For those who are currently taking the Veterinary Technician or Vet Tech program at Penn Foster, you may want to know the Vet Tech requirements. The Vet Tech requirements at Penn Foster refer to the Vet Tech practicum requirements. So, what are the Vet Tech practicum requirements of Penn Foster?
According to the official website of Penn Foster, there are a total of two mandatory externships or practicums for Veterinary Technician. The first one, which is known as Clinical Externship 1, is completed at the end of semester two. It is after completing every academic work. This externship is 200 hours more than a 10 week period and 29 skills. However, an extension may be applied on a case by case basis. The main focus of this one is cats and dogs.
Then, what about the second one? As for the second one, which is called Clinical Externship 2, it takes place after completing the academic work of the final semester. This one is 50 hours longer than the first one, which is more than 18 weeks. It covers 51 skills. While the first one focuses on cats and dogs, this one covers small animals, large animals, and lab animals.
Before starting the externship, the student like you will be needed to submit the site that you want to use for approval. Keep in mind that you are able to9 do your skills at different approved clinics in case a site that you want to do an externship 1 at does not meet all of the skills requirements.
As you already find out about the Vet Tech practicum requirements, check out some other things about Penn Foster’s Vet Tech below:
Plus points:
Penn Foster’s Vet Tech is such a good program to consider as it is:
- Accredited: According to the official website of Penn Foster, Penn Foster’s Vet Tech Associate Degree Program has been accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association or AVMA through their committee on Veterinary Technician Education and activities or CVTEA. Apart from that, Penn Foster College is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission or DEAC.
- Flexible: There is no set start date and no exam due dates. The only things that are there are payment plans.
- Interactive: It uses interesting digital study guides. The digital textbooks are easy to use. Plus, the exercises are practical.
- Connected: The online resources can be accessed 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It uses an interesting online student community. It connects people with each other through discussion boards.
- Supportive: There is unlimited access to expert instructors and there is a dedicated student services team. Besides, it also has strong learning resources.
Things that you will learn:
There are a number of things that you will learn, such as:
- The way to be ready for the VTNE exam is by learning about animal healthcare, animal anatomy and physiology, veterinary pharmacology, veterinary practice management, and so on.
- The way to recognize the integumentary, urinary, and endocrine systems of the animals by using engaging visual learning aids and interactive assessments.
- The way to care for both large and small animals, the medicine for small and large animals, the nutrition for animals, the medicine for laboratory animals, and so on.
- The way to be a part of a working veterinary team and use knowledge and skills that you have learned in a mixed-animal practice.
Curriculum:
In the program called Online Veterinary Technician, you will be able to get a lot of skills and experiences that are needed to work as a Vet Tech. The courses that will be given include animal anatomy and physiology, pharmacology for Vet Tech, surgical nursing for Vet Tech, small and large animal medicine, laboratory animal medicine and nursing, and so on. Check out the full curriculum below:
Semester 1:
- Starting Your Program
- Introduction to Veterinary Technology
- Information Literacy
- Office Applications
- Introduction to Biology
- Animal Anatomy and Physiology 1
- Animal Anatomy and Physiology 2
Semester 2:
- English Composition
- Veterinary Office Management and Skill with People
- Mathematical Applications
- Medical Nursing for Veterinary Technicians
- Medical Mathematics
- Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians
- Clinical Externship 1
Semester 3:
- Clinical Pathology 1
- Clinical Pathology 2
- Arts and Humanities Elective
- Anesthesia for Veterinary
- Surgical Nursing for Veterinary Technicians
- Clinical Parasitology for Veterinary Technicians
Semester 4:
- Radiography for Veterinary Technicians
- Small and Large Animal Medicine
- Essentials of Psychology
- Animal Nutrition, Reproduction, Genetics, and Aging
- Laboratory Animal Medicine and Nursing
- Veterinary Technician National Examination Review
- Clinical Externship 2
Talking about the Penn foster’s Vet Tech curriculum, it should be noted that it is given to the students within four semesters. It also has 30 exams, 73 credits and 2 externships. The average time for the students to complete this one is 12 months. As for the fast-learners, it is possible for them to complete it in only 9 months.
Tuition:
There are three options to choose from when it comes to the tuition, as follows:
- Option 1: Pay semester in full
This one offers the best price and best value. In the first semester, you should pay $1,399. On top of that, there are no monthly payments.
- Option 2: Monthly auto pay plan
If you choose this one, you will have to pay $69 per month. For the first semester, the money that you have to pay is $1,899. Feel free to pay it with credit card, PayPal, or ACH from a bank account.
- Option 3: Monthly mail pay plan
If you prefer this option, you will need to pay $69 every month, just like the Option 2. For the first semester, you will have to pay $1,999. If you want to make a payment, you can mail it using a coupon book.
Career outcomes:
The average salary of a Vet Tech is $35,320 a year. According to the official website of Penn Foster, the number of jobs for Vet Tech is 112,900. As informed by the national averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for Vet Tech is expected to grow 16% through 2019.
