Veterinary Medicine Distance Education Pricing and Costs

Price out the cost of earning online veterinary degrees and certificates
By Kristina Seleshanko Although there are relatively few universities and colleges with veterinary programs in the United States, you still can't get a veterinary degree online--however, you may want to look at veterinary medicine distance education pricing and costs. A legitimate distance education can earn you a degree suitable for veterinary techs; online courses are also suitable for continuing your education as an established vet.
Before you choose just any veterinary education online, however, there are a few steps you should take:
1. Select a college with an online veterinary degree if you wish to become a technician.
2. Choose a distance education veterinary program if you want to continue your veterinary education.
3. Read what experts have to say about obtaining a veterinary degree online.

Earn a veterinary online degree for technicians

Any school that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is a safe choice for distance learning in the veterinary field. To earn an online vet degree for technicians, tuition is generally about $100 to $250 per credit hour, depending upon whether you are a resident of the state where the college is located.
Try:  Blue Ridge Community College offers AVMA-approved online veterinary education for an "Associate of Applied Science Degree in Animal Science Major: Veterinary Technology." For a list of other AVMA-approved distance schools, see the AVMA website.

Consider other types of veterinary education online

Veterinary online courses suitable for continuing education are generally quite affordable. They cover a vast array of topics, from surgery to breeding. As an example of potential costs, a one-hour, one-time seminar generally costs between $40 and $100, while a longer seminar may cost between $100 and $500.
Try:  The Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine offers a number of online veterinary courses for continuing education, including those related to nutrition, neonatology, and surgery. Colorado State University provides ongoing education for veterinarians, including topics such as animal behavior, dealing with "difficult" clients, poisonous plants, and much more.

Read up on getting a vet degree online

It is important to carefully read what experts in the field of veterinary professions have to say about the pros and cons of taking online vet classes. At its best, distance education makes it possible for more people to enter the veterinary field by lowering the cost of education and reducing American student debt loads. This is a good thing, since there's a shortage of vets. Nonetheless, there are plenty of bogus learning programs online. One important thing to look for is the cost of online courses compared to the cost of in-person courses (since online courses shouldn't cost more than in-person courses).
Try:  For a good general article for potential distance learners, check out "How To Spot Bogus Online Degree Programs," by Helen Hecker. "Addressing Educational Challenges in Veterinary Medicine through the Use of Distance Education" at JVME Online discusses the challenges and advantages of distance education for those who wish to enter the veterinary field, including the benefit of lower education costs. Membership is required in order to read the full article.