I'm not looking on becoming a vet assistant, I'm not looking to just have a job in a vet clinic, I'm not looking into going to school in order to just have it mean nothing and be cleaning kennels. I want to be a full blown vet tech/technologist doing almost everything a vet does and pursing job opportuntities working in the zoos,humane societies,etc.. Right now I don't want to be a vet but I still want the opportunity to become one should I pursue further education by attending vet school. What I do want is to obtain either an associates degree, to start, or complete a distance learning program. Either way it has to be online since I am not capable of moving and attending an actual college specializing in this career. What I am having a problem with is deciding which is the best route for me to take in order to end up where I want to be. Does anyone know whether there is a difference between the distance learning program and the degree and what the difference(s) are? Should I choose to take the distance learning program, I have read that I would need to obtain sponsorship through a licensed veterinarian for the clinical portion..is that the same as volunteer work? If not, what are the steps in order to obtain the sponsorship? If I get the degree how then do I go about getting the hands on training and/or experience without just getting hired on to clean out kennels? Any help or information from anyone either going through this or "been there..done that" would be great. Thanks so much in advance.