How can I get veterinary experience?

I've been trying to find an answer to this for a long time now, but I haven't found the answer.

Animal experience won't be a problem, because I'll just volunteer at the local animal shelter during the summers. It's just really frustrating me that no one ever talks about how realistic it is to expect to get vet experience with no qualifications. Is there a certain way to approach vets about it? Are there certain veterinary offices where people are allowed to do this?

Everything I've found is "volunteer at a vet's office!" but that doesn't help at all. I found one person who mentioned just becoming a vet tech first, but I'd really like not to spend my entire life in school. So for me, that's a last-resort thing. Does anyone have any REAL advice about getting veterinary experience?