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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Exeter Missouri

Exeter MO vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Exeter MO may initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make a final decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Exeter MO

cat with cone after surgery in Exeter MO Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the Exeter MO veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Exeter MO labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Exeter

student attending online vet tech school in Exeter MO An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Exeter MO veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Exeter MO Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Exeter MO vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Exeter MO area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, 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 an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Exeter MO area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Missouri school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Exeter MO veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Exeter MO veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Exeter MO vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Exeter MO programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Exeter MO home, you must make sure 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus 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 fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Exeter MO. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Exeter MO?

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

Exeter, Missouri

Exeter was platted in 1880.[7] The city was named after Exeter in Devon, England.[8] A post office has been in operation at Exeter since 1880.[9] Exeter is the birthplace of former Major League baseball player, Edward Hawk.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 772 people, 293 households, and 213 families residing in the city. The population density was 977.2 inhabitants per square mile (377.3/km2). There were 344 housing units at an average density of 435.4 per square mile (168.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.7% White, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.1% of the population.

There were 293 households of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.05.

Select the Best Vet Tech Program near Exeter MO

Exeter MO vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Exeter MO.