One of the largest U.S. veterinary technician schools, the Bel-Rea Institute offers an associate of applied science degree after completion of 125 credit hours. Most students complete the program at the Denver, Colorado school in 24 months. Fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA), Bel-Rea's campus includes on-site facilities for small and large animals, as well as fully-equipped surgery and treatment rooms. After obtaining an academic foundation in math, chemistry, anesthesiology, anatomy and treatment procedures, students spend the final quarter of the program getting hands-on experience during internships.
This is one of about 10 online schools providing veterinary technician training. Upon completing four semesters of courses, passing the proctored examinations and participating in two nine-week practicums at a veterinary hospital, students receive an associate of science degree in veterinary technology. Penn Foster has AVMA accreditation. After finishing the course work in the second and fourth semesters, the education department assists students in arranging their practicums. System requirement for the distance learning curriculum is access to a Microsoft Windows-based computer.
Blinn College's veterinary technology program is a collaboration with Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science. Second-year students receive much of their clinical experience at Texas A&M. Blinn admits new classes to its two-year AVMA-accredited program only in the fall semester. Admission is competitive, and the application period runs from April 1 to May 31 every year. By graduation, veterinary tech students will have gained experience with dogs, cats, horses, cattle and exotic animals. Blinn's facilities are in Bryan, Texas.
Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, Becker College offers a two-year veterinary technology program to train veterinary technicians or provide the pre-vet foundation for students who go on to veterinary school. Becker's curriculum is fully accredited by the AVMA. An on-campus veterinary clinic that treats more than 1,000 animals a year, the Lenfest Animal Health Center is a vital part of the program. Besides academic studies and gaining clinical experience at Lenfest, students make field trips to shelters and other large animal facilities to further their knowledge.