College Graduate wanting to become vet tech

I recently graduated from a four year university in sociology. I have a passion for animals and would like to become a vet tech. I am shadowing a vet tech and observing surgeries to see if this is the right move for me. The one thing I am worried about is that if I will be able to get into an accredited Vet Tech school, even though I do not have much knowledge in biology. Will it be difficult for me to be accepted to these schools, or because I am a college graduate will I just need to take a placement test to see where I am?

Hi Margie!
I also have a bachelor from a 4-yr university. I applied to an AVMA-accredited distance learning program (San Juan College); all of my lower-division requirements met with their program after they reviewed the transcripts (and my biology class was over 10 years old!). Since you have a bachelor degree, there may not be a placement test, depending upon the school and the program requirements, and you may be able to move right into their curriculum. Check the AVMA site for accredited programs in MT.
Since you already work in the field, make sure to let your vet/employer know of your plans, and you'll be able to do your clinicals from the get-go. Good luck!

Hi Margie,

I heard they just opened up a RVT program in Pomona for Carrington College. My friend who is working as an assistant is looking to get licensed. He said it is not an online course so would have to attend class and internships.

Hi I'm going to attend carrington college in pomona for the vet tech program. The staff is great the assessment test is easy anyone can pass it you don't have to be good in biology at least not for the test. The test is just math and vocabulary.:-) I hope I helped

margie1129 in Whitefish, Montana said: I recently graduated from a four year university in sociology. I have a passion for animals and would like to become a vet tech. I am shadowing a vet tech and observing surgeries to see if this is the right move for me. The one thing I am worried about is that if I will be able to get into an accredited Vet Tech school, even though I do not have much knowledge in biology. Will it be difficult for me to be accepted to these schools, or because I am a college graduate will I just need to take a placement test to see where I am?

I did attend a vet tech school in San Diego. I did well and learned quite a bit. I have worked at a bunch of hospitals and have lost most jobs after just 3 mos. The reason? No skills. Or lack of skills. But, actually, none of the lead techs would take me under their wing, so to speak, and really force me to do jug draws and catheter placements. Mostly it has been restraint, restraint, restraint. I made a huge mistake and spent a ton of money by going to a tech school without having worked in the industry. My advice, as an RVT (that test is really hard), just start working in a hospital and gain some skills. Don't waste the money until you are absolutely sure. There are only 4 things you can't do without the license check the vet med board, everything else, you can do unlicensed and many vets hesitate to hire a licensed RVT b/c we demand more money and they would rather train someone off the street. Also, you have to be a psychotic rude blank to get along with the techs, because they are not people lovers and they will absolutely treat you like blank and demean you if they know you have a license but no experience. I had to quit Banfield for that reason. This is all true, absolutely true. Trust me, go get a job first and see that I am right. OH, and microbiology is an impacted course at most colleges, I lucked out and got in on a summer course, get that one done as soon as possible.

I had a similar problem. I did make some mistakes in regard to getting a job (waiting until after I was sure I'd passed my licensing exam for one - you don't need to wait if you've graduated, but at the time, I worried I might fail the test. Now I feel dumb, since I still would have been able to be an assistant until I did pass). However, I lost my job six months after I got my first one and the only thing I can put it down to is lack of experience. I know I'm an excellent employee otherwise, so that's the only reason they would have let me go. I just wish they'd have been a bit more prepared to have a new grad. I was nervous about doing most things without anyone overseeing me, and this wasn't the type of place that allowed for that. I only got 3 DAYS of shadowing someone before they put me on by myself. Of course, I wasn't really alone, but I never got the guidance I needed or the opportunities to watch and learn when I really needed to. For instance, I remember one day after I'd been there a few weeks. I was observing a dental cleaning (never having done one myself, I was trying to learn by watching the more experienced technician). The head doctor came in and told me to go find something else to do because he didn't like it when people were "idle". Um, hello? I was trying to learn an important skill that's part of my job. I ended up doing pretty much anything but what I really should have been learning while I was there. I was pretty much nothing more than a glorified assistant. Yes, I was allowed to do some things; I got pretty good at intubating and self-monitoring animals that were under anesthesia. I did okay with x-rays when I was assisting the other technicians, and I was even improving with catheter placements and blood draws by the time they decided to get rid of me. I just never got to do enough of anything to really get good at it, and I think it's partly because, after a while, they didn't really want to train me.

i have an appointment at carrington college in pomona this friday to see if i wanna enroll into this school for the vet tech program! they told me they offer an associates degree! but after reading what Kendel had to say, im kinda scared! i was just wondering if any one knows how much training they actually give u hands on! im suppose to start school at a jc but i only got one class and its not even a transferable class so i dont know wether i should just go to the jc and just attend that one class till next semester or if carrington will actually help..im just scared of not being employed after i get my associates?!! someone please help!

esmi13 in Lake Elsinore, California said: i have an appointment at carrington college in pomona this friday to see if i wanna enroll into this school for the vet tech program! they told me they offer an associates degree! but after reading what Kendel had to say, im kinda scared! i was just wondering if any one knows how much training they actually give u hands on! im suppose to start school at a jc but i only got one class and its not even a transferable class so i dont know wether i should just go to the jc and just attend that one class till next semester or if carrington will actually help..im just scared of not being employed after i get my associates?!! someone please help!

My friend attended the program but in a different city and she has had the same job for a year and a half now :).. but I hear a lot of people are struggling with finding a job. I recently applied and just had to go through financial aide and i would be in,but after really looking at it,the school costs 32,000 where i live and vet techs out here are topping out at 42,000 with plenty of years of experience.Im not saying I only care bout the money,but honestly to pay 32,000 and get paid less than that for years just scared me a little. I think a JC is a more reasonable option.by the way it makes u wonder,are these people only after my money?my friend went to enroll for the vet tech program with me but did not pass the exam and they just kept pushing other programs on her.honestly it looks like its just a 50/50..u may be lucky after taking the course,but luck may not be good enough when youre 30,000 in debt..(i am now looking for a JC to start on my ultrasound tech program) =].

i know indianapolis is kind of far away but I go to the vet tech institute at international business college. they have many locations in the country. it is an associate's degree that you get in 18 months. it is pretty hands on too. one of my classes is just for hands on learning. they have a kennel in the school! it is accredited by the avma. you dont need any previous degrees in biology or anything. its a great school!

I'm looking going into Carrington College in Stockton but I'm nervous because I'm looking at 32,000 for the schooling. I live in Sonora,CA. Does anyone out there know if they schooling is really worth it and if they'd hire me in my area after the school? I don't want to be like my fiance who went through the HVAC program in Modesto and then found he couldn't get a job because the market was flooded. Luckily he got a free ride. I will have to pay for all of mine.

looking into vet tech school for my 23 year old daughter. She has hands-on experience with animals having worked as an animal trainer trainee at Six Flags, for a pet sitting service, and for a pet resort. She also has about 100 hours volunteer time at the zoo. She had a very ill cat and her vet taught her how to do subcutaneous IVs, give pills, etc. She knows how to lay out everything for certain injections from her jobs, works with various types of animals, and so forth. Carrington College seems very pricey for the vet tech program- is it really worth it or would it be better for her to try to get a job at a vet's office and learn that way?
Thanks for any and all input.

WRB, since she already has some hands-on experience, it would seem that there are several options for your daughter. If she really wants to work in veterinary care (domestic or exotics), an education is becoming a good option. With the California laws changing, it would be a good idea to work toward some kind of degree, whether an AAS or a BS.

She could find an entry-level assistant job at a vet's practice (perhaps the very one who taught her to SQ IV injections) and attend one of the online vet tech programs; some offer an AAS degree. With that AAS comes the eligibility to sit for the VTNE exam and become a registered veterinary technician in the state of California.

Online programs are more budget-friendly than private colleges or universities, and the work can be done outside of traditional campus classroom schedules. Go to the AVMA site and check out their list of accredited Vet Tech distance learning programs:

www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_distance_learning.asp

I have attended San Juan College and have been very happy with their program, faculty, and staff, but that is just my experience and opinion. Good luck!

WRB in Gualala, California said: looking into vet tech school for my 23 year old daughter. She has hands-on experience with animals having worked as an animal trainer trainee at Six Flags, for a pet sitting service, and for a pet resort. She also has about 100 hours volunteer time at the zoo. She had a very ill cat and her vet taught her how to do subcutaneous IVs, give pills, etc. She knows how to lay out everything for certain injections from her jobs, works with various types of animals, and so forth. Carrington College seems very pricey for the vet tech program- is it really worth it or would it be better for her to try to get a job at a vet's office and learn that way?
Thanks for any and all input.

Hey WRB!

It seems your daughter is fond of animals and due to this reason she is in pet care field. But inspite of her experience in this field she may need a vet tech degree in future. So it would be better if she goes for online courses in vet tech. There are many universities which have online vet tech programs. And trust me they are really good. Also there are provisions of scholarship, which will lower the cost of studies to great extent. The following site will give you all the details.

veterinariantechnician.org/financial-aid-and-scholarships-for-vet-techs/

Many of my friends are doing online courses and are really satisfied with these programs.

hi,,i am from Armenia,,i will grad school in 2012,i dream to become veterinar,,i loove anymals and have lots of wishes about helping them ,,but in Armenia there isnt good vet institute,,plz help me to find where can i apply or get for learning vet program at institute..??thanks if somebody will reply me//

donna in Indianapolis, Indiana said: i know indianapolis is kind of far away but I go to the vet tech institute at international business college. they have many locations in the country. it is an associate's degree that you get in 18 months. it is pretty hands on too. one of my classes is just for hands on learning. they have a kennel in the school! it is accredited by the avma. you dont need any previous degrees in biology or anything. its a great school!

Are you talking about the Vet Tech Institute at Fox College? It is accredited right? and do you have to have any college level classes before you apply? I can't seem to find any info on that.

You can find a complete list of AVMA accredited colleges in Illinois here: www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_programs/illinois.asp

There are links to each school's website there as well.

To determine what their requirements are for applying to the veterinary technology degree program, contact the program. It's the easiest way to get clear and accurate answers.

I am a 10th grader in high school and I am looking into becoming a vet tech or a vet assistant. I am really set on becoming a vet tech but I am worried about the cost and all that and I keep finding different answers online. So please any information would help me.I live in Indiana and I may be moving to Nevada after I graduate high school so really any information about becoming a vet tech in Indiana or Nevada would be very helpful. I need information on schools,cost and how long it would take me to get everything done...any information and opinions are welcome thank you.