Advances in veterinary medicine, often on a par with human medicine, require that veterinarians and veterinary technicians become educated in new techniques and procedures on an ongoing basis. With the advent of older workers changing jobs and reentering the workforce, online education has become an option for some.
Most online veterinary technician courses are affiliated with accredited universities or community colleges and allow the student to complete course work at home on a timely basis. Only a few veterinary technician programs are affiliated with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which evaluates quality standards in small animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, and is considered to promote the highest quality of care. These particular online programs are often the most difficult to get into, with higher entrance standards and a harder course load. Tests are usually timed and depend on a measure of honesty and ethics on the student's part.
Once online coursework is finished, the student must often complete an internship of varying lengths under the auspices of a licensed veterinarian, who will evaluate and grade the student's work. This is similar to a human medical residency.
Students in veterinary technician distance learning programs should be prepared to learn animal Anatomy and Physiology, Parasitology, Pharmacology, and Veterinary Terminology. They will study such topics as hematology, office management, and large (farm animals) and small animal (household pets) practices.
A working knowledge of algebra is necessary to calculate dosages, and the ability to manage stressful situations is inherent in the job.
Most veterinary technician distance learning programs take anywhere from two and a half to three years to complete if taken consecutively. This does not include any internship or residency requirements, or any educational prerequisites before entering the program. All programs require either a high school diploma or GED, and most require at least one semester of regular college credits, including courses in English, speech, biology, and algebra or a math equivalent.
New students wanting to work directly in animal medicine should always consider going with a program that is college accredited and is for "veterinary technicians," not "veterinary assistants." Veterinary technicians are either licensed or registered according to the state of practice and may legally assist the veterinarian in surgeries, medical emergencies, surgical aftercare and administering of medications.
Veterinary assistants, according to most state bylaws, are allowed to do none of these things. Newer veterinary practices are often looking to hire educated veterinary technicians instead of assistants and will bring them on with a higher salary and greater benefits package. To become registered or licensed, students must complete a campus-based or distance learning program, and take both state and national comprehensive tests on veterinary medicine and state agricultural bylaws.
Some of the benefits of distance learning are obvious: the time and space to work at your own pace, maintain a full-time job, and take care of children among the most important. For the veterinary technician, getting an online education may also allow access to the latest procedures and newest information via the internet while still learning the basics of animal care.
Interested students should remember that working with animals, especially in a medical capacity, is never all warm purrs and furry kisses. Veterinary technicians work with all manner of bodily exigent, including blood, urine, feces and tissue samples, and are often subject to scratches and bites from hurt or fearful patients. Long hours and manual labor are not an unknown factor to the vet tech experience.
Humane euthanasia is a constant in veterinary medicine. But for those willing to put in the hours and the hard work, a veterinary technician distance learning program is a viable road to a new career.