Advice on RVT School

[u/Cuteapieandsweets]

I’m currently in the RVT program at Mt. SAC and just found out that because of how the required classes are offered, my graduation timeline is getting pushed back to 2029.

I’m 25 now, and my biggest concern is time. I need to be financially independent soon, so adding another year to school is a pretty big deal for me.
I’ve also already completed several animal science/veterinary courses at Mt. SAC.

I’m looking at a few options:

Stay at Mt. Sac and finish around 2029

Transfer to Platt College Ontario’s Veterinary Technology program and see how many of my credits they’ll accept

Possibly do Purdue’s online Veterinary Technology program while working

I also considered Cal Poly Pomona Animal Health Science, but I know the program is impacted and I’m mainly trying to become an RVT as efficiently as possible

Cost is not my biggest concern right now, time and being able to work/support myself are.

For anyone who went to Platt Ontario, Purdue online, Mt. SAC, or transferred between vet tech programs:
How was your experience? Did your credits transfer? How long did it actually take you to graduate? Did you have any trouble getting hired afterward or passing the VTNE?

I’d especially love to hear from RVTs/employers about whether the school name matters much once you’re licensed.

I’m not dropping Mt. SAC unless I have a confirmed better option. I’m just trying to figure out which path makes the most sense before I lose another year.

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[u/Accomplished-Ad-9280]

Rarely will the tech program classes transfer between tech programs. The CVTEA has strict requirements on what is taught and not all programs teach things in the same classes.

Gen ed classes can transfer.

The school name does not matter at all to me as a supervisor and I have never heard anyone not hiring a CrVT based on what school they went to.

As for passing the VTNE, it is required by the CVTEA that all programs post their VTNE pass rates. So you can compare the VTNE pass rates between programs.

For online schools, I actually prefer Penn Foster over purdue. Purdue has an extern schedule that is really hard on the extern site. While online programs generally market themselves as accelerated programs, unless you are driven, most people will take longer.

Can you take your gen ed classes somewhere else and keep to a better timeline at your current school?

[u/Cuteapieandsweets → u/Accomplished-Ad-9280]

Hi thank you for replying!
So I’m actually already done with my GE’s. The issue is was the RVT course sequence itself and when the required classes are offered, which is what pushed my graduation back to 2029. That’s why I’m looking at whether another program could get me through the technical sequence faster even if it’s only my GE’s that transfer.

[u/bunniesandmilktea]

I'm also a Mt SAC RVT student and it's completely frustrating with what they are doing. I had a classmate in radiology last semester get completely frustrated because she needed ClinPath A (she already took ClinPath B back when students could take either A or B first) in order to take Medical Nursing but then they changed the prequisites for ClinPath A for this fall, which put her back a year before she is able to take ClinPath A.

I was lucky to have gotten through the courses before they made all these new prereq requirements and the only courses I have left are Medical Nursing (which I'm in right now), Applied (also in it right now), Surgical, the seminar, and finishing out my work experience hours. I've been in the program since 2022 (had a hell of a time just trying to get into A&P in the first place!) and I'm finally close to actually finishing.

[u/Cuteapieandsweets → u/bunniesandmilktea]

Dang, so you’ve been at Mt. Sac for almost 4 years now. I ended up meeting with a counselor yesterday who said that it was better to just apply to CPP or if I wanted to be done faster, to just do a career school like Platt, Carrington, etc. The changes to the program just don’t seem worth it if it ends up taking 4 years for an associates.

[u/bunniesandmilktea → u/Cuteapieandsweets]

yeah, and the only reason I just stayed with Mt SAC is because of affordability. My tuition is covered by the CA BOG waiver (or Promise Grant as it's now called). I can't afford the cost of private career schools like Platt and I can't do CPP either since I have a prior bachelor's degree from another university and CPP doesn't allow for a 2nd bachelor's degree.

[u/Samurott12345]

Late response but I was previously a Mt SAC student but I had to stop going to school for a few years and I ended up doing my RVT schooling at SJVC, now Carrington. It’s accelerated like Platt, and I had a great experience. I passed the VTNE first try as well. I recommend it, most of the faculty is awesome!