If animals are your passion, you might find an exciting and fulfilling career as a veterinary technician.
Vet techs assist veterinarians in caring for and treating people's pets and other domestic and wild animals.
What most people don't realize is that you can train to be a veterinary tech through an online program and get your degree on your own terms.
Best Online Veterinary Tech Degree Programs
Keep reading for all the details about the top veterinary tech degree programs that are available online.
1. Ashworth College
Ashworth College offers an online vet tech degree program that allows you to take the first step towards becoming a registered vet tech.
The four-semester long, self-paced program includes coursework in the following areas:
- small animal husbandry and restraint
- veterinary anatomy and physiology
- veterinary anesthesia and surgical nursing
- large animal nursing and medicine
Ashworth's program also includes 270 hours of clinical training, which you can complete through a local veterinary clinic or office.
Tuition starts at a flat rate of $1,699 per semester if you pay in full. Monthly payment plans as low as $69 a month are also available.
2. Dallas College
From Dallas College, you can get a vet tech degree online that includes online assignments and in-clinic exercises.
This distance program provides flexible scheduling for working adults, with all classes offered in fall, spring, and summer.
In addition to class times, professors are also available via phone and email for additional support.
Tuition for the program starts at $79 per credit hour for Dallas County residents ($135 for Texas residents or $200 for out-of-state students).
3. Colby Community College
Colby Community College has a distance learning vet tech degree program including clinical experience.
While you can complete all coursework online, your clinical experience must be done in a local veterinary hospital.
Students also need a video recorder or smartphone and tripod to film their performance of required clinical skills for evaluation.
Tuition starts at $77 per credit hour for Thomas County residents ($82 for Kansas residents or $136 for out-of-state residents).
4. Jefferson State Community College
Jefferson State Community College offers one of the top 10 vet tech programs in the country online.
Online students receive at least 80% of their instruction online without ever having to visit a Jefferson State campus location.
However, online students are required to work or volunteer for at least 20 hours a week in a veterinary facility in Alabama.
Tuition for the program starts at $168 per credit hour. This program is eligible for federal financial aid if you qualify.
5. Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Community College has an online associate degree in veterinary technology that will prepare you for a career as a vet tech.
The program does include on-campus practical lab assessments, so you have to live in the Northern Virginia area.
The college has campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Woodbridge, and Reston.
Tuition for the program starts at $185.01 for Virginia residents. Federal financial aid and other scholarships are available for qualifying students.
6. Penn Foster College
Penn Foster College offers an accredited online vet tech degree program with self-paced courses.
Clinical experience hours may be completed through one of the many veterinary hospitals associated with Penn Foster.
The program includes four semesters of coursework and can be completed in as little as nine months.
Tuition starts at a flat rate of $1,599 per semester if you pay in full. Monthly payment plans and financial aid are available.
7. Purdue Global
Purdue Global's distance learning vet tech program allows you to earn your associate degree online.
The part-time program can be completed in as little as three years with flexible, self-paced classes.
To complete the clinical mentorship part of the program, you must work as an employee or volunteer with a local veterinary hospital.
Tuition for the program starts at $270 per credit hour for all online students, regardless of residency. Financial aid is available.
FAQs About Online Veterinary Tech Colleges and Universities
Read on for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about online veterinary technician degree programs.
What Degree Is Best for a Vet Tech?
Most vet techs have an associate degree in veterinary technology or veterinary nursing.
If you wish, you can later apply your credits to earn a bachelor's degree in veterinary technology and expand your career options.
Can You Get a Vet Tech Degree 100% Online?
There are several accredited programs that allow you to do all of the coursework for a vet tech degree 100% online.
However, there is a clinical component to any vet tech degree that must be completed in person, usually at a local veterinary facility.
Is an Online Vet Tech Degree Respected?
Online vet tech degrees are generally respected by employers, provided your program is accredited.
Accredited online programs are held to the same standards as similar degree programs offered through in-person study on campus.
Find the Right School for Veterinary Tech Programs Today
Jumpstart your career as a veterinary tech with an associate degree from an accredited online program.
