Online Vet Assistant Schools & Programs

You can start a career as a veterinarian assistant in less than one year plus you will have plenty of room for advancement by immediately training as a veterinarian technician.

You can also advance to other careers from this entry-level position, including that of a veterinarian.

With projected job growth of 14 percent through 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and programs you can complete in twenty-six weeks (six months), completing an online veterinarian’s assistant training program can help you launch your career working with animals this year.

Veterinary assistants earn a median salary of $29,930 or $14.39 per hour, depending on whether the veterinarian pays on a salaried or hourly basis.

This job provides an entry-level position that you can work part-time or full-time and you can hold this position while attending veterinary school.

What Courses Are in an Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Program?

Most veterinary assistant training courses provide about 35 course classroom hours and 24 volunteer internship hours.

The curriculum covers courses in veterinary acronyms, medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, veterinary practice business management, ethics, legal and professional standards, how to handle and care for animals, animal examination procedures, including checking for signs of injury or illness.

Can You Earn an Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Program Certification Completely Online?

You can earn an online veterinarian’s assistant training program certification completely online.

You will need to complete an internship in person though and it will require 24 work hours that count as classroom time.

How Long Does it Take to Earn an Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Program Certification Online?

The shortest programs for this career require 26 weeks while the longer programs require 12 months.

Typically, you can complete courses at your own pace, but you will have a maximum of 12 months to successfully complete your studies.

How Much Does an Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Program Certification Cost?

You can typically expect to pay about $1,000 for this type of program.

The cost varies by school.

The lowest cost program of $589 comes from the US Career Institute, while the program at Loyola Marymount University costs $2,295.

You can find other programs between those two costs, such as the Penn Foster program, which costs tuition of $799.

One consideration in choosing your program is whether it is by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).

Many veterinary practices prefer job applicants who graduate from NAVTA-approved programs.

Types of Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Program Certifications

You can choose from a vocational school program or a college program.

If you choose the latter, you will need to decide if you want to pursue an associate degree or a bachelor’s program.

Also, consider the transfer of credit when choosing a school.

If you want to continue your education, you should choose an accredited college for your program.

This lets you count the coursework toward a future, higher degree.

Benefits of Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Programs

When you attend an online veterinarian’s assistant training program, you will discover numerous benefits to this career.

Some items in this list might sound similar to those on benefit lists for other types of online training programs, but that is because all online training provides them.

Self-paced Learning

When you enter an online veterinarian’s assistant training program, the school provides the curriculum with a minimum and maximum time limit for completion.

You can complete your program in six months if you want to, or you can take up to 12 months with most programs.

Career-focused Programs

You benefit from the program’s focus on practical skills required for the job you will hold.

Beginning career-oriented courses will not require prerequisites.

Custom Class Sizes

Since you choose when you attend the lectures and most are pre-recorded, you can have a class size of one if you desire.

You only need to attend live lecture classes if you want to do so.

The schools do limit enrollment so that the instructors can manage the grading load.

This increases the personal attention each student receives from an experienced, well-qualified instructor.

When you do have questions, you can email the instructor and schedule an appointment.

Long-Distance Hands-On Learning

Your course materials do not only include e-books.

They also include essential physical equipment that gets shipped to you at the beginning of the program.

You will practice using this equipment along with video tutorials so you can participate in your hands-on learning experience.

Attending Internships

Whether a medical post dealing with humans or animals, most positions require a student to intern in a professional environment before finishing school.

This internship uncovers strengths and weaknesses.

It also provides you with a real-world, day-to-day experience of what the job is like, so you know you would really want to become a veterinary assistant.

Preparation for Certification

While most states do not require certification or licensing, completing that can help you land a job.

Transportation Unrequired

You can complete your schooling long-distance without leaving your home.

If you live in an area without mass transit, but with available veterinarians to work for after school completion, this helps you.

If you are recovering from an illness or injury and want to train for a new career while you recover, online training can help you do this.

Job Placement Assistance

Many online veterinary programs offer job placement assistance, while bricks-and-mortar schools typically offer job boards.

The difference is that online programs often work with employers in their students’ areas to match an available trained student with a job opening.

Offline schools typically provide a board when employers list openings and the student pursues job applications alone.

Drawbacks of Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Program

As many benefits to attending an online veterinarian assistant program exist, a few drawbacks exist, too.

Some do not apply to every individual.

You Require Direction

Some individuals learn best in a physical environment where they attend classes on a set schedule with classmates and an instructor present.

If you learn best that way, you should not attempt remote learning.

You should attend a bricks-and-mortar school, so you attend classes on a specific schedule.

You will not accelerate your learning.

Instead, you will complete the program on the same schedule as the other students and be part of a graduating class.

Remote Learning Lacks Local Study Group

While introverts can do well in online learning, many extroverts find it lacking since remote learning does not provide local students with whom you can bond.

You will not have other local students with whom to form study groups.

Self-Motivation Required

Remote classes require self-motivation.

You do not have the attraction of seeing people at school or after-school activities to create a secondary motivation.

You either want the education and to walk into an instant career, or you do not belong.

It is your job to attend all the lectures, show up on time for chat meetings, complete the homework, write the papers, etc.

Since online school is self-paced, you must self-motivate to stick to a schedule and complete all of the work.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Program – Summary Table

Benefits of Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Programs	Drawbacks of Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Program
Self-paced Learning	You Require Direction
Career-focused Programs	Remote Learning Lacks Local Study Group
Custom Class Sizes	Self-Motivation Required
Long-Distance Hands-On Learning
Attending Internships
Preparation for Certification
Transportation Unrequired
Job Placement Assistance

4 Self-Study Tips for Online Veterinarian’s Assistant Training Program Online Students

Taking classes online works a little differently than doing so in person.

You will not have ready access to a study group, so you need to get creative about planning your class time, study time, and finding a friend with whom you can study.

Tip 1: Treat online schools like physical classes

You need to spend time on schoolwork every day, just as you would if you went to vocational school or college in person.

You should set a class attendance schedule for yourself and a homework schedule for yourself, then stick to it.

This discipline prepares you for employment.

Once you graduate and get a job, you will have to show up on time every morning and get right to work.

You will work a full day, typically from 8 am to 5 pm or later, so self-managing your coursework and homework prepare you for that.

Tip 2: Purchase a daily planner and block out your schedule and assignment and exam deadlines

If you just graduated high school, it can be challenging to self-manage school and homework.

While you are accustomed to changing classes and seeing people face-to-face, you will need to stick to your schedule and block out your class time and study time in a daily planner (not a weekly or monthly planner that will not offer enough room).

Tip 3: Eliminate Distractions

Block out all distractions while you attend class or study.

Your focus should be on the lecture and taking notes while attending class.

You should focus only on studying while studying.

Distraction-free means no social media, checking messages, checking email, etc.

Tip 4: Take Great Notes

Take notes by writing them down by hand.

You can get a computer or tablet program like Penbook that lets you handwrite your notes on your tablet or smartphone.

This lets you have your notes with you at all times for studying in line at the store or while stuck waiting at the doctor’s office.

You can use a notebook and pen or pencil, too.

Try finding a notebook that fits into your purse or your back pocket.

Schools Offering Online Vet Assistant Training Programs

Sources

• https://www.veterinaryschoolsu.com/vet-assistant/pros-and-cons/
• https://www.uscareerinstitute.edu/online-veterinary-assistant-school
• https://careertrainingsolutionsllc.com/classroom-programs/veterinary-assistant/
• https://www.pennfoster.edu/programs/veterinary/veterinary-assistant-career-diploma
• https://academics.lmu.edu/extension/programs/in-demand-industries/veterinary-assistant/
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers.htm

Summary

You can complete the training and internship to become a Veterinarian’s assistant in six to 12 months online.

You can build an in-office experience that provides you with a strong background for continuing your education to become a veterinarian.

Your salary will range from about $19,000 per year to $27,000 annually.

If you love animals and want a career in medicine, the career of veterinarian’s assistant might be for you, and you can complete your education completely online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What financial aid is available for these programs?

Many schools work with the federal government to administer financial aid to students.

Not all schools accept the FAFSA, the federal form that documents income and eligibility for Pell grants, SEOG grants, and other forms of federal financial aid, such as student loans.

Which states require licensing of veterinarian’s assistants?

At this time, no state in the US requires licensing of its veterinarian assistants.

If you continue school and become a veterinary technician, you will need certification or licensing.

How much does a veterinarian’s assistant make in my state?

In the US, a veterinary assistants’ salary by the state is based on education, experience, and location.

The cost of living in an area factors into the latter criteria.

Massachusetts offers the best pay with an annual average salary of $27,960.

Florida offers the lowest salary of $19,963.

What is the typical workday like for a Veterinarian’s assistant?

You work in a veterinarian’s office or an animal hospital as a veterinary assistant.

The workday consists of opening the office and getting exam rooms ready.

This means you arrive about thirty minutes before the office opens.

Typically, offices open at 8 am so people can drop off their pets on the way to their own workplace.

That means that your workday will start at about 7:30 am.

Throughout the day, you will greet pet owners and their pets.

You need to work well with both humans and pets since you will need to make nice with the humans and care for the pets.

You will show patients and their humans to the exam rooms and help them settle in.

While the vet conducts the exam, you will handle the paperwork and insurance.

You will answer phones and set appointments.

You will also answer essential questions from callers.