PENN FOSTER LARGE ANIMAL FAST-TRACK LABS FAQ'S

A Fast-Track Lab is a location where students can complete large and exotic animal skills as part of their Penn Foster Vet Tech AS degree externship.

There are several benefits to running a Penn Foster FTL, but our partner sites report the following as the most relevant to them:

1. Additional revenue. Hosting 5 students one day per month could generate over $15,000 per year in revenue.
2. Strengthen your employee pipeline. You will be working side by side with potential future team members!
3. Help build the future. You’ll be working with the Vet Techs of tomorrow and you’ll be helping them gain the knowledge, skills and approach to veterinary medicine they’ll need to continue the traditions of this great profession.

Fast-Track Labs can be run by either a Licensed Veterinarian or a Credentialed Veterinary Technician that has graduated from an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology Program.

Up to eight students can attend at each Fast-Track Lab. The ideal number of students per lab would be 5 to 6.

The number of Fast-Track Labs run annually will vary with each site. The suggested minimum number of Labs would be one Lab every one to two months or more, depending on the Fast-Track Lab.

The number of Fast-Track Labs run annually will vary with each site. The suggested minimum number of Labs would be one Lab every one to two months or more, depending on the Fast-Track Lab.

Yes, you can charge students to attend a Fast-Track Lab. The fee is paid by the student, Penn Foster does not receive any portion of the fee.

 

The amount you charge students should vary, depending on the number of skills performed during a Fast-Track Lab. The fee is paid by the student, Penn Foster does not receive any portion of the fee.

Here are current guidelines for Fast-Track Lab student fees. Again, these are guidelines only, you ultimately set the fee:

• For the 9 large animal/equine skills: $250.
• For the large animal/equine skills + laboratory animal skills: $250 to $300.
• For the large animal/equine skills + laboratory animal skills + necropsy skill: $300.

 

It’s ultimately up to you to determine the full list of skills you’ll be able to cover, but the more skills the better! There are 9 large animal/equine skills, 6 additional (15 total) lab animal skills, and 1 additional necropsy skill.

To see the current full list of skills in Externship 2 please click here. Note: Large & lab animal skills are marked as such.

On average, it takes students the following amount on time to complete their skills:

• Large animal/equine skills - one full day. (9 skills)
• Large animal/equine skills + laboratory animal skills – 1 to 2 days. (15 skills)
• Large animal/equine skills + laboratory animal skills + necropsy skill – usually 2 days. (16 skills)

1. Are you listed in the Penn Foster Externship Locator? If not please fill out this form or email us at VetPenn@pennfoster.edu with the subject line: “I’d like to add my Fast-Track Lab to the Penn Foster Externship Locator”.
   • We will email you back with detailed instructions.
2. Be sure to promote your Fast-Track Lab schedule in our “Externship 2 Support Group for Veterinary Technicians” Facebook group: http://bit.ly/PF-Facebook-E2-Support

• The site must have either a credentialed veterinary technician that graduated from an AVMA Veterinary Technology school or a licensed Veterinarian acting as the site supervisor for the group of students.

• • A site supervisor is the person that will ensure that the skills are being performed appropriately and will be signing off on each student’s skill sheet that they passed or failed the attempt at performing the skill.
  • It is acceptable to have an assistant or a person that does not meet the criteria above assisting with the group of students, but the site supervisor must be present.
• The site must have all the required equipment available for the skills that they will be assisting the student(s) with.
  • If the equipment is not available, then the student(s) will not be able to perform the skills requiring that equipment at that site.
  • The site may choose to invest and purchase the missing equipment from their supplier to allow them to assist students. (Some equipment is low cost and easily attainable)
• The site will need to complete all digital paperwork and requirements in our externship management tool ELMS by CORE.
• Ensure that the skills are being performed to Penn Foster and CVTEA/AVMA standards.
  • All skills are submitted by the student to Penn Foster, and Penn Foster makes the ultimate decision if a student passes or needs to repeat a skill.
• Agree to openly communicate with Penn Foster about any issues, questions, or challenges that may arise.
• Be IACUC – Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee compliant
  • Penn Foster’s Veterinary Academy is committed to the ethical and humane care and use of animals in teaching situations. If a clinical supervisor, student, or faculty member is aware of any potential violation to the stated animal care and use criteria or observes the mistreatment of animals, they are strongly encouraged to report their concerns.
• Be open to signing an affiliation agreement with Penn Foster
• All money transactions and fees for services are between the student and the fast-track lab.
  • No payments will be taken by Penn Foster for services, nor will they be responsible for any delinquent or overdue payments by any student(s).

Woo hoo! We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Team!

Please fill out the form below to get started. We’ll walk you through the process from there!