07/31/2026
***Penn Foster student update***
Penn Foster finally sent the email with information regarding the new registration process. Students have responded with lots of questions that Penn Foster will be addressing in the near future. Interest forms should start going out in August to begin scheduling for January 2027. Only eligible students will receive an interest form. Students are eligible once their coursework has been completed and graded.
⭐️For our FTL site only:
If you need only ruminant and/or avian skills please reach out to us directly as we are still handling those registrations. You do NOT need to complete a Penn Foster interest form for ruminant and/or avian only skills with our site.
⭐️MVP employees:
If you work for a MVP hospital, please reach out to Kiersten Atkinson regarding our MVP labs. We currently hold 2 MVP Penn Foster student labs a year with our next one in February. Registration for these labs are handled by Kiersten and our site.
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Email from Penn Foster:
We are excited to share an update regarding the Fast Track Lab (FTL) process for eligible Externship 2 students. Penn Foster is updating the Fast Track Lab registration process for labs taking place in January 2027 and beyond.
As a Semester 4 Veterinary Technician student, you may already be thinking about Fast Track Labs or preparing for your final externship. We know there has been some uncertainty around the Fast Track Lab process, and we appreciate your patience as we worked through these challenges. We are pleased to introduce a more structured process moving forward.
Beginning with January 2027 Fast Track Labs, eligible students will receive a monthly Fast Track Lab interest form designed to provide a more consistent and transparent way to review available opportunities and express interest. Our team has been in close communication with our Fast Track Lab partners, and we have been able to confirm their anticipated availability beginning early next year.
Please note: if you're already scheduled to attend a Fast Track Lab in 2026, your process will not change. You will move forward and attend your lab as planned.
What You Need to Know
Q: What's changing?
A: Eligible students will receive a monthly interest form listing available lab locations, species covered, lab dates, available spaces, and attendance costs. You'll be able to review the available opportunities and indicate which Fast Track Labs you're interested in attending.
Q: How does placement work?
A: Interest forms are reviewed in the order they're received, and available spaces are filled as capacity allows. Submitting an interest form lets us know you're interested, but it does not guarantee placement.
Q: What costs should I expect?
A: You will be responsible for all Fast Track Lab-related expenses, including attendance fees, travel, lodging, meals, and personal expenses.
Q: What if I don't get a spot?
A: If you aren't selected for a Fast Track Lab, you'll have additional opportunities to submit interest as new labs become available. You can also review the Large Animal Externship 2 Planning Guide in CORE > Forms for additional large animal experience options.
In addition, we want you to know that we are actively committed to expanding our large animal network. Our team has begun outreach and relationship-building efforts with large animal farms, veterinary practices, and other potential training sites across the US and Canada. We are hopeful that these efforts will result in additional Fast Track Lab opportunities in the near future. As new Fast Track Labs become available, we will announce them and share details regarding location, dates, species coverage, and student capacity as soon as that information is confirmed.
To learn more about eligibility, placement, costs, and what to expect throughout the monthly interest process, visit the Fast Track Lab FAQ.
If you have questions or need additional support, the Externship Team is here to help. Contact us: [email protected].
