Online General Chemistry I & II with Lab: Vet School Acceptance- General Chemistry I and II with lab is required at 100% of U.S. veterinary schools — and one of the foundation prerequisites where online completion is most widely (though not universally) accepted across VMCAS programs. Successfully navigating online General Chemistry for veterinary school requires understanding three things: which specific veterinary schools accept online Gen Chem I and II (and which reject the online format), how to plan a complete two-semester sequence when no single online provider currently offers both Gen Chem I and Gen Chem II, and how to verify acceptance with target schools before completing coursework you’ll rely on for admission. This guide provides specific program-by-program online acceptance data for both Gen Chem I and Gen Chem II, explains realistic provider combinations for completing the full sequence, and addresses how to handle the rate-limiter challenge: most online providers serve only Gen Chem I, requiring Gen Chem II completion through community colleges, 4-year institutions, or alternative online providers offering the second semester.
| Quick answer: online General Chemistry I & II for vet school• Gen Chem I online widely available: PrereqCourses CHEM 151 through Upper Iowa University; StraighterLine; Penn Foster; ed2go; community college online sections• Gen Chem II online narrower: StraighterLine, ed2go, some community college online sections; PrereqCourses’ current catalog covers Gen Chem I only• Schools that accept online Gen Chem I AND II: Kansas State (explicit acceptance for online courses and labs), Colorado State (with letter grades on transcript), Iowa State (regionally accredited acceptance)• Schools that reject online General Chemistry labs: Cornell (“all lab components must be in real laboratory”), Tufts (“online or at-home labs not allowed” for Gen Chem)• Realistic two-semester strategy: Complete Gen Chem I online through one provider, then Gen Chem II through community college, 4-year institution, or alternative online provider — both semesters at programs accepting online format• Why Gen Chem II is harder to find online: More providers offer Gen Chem I as standalone introductory course; Gen Chem II requires Gen Chem I as prerequisite, narrowing the provider market• Verification matters: Confirm with each target school that your specific provider combination satisfies prerequisite requirements before completing coursework |
Every U.S. veterinary school requires the full two-semester General Chemistry sequence (typically 8 semester credits with lab). Understanding why both semesters matter helps frame the strategic importance of completing the full sequence rather than only Gen Chem I.
What Gen Chem I covers
General Chemistry I focuses on foundational chemistry concepts:
What Gen Chem II covers
General Chemistry II builds on Gen Chem I with more advanced content:
Why Gen Chem II content matters for veterinary education
Gen Chem II content directly supports veterinary curriculum more than Gen Chem I content does:
Veterinary admissions committees know that strong Gen Chem II grades predict success in Biochemistry and physiology coursework better than Gen Chem I grades alone. This is why the full two-semester sequence is required at every U.S. veterinary school — Gen Chem II content is more directly veterinary-relevant than Gen Chem I content.
Online acceptance for General Chemistry I and II varies substantially across VMCAS programs. The variation matters more than for many other prerequisites because both semesters need to satisfy each target school’s policy.
Programs that explicitly accept online Gen Chem I and II including online labs
Kansas State University CVM publishes the most permissive online acceptance language. Direct from the KSU CVM prerequisite page:
“Requirements can be fulfilled by courses from any accredited institution, including online courses and labs.”
This applies to both Gen Chem I and Gen Chem II. KSU also requires courses to appear on official transcript with letter grades and applies a 6-year recency rule to required science courses (including chemistry). Online General Chemistry I and II completed at any accredited institution within 6 years of intended enrollment satisfies KSU requirements.
Programs that accept online Gen Chem I and II with letter grades
Colorado State University CVMBS accepts online General Chemistry I and II with letter grade requirements. Direct from the CSU CVMBS admission requirements page:
“Online courses are accepted if they are taken for credit with a grade and show as completed on an official transcript. Courses taken at vocational and proprietary schools will not be accepted.”
This applies to both Gen Chem I and Gen Chem II at CSU. The course must be regionally accredited, taken for letter grade, and appear on official transcript. Pass/fail grades are not accepted (with limited pandemic-era exceptions that have largely expired by 2026).
Programs that accept online Gen Chem I and II from regionally accredited institutions
Iowa State University CVM accepts online General Chemistry I and II from regionally accredited institutions. From the Iowa State CVM foundational course requirements page:
“Online courses may be taken for credit and a grade, and must show as completed on an official transcript. Courses taken at vocational and proprietary schools will not be accepted.”
Iowa State’s policy mirrors Colorado State’s: regional accreditation, letter grade, official transcript appearance. Both Gen Chem I and Gen Chem II satisfy this requirement when completed through accepting online providers or community colleges.
Programs that explicitly reject online General Chemistry labs
Two major programs publish explicit language rejecting online General Chemistry labs:
For applicants targeting Cornell or Tufts, complete both Gen Chem I and Gen Chem II in person at a community college or 4-year institution. Online completion of either semester typically doesn’t satisfy these programs.
Programs with implicit restrictions
Several programs don’t publish explicit online rejection but apply implicit restrictions through admissions interpretation:
For applicants targeting these programs with mixed target school lists, the safest approach is completing General Chemistry I and II in person at community colleges or 4-year institutions to satisfy strictest target school requirements while also satisfying programs with broader online acceptance.
| The strategic insight: target school list determines provider strategyBecause online Gen Chem I and II acceptance varies substantially, your target school list determines whether online completion is viable for the full sequence:• Targeting only flexible programs (Kansas State, Colorado State, Iowa State): online Gen Chem I and II completion is viable through accepting providers• Targeting mixed flexible and strict programs: complete Gen Chem I and II in person to satisfy strict programs and accept online format at flexible programs• Targeting only strict programs (Cornell, Tufts, UC Davis, Florida): online Gen Chem I and II typically doesn’t satisfy requirements; complete in personPlan provider strategy based on your strictest target school’s requirements rather than your most lenient target school’s. Completing both semesters in formats that satisfy your strictest target schools simultaneously satisfies your more flexible target schools. |
Multiple providers offer online General Chemistry I; fewer providers offer online General Chemistry II. Understanding the provider landscape helps you plan the complete two-semester sequence realistically.
PrereqCourses CHEM 151 General Chemistry I with Lab
PrereqCourses’ CHEM 151 General Chemistry I with Lab is delivered through Upper Iowa University, an HLC-accredited 4-year degree-granting institution. The course covers standard Gen Chem I content including atomic structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, gas laws, solution chemistry, thermochemistry, and acid-base chemistry. The 4 semester credits and online lab component appear on Upper Iowa University official transcript with letter grade.
Where CHEM 151 satisfies Gen Chem I requirements:
Where CHEM 151 typically does not satisfy Gen Chem I requirements:
Important: PrereqCourses currently doesn’t offer Gen Chem II
As of 2026, PrereqCourses’ catalog includes CHEM 151 General Chemistry I with Lab but does not include General Chemistry II. Veterinary applicants completing online Gen Chem I through PrereqCourses need to complete Gen Chem II through an alternative provider.
This is an important honesty point: PrereqCourses cannot serve the complete two-semester General Chemistry sequence by itself. Plan Gen Chem II completion alongside Gen Chem I planning rather than discovering the catalog limitation after starting Gen Chem I.
Alternative providers for Gen Chem II online
Online providers that offer General Chemistry II:
Verify each potential Gen Chem II provider’s acceptance at your target veterinary schools before enrolling. The provider that satisfies your Gen Chem I target schools may not satisfy your Gen Chem II target schools, and vice versa. The Online Prerequisite Courses for Vet School article covers school-by-school online acceptance in detail.
Community college options for both Gen Chem I and II
Community colleges offer the most reliable path for completing both Gen Chem I and II at programs accepting community college coursework:
Community college Gen Chem typically takes 1 academic year (Gen Chem I in fall, Gen Chem II in spring), or 1 calendar year if accelerated summer scheduling is available. The Community College Prerequisites for Veterinary School article covers community college options in detail.
Provider combinations for completing online (or hybrid) Gen Chem I and II depend on target school requirements, timeline constraints, and cost considerations.
Strategy 1: Online provider for Gen Chem I + community college for Gen Chem II
This hybrid approach works well for career changers and applicants with target school lists including both flexible and strict programs:
This combination satisfies target schools accepting online Gen Chem I (Kansas State, Colorado State, Iowa State) and target schools requiring in-person Gen Chem II (Cornell, Tufts) — though Cornell and Tufts may also reject online Gen Chem I, narrowing the strategy’s effectiveness for those schools.
Strategy 2: Both semesters online through different providers
This approach maximizes timeline flexibility for applicants targeting only programs with explicit online acceptance:
This strategy works at programs accepting online Gen Chem I and II (Kansas State, Colorado State, Iowa State) but doesn’t satisfy programs rejecting online General Chemistry. Limit applications to accepting programs if pursuing this strategy.
Strategy 3: Both semesters at community college
This approach provides maximum target school flexibility:
This strategy satisfies the broadest range of target schools including Cornell, Tufts, UC Davis, and others requiring in-person labs. The trade-off is timeline rigidity (semester-based scheduling) and reduced flexibility for working applicants.
Strategy 4: Both semesters at 4-year institution
This approach satisfies even the strictest programs requiring upper-division courses at 4-year institutions:
This strategy is most expensive but satisfies all target schools including those interpreting “4-year institution” requirements strictly. Recommended for applicants targeting the most competitive programs (UC Davis for non-residents, Cornell, Penn, Tufts) where any concern about online or community college acceptance creates application risk.
Will online Gen Chem I and II count for veterinary school?
Depends on the specific veterinary school. Kansas State explicitly accepts online General Chemistry I and II including online labs. Colorado State and Iowa State accept regionally accredited online General Chemistry with letter grades on official transcripts. Cornell and Tufts explicitly reject online General Chemistry labs. Verify with each target school before completing online coursework. The Online Prerequisite Courses for Vet School article provides school-by-school detail.
Can I take Gen Chem I online and Gen Chem II in person?
Yes, at most programs accepting online Gen Chem I. The hybrid approach satisfies programs accepting online Gen Chem I (which is the more widely available online format) while satisfying programs requiring in-person Gen Chem II labs. This is one of the most practical strategies for veterinary applicants with mixed target school lists. Verify specific course-level acceptance with each target school.
Why doesn’t PrereqCourses offer Gen Chem II?
As of 2026, PrereqCourses’ catalog includes Gen Chem I (CHEM 151) but not Gen Chem II. Plan Gen Chem II completion through alternative providers — community colleges, 4-year institutions, or online providers like StraighterLine — alongside Gen Chem I planning. PrereqCourses is one component of complete prerequisite preparation rather than a complete two-semester General Chemistry solution.
Can Cornell, Tufts, or UC Davis applicants take any chemistry online?
Generally no for chemistry with lab components. Cornell explicitly requires lab components in real laboratories. Tufts explicitly disallows online General Chemistry labs. UC Davis applies strict requirements to upper-division coursework that may extend to lower-division General Chemistry online format. For applicants targeting these programs, complete General Chemistry I and II in person at community colleges or 4-year institutions. Online General Chemistry typically doesn’t satisfy these strict programs.
How do I verify online General Chemistry acceptance at my target schools?
Three steps: (1) check each school’s published prerequisite page for explicit online or lab format language; (2) cross-reference with VMSAR; (3) email admissions offices directly with specific provider information requesting written confirmation. Get verification in writing before completing coursework. The Online Prerequisite Courses for Vet School article includes a sample admissions inquiry email template.
How long does the full Gen Chem I and II sequence take?
Variable by approach. Community college sequential completion: typically 8 months across two semesters. Online self-paced completion: typically 4–8 months for both semesters with accelerated study; 8–16 months at slower pace while working full-time. Hybrid approaches: typically 8–12 months. Plan timing alongside other prerequisite completion since Gen Chem I and II are prerequisites for Organic Chemistry, which is itself a prerequisite for Biochemistry.
Should I take Gen Chem at the same institution where I’ll take Organic Chemistry?
Not required, but can simplify scheduling. Some applicants take Gen Chem I and II online (PrereqCourses, StraighterLine, others) and then take Organic Chemistry at a community college or 4-year institution; this works at programs accepting online General Chemistry. Other applicants take all chemistry sequentially at the same community college or 4-year institution for scheduling consistency. Choose based on target school requirements and personal scheduling preferences.
How much should I expect to spend on Gen Chem I and II combined?
Cost ranges substantially: $1,000–$2,500 at community colleges with in-state tuition; $1,500–$3,000 at online providers; $4,000–$10,000+ at 4-year institutions. The Cost of Veterinary School Prerequisites article covers cost analysis across providers in detail.
General Chemistry I and II is required at every U.S. veterinary school but provides flexibility in completion approach. Strategic planning lets you optimize cost, timeline, and target school acceptance simultaneously.
Concrete planning steps
PrereqCourses’ role in Gen Chem completion
PrereqCourses’ CHEM 151 General Chemistry I with Lab serves the Gen Chem I requirement at programs accepting online General Chemistry. Specific use cases:
Gen Chem II completion through alternative providers depending on target school requirements:
The honest assessment
Online General Chemistry I and II isn’t a complete solution for veterinary applicants targeting the most competitive programs. Cornell and Tufts explicitly reject online General Chemistry labs. UC Davis and Florida apply strict standards that may reject online General Chemistry. For these strict programs, complete both Gen Chem I and II in person at community colleges or 4-year institutions.
For applicants targeting flexible programs (Kansas State, Colorado State, Iowa State) or applicants with mixed target school lists, online Gen Chem I (through PrereqCourses) plus community college or alternative online Gen Chem II provides a viable two-semester sequence. The hybrid approach is often the most practical strategy for career changers and working applicants who need timeline flexibility for at least part of the chemistry sequence.
Visit PrereqCourses.com to enroll in CHEM 151 General Chemistry I with Lab as your Gen Chem I component. For Gen Chem II completion, plan through community college, alternative online provider, or 4-year institution matching your target schools’ acceptance policies. The Complete Guide to Veterinary School Prerequisites article covers full prerequisite planning context.
