Online and School Support Resources for Veterinary Tech Students
Find college support resources and services that can help take you from new student to licensed vet tech.
Jobs for vet techs are estimated to grow over twice as fast as the average for all occupations through 2028 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And while this is great news for any current or future vet tech students, it still takes hard work and dedication to launch a successful vet tech career. It starts with earning an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited vet tech program. You’ll also need to get through clinicals and pass a credentialing exam, typically the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
The good news is that there’s plenty of help out there, both in-person and online, that you can take advantage of along the way. We’ve put together this page of quality academic and career resources to get you started, whether you’re still researching vet tech schools, in the middle of your program, or are about to graduate. Below you’ll find information on lots of great resources and support services specifically designed to help you reach your vet tech career goals.
Vet Tech Student Support Centers and Services
Whether you need help locating financial aid, finding a tutor, or simply getting a handle on your online or on-campus classes, your first stop should be your school’s student support services. Your school may house all of its student support services in a single campus office, or services may be found in separate offices across your campus. You’ll also likely find detailed services information on your school’s website. Regardless of where they’re located, it’s important for all new vet tech students to get familiar with, and make use of, the student support services available to them.
To give you an idea of what you can expect in the way of student support services, we’ve spotlighted three schools with vet tech programs that provide excellent support services to their vet tech students.
Austin Community College
ACC offers a six-semester Veterinary Technology Associate of Applied Science degree with most courses taught on its Eastview Campus in Austin. The college additionally offers an impressive package of support services for its health services students, many of which are geared specifically for those in the vet tech program. From the Veterinary Technology Program homepage, students can access information on most vet tech-related student services, including career and employment support, and the full range of the ACC library’s virtual resources. Of particular note are the services available through the ACC Health Sciences Retention Coordinator’s office, where students can get help with improving their critical thinking, study, and test taking skills, as well as gain access to the school’s physical and mental health services. ACC additionally sponsors a Veterinary Technology Student Association.
Northern Virginia Community College
North Virginia Community College (NOVA) offers its vet tech students two associate degree study options: a full-time program available on the schools Loudon campus, and a part-time program that is completed primarily online with a few required campus visits. Both online and on-campus NOVA vet tech students have access to a range of support services, information on which can be found on the college’s Services & Support webpage — including details on student resources offered directly through NOVA’s Office of Student Services.
Important NOVA student support resources include: academic and career advising (both on-campus and virtual); financial aid support (including several scholarship opportunities exclusively for NOVA vet tech students); online tutoring; special services for disabled and military/veteran students; and the NOVACares program that provides student mental health and behavior counseling and assistance.
Oklahoma State University
OSU’s Oklahoma City campus is home to an AVMA-accredited Veterinary AAS degree program that qualifies students for both the VTNE and the Oklahoma State Veterinary Technician Examination. The Veterinary AAS program webpage is a good place to start your exploration of the wide range of support services available to OSU vet tech students, including resources for both future and current students.
Important services include in-person and virtual academic advising, in-person and online tutoring, IT support, career services, the OSU-OKC Wellness Center, and much more. Of particular note are the numerous resources offered in support of single parent students. OSU vet tech students can additionally take advantage of the professional and social networking opportunities available to members of the school’s Veterinary Technician Students Association.
Resources for Online Vet Tech Students
Along with the tremendous growth in online postsecondary education has come an equally tremendous growth in academic resources supporting online college students, including students pursuing their vet tech degrees in fully-online and hybrid-formatted programs. This is important since distance learning brings with it a number of unique challenges for those entering the online learning environment for the first time. Here are six resources that will help vet tech students succeed in their online degree programs:
- How Visual Learners Can Succeed in Online Vet Technician School
Some people retain information better when it’s presented to them visually (graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, videos, etc.) This brief article offers practical advice and encouragement to visual learners who may be a bit apprehensive about taking on their vet tech studies in a virtual environment. - Inside Online Vet Tech Schools & Programs
EduMed’s own guide to everything you need to know about locating the online vet tech program that best suits your academic needs and career goals. Readers will also find a wealth of great information and advice on vet tech program costs and curriculums, certification and licensing, and career prospects. - Is Online Learning a Good Fit?
Excellent article from Estrella Mountain Community College packed with practical tips for vet tech students and others to determine if an online learning environment is a good fit for them. - Online Vet Tech Programs that Accept Financial Aid
Whether you’re looking at online or on-campus vet tech programs, paying for college is always a major concern. This EduMed guide focuses on those online schools for which financial aid options – like scholarships, grants, and loans – are available. Find out here how to qualify for financial aid for your online vet tech program. - Transitioning to Online School: A Guide for Healthcare Students
This EduMed guide is designed to help vet tech and other healthcare students new to distance learning make a smooth transition into the online learning environment. Topics include online learning and communication, important tools and technologies, mastering the virtual classroom, and more. - Veterinary Nursing Resources
This resource-packed clearinghouse site was created by Purdue University for its veterinary technician and technology students. Online vet tech students anywhere, however, can access the range of useful resources compiled here for researching and writing papers and tackling other course assignments.
Professional Organizations and Associations
A great way to build a solid foundation of support in the veterinary field is by joining a veterinary student organizations and professional associations. Through participation in student and professional group activities and events, you’ll develop long-lasting relationships with peers that will pay dividends throughout your vet tech career and beyond. Here are six vet tech and veterinary-related professional groups you’ll want to know more about:
- Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians (AIMVT)
The AIMVT is a professional organization that promotes the interests of vet techs within the subfield of veterinary internal medicine. The AIMVT sponsors Veterinary Technician Specialist training and certification in the specific areas of large animal internal medicine, small animal internal medicine, oncology, cardiology, and neurology. - Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia (AVTAA)
The purpose of the AVTAA is to promote interest in the veterinary anesthesia field primarily by providing a process for vet techs to gain Veterinary Technician Specialist (Anesthesia/Analgesia) certification. AVTAA membership requires passing the certification exam, which is open to credentialed vet techs who meet extensive exam pre-requisites. - Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians (AZVT)
As the name suggests, the AZVT is a nonprofit association of vet tech professionals and students, and others interested in zoo veterinary technology dedicated to the quality of veterinary technical care in zoo animal medicine. The AZVT sponsors conferences and other related events for members, as well as a scholarship for vet tech students. - National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
The NAVTA is a national association for vet tech and veterinary assistant students and working professionals that provides a substantial package of support services and resources for its members. Benefits include access to continuing education programs, career resources, scholarship opportunities, and the association’s official publication, The NAVTA Journal. - North American Veterinary Community (NAVC)
The NAVC is a nonprofit organization providing continuing education programs and a range of other services and products aimed at the global animal healthcare community. Visitors to the NAVC website can access a variety of news sources, as well as a job placement search engine that is free to job seekers.
Social Media and Online Communities
For most people today, social networks and other online communities are the places vet techs turn to first when looking to connect with other professionals in their field. Here are six of the best and most popular social media pages and online groups for vet techs seeking career advice, leads on jobs, emotional support, or who just want to shoot the breeze:
- NAVTA Facebook Page
The official Facebook page for the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America offers visitors a great place to read and comment on association articles, view photos and videos about life as a vet tech, and more. Membership is not required. - r/VetTech Subreddit
Visitors who go to this 18k-member Reddit community will find lots of great information and advice on virtually every aspect of vet tech practice you can imagine. - Veterinary Support Personnel Network (VSPN)
The VSPN website acts as both an online community and information clearinghouse for veterinary support staff, including vet techs, assistants, office managers, receptionists, and others. You’ll have to join to access most of VSPN’s services, but membership is free. - Veterinary Technicians Life Facebook Page
The Veterinary Technicians Life Facebook group page provides a place for its over 25,000 members from around the world to socialize, and share and discuss their experiences in taking care of animals. - WhereTechsConnect
WhereTechsConnect is a job posting and search site for vet tech and related veterinary support staff positions throughout the U.S. and Canada. There’s a fee for posting an ad, but job seekers can reply to offers, and even create and add their resumes to their replies, for free.
Articles, Videos, Books and Podcasts
In addition to networking and community sites, there are plenty of online media resources, social and traditional alike, that provide information and support to vet tech students and professionals. They include blogs, podcasts, books, magazines, and more. Here are six such resources vet techs are bound to find both helpful and entertaining:
- The Rounds Blog
The Rounds is EduMed’s blog for health care students and professionals, including those in the vet tech field. Entries specifically geared toward veterinary technicians include 10 Unique Vet Tech Careers, 4 Most Popular Vet Tech Specialties, and What a Vet Wants from their Vet Tech. - Today’s Veterinary Nurse
Today’s Veterinary Nurse is the official journal of the NAVC. Visitors to the site have free access to a wide variety of resources, including articles on over 30 clinical topics, columns, and the current and past issues of the magazine. - Vet-ebooks.com
Vet-ebooks.com offers online access to over 1,500 veterinary ebooks, including textbooks and manuals written specifically for vet techs. There’s free access to a limited number of books, but you’ll have to purchase a premium membership to access the vast majority of titles. - Veterinary Technicians 101
Through interviews with veterinary technicians at Texas A&M University’s Small Animal Hospital, viewers learn about the academic path and career opportunities for vet tech students, as well as the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of working vet techs. - VETgirl Blog
VETgirl provides paid members with CE courses and other related resources. You don’t have to sign up, though, to access the free-of-charge VETgirl blog that offers dozens of interesting and informative articles for vet techs and other veterinary professionals. - The Vet Tech Cafe’s Podcast
With 31 episodes and counting, this podcast series is dedicated to providing insight into the vet tech field through interviews with leading professionals and discussions of issues affecting vet tech and veterinary nursing practice.
