Online Vet Tech Programs that Accept Financial Aid

St. Petersburg College in Florida offers an associate of science degree in veterinary nursing for aspiring vet techs. This online and campus-based program prepares graduates to sit the national certification exam and allows them to complete clinical practicums at an approved location near where they live. The program also receives accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association through the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities.

The curriculum covers important topics in the field, including animal anatomy, veterinary office procedures, animal anesthesia, avian and exotic pet medicine, and large animal diseases. Students complete a number of labs and clinicals to help them gain more hands-on skills. Before starting on major coursework, students must complete at least 18 of the 22 required general education courses. The school also requires that all applicants spend at least 40 hours working or volunteering at a veterinary hospital to meet clinical observation requirements and 20 hours per week while they are enrolled. Applicants must also fill out forms on veterinary hospital observation and discussion in order to receive consideration. The department provides six scholarships specifically for vet techs along with a robust financial aid department.

Cedar Valley College, a member of the Dallas County Community College District, serves students in Texas and beyond with an online veterinary technology distance education program. This associate of applied science requires 60 credits in total that span both general education and vet tech courses. Some of the topics learners can expect to take include veterinary pharmacology, equine clinical management, veterinary parasitology, anesthesia and surgical assistance, and large animal assisting techniques. CVC’s program receives accreditation via the American Veterinary Medical Association and prepares learners for state and national exams that allow for credentialing. The school maintains a 73% pass rate for the veterinary technician national examination for first-time test takers.

In-district learners pay $1,770 per semester when taking 15 credits, while those considered out-of-district pay $3,330 for the same amount. When totaling the number of credits required, this means, local students pay $7,080 and non-resident learners pay $13,320. Degree seekers should also consider costs related to books and supplies, health insurance, room and board, transportation, and any other miscellaneous personal expenses. Fortunately, the school provides a number of institutional scholarships as well as links to outside scholarships and grants that might help cover their costs.

The University of Missouri’s Mizzou Online provides a veterinary biomedical technology program as a certificate to meet varied student needs. The certificate requires 15 credits and is estimated to cost $6,562.35, inclusive of tuition and fees. Learners may need to pay additionally for books and supplies. All courses are made available fully online to ensure no student needs to visit campus. They are also taught asynchronously so individuals who want to continue working can do so while enrolled. Applicants must hold either an associate’s degree or have taken prerequisite courses designated by UM before being cleared for enrollment.

Some of the topics covered in this program include veterinary medical terminology, animal sanitation and disease prevention, specialty careers for veterinary technicians, clinical veterinary neurology, and fundamentals of small animal emergency and critical care. The College of Veterinary Medicine receives full accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. The department offers several academic scholarships to help offset costs and provides helpful financial aid tools such as a list of outside scholarships, a cost calculator, and access to financial aid officers who can provide tailored information to prospective learners.