Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Curryville MO

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Curryville Missouri

Curryville MO vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Curryville MO may at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have located some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Curryville MO

cat with cone after surgery in Curryville MO One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Curryville MO veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Curryville MO laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Curryville

student attending online vet tech school in Curryville MO An option that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Curryville MO veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Curryville MO Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Curryville MO vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Curryville MO area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Curryville MO area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Missouri school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Curryville MO vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Curryville MO veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Curryville MO veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Curryville MO programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Curryville MO home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Curryville MO. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Curryville MO?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Curryville Missouri area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Curryville, Missouri

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 225 people, 91 households, and 53 families residing in the city. The population density was 833.3 inhabitants per square mile (321.7/km2). There were 110 housing units at an average density of 407.4 per square mile (157.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.1% White, 1.8% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 91 households of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.8% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.28.

The median age in the city was 42.3 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 32.9% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

Choose the Right Vet Tech College near Curryville MO

Curryville MO vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Curryville MO.