do this.

You can install a program like Penbook on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Handwriting notes forces you to listen to the lecture closely and put the instructor’s words into your own words.

This helps you learn the material more quickly.

Tip 2: Cut Out All Distractions

While you listen to lectures, participate in a study group, write papers, or study for a test, block out all distractions.

Focus only on the learning material.

This means turning off your notifications, your cellphone, the TV, etc.

Tip 3: Use a daily planner to plan out class time and assignments

Attending school virtually means self-managing your schedule.

You make yourself attend school and do your homework.

Without social interaction, school-related activities, and friends to study with, many people find it challenging to show up and get the work done.

A daily planner provides ample space to write down assignment due dates, exam dates, block out study time, and let you plan how best to achieve your goals.

Tip 4: Approach online college like a physical college

If you can, block out a schedule for yourself to attend lectures.

Make it on a set schedule just as if you were attending classes in high school.

When you focus and attend classes regularly, you can breeze through the material

You should set up your homework schedule in a similar manner.

Tackling a little bit of the work each day makes it easier to accomplish all of it on time.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions about completing your studies online to become a veterinary technician, we have answers.

What financial aid is available for these programs?

You can obtain financial aid from the federal government through most schools.

Qualifying for this financial aid requires a specific income range.

The federal government uses the FAFSA form to document income and eligibility for Pell grants, SEOG grants, and other forms of federal financial aid, such as student loans.

Some schools also offer scholarships.

These range in amounts, and some also use income as their basis.

Other scholarships require a specific grade point average (GPA) or college entrance exam score.

Private organizations may offer scholarships that you can use at any school, whether vocational or college.

Which states require licensing of veterinary technicians?

At this time, all states in the US require licensing of their veterinary technicians.

If you complete vet tech school and become a veterinary technician, you will need certification or licensing before you can work in the field.

What does a veterinarian’s technician make in my state?

In the US, a veterinary technician’s salary varies, but the median income is $36,260.

An entry-level vet tech earns less than that.

Many employers start their vet techs at about $25,500 annually.

The top ten percent of those working in this position earn about $52,400 annually.

The variation depends on the individuals’ education, experience, and location, plus the cost of living consideration.

For example, a vet tech in California earns a median annual salary of $46,370, while in Florida, a vet tech earns a median annual salary of $34,590.

What is the typical workday like for a veterinary technician?

A veterinary tech works in a vet clinic, a veterinarian’s hospital, or an animal hospital.

Some of these facilities use office hours, such as 8 am to 5 pm, but some use a 24-hour system.

The latter qualifies as an emergency vet hospital and typically employs more individuals than a daytime-only practice.

The vet tech takes over when the vet assistant’s work ends.

The latter gets the exam rooms ready, while the former assists the veterinarian with the exam.

The vet tech also assists during surgeries.

Those who specialize in radiology will administer X-rays, develop the film, and read the X-rays.

You’ll need to work well with animals.

You may complete some of the lab work, taking blood from animals, urine, or feces samples.

Summary

You can complete the full course of training online in 24 months or less.

If you decide to go further with your training, you can become a veterinarian and all of your college courses will apply to your further degree.

As a veterinary technician, your salary will range from about $25,500 to $52,400 annually.

If you love animals and want a career in medicine, the career of a veterinary technician might be for you, and you can complete your education completely online.