Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Saint Albans MO

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Saint Albans Missouri

Saint Albans MO vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Saint Albans MO may initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors 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 tech schools you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Saint Albans MO

cat with cone after surgery in Saint Albans MO One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary 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 training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Saint Albans MO veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced 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 counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Saint Albans MO laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Saint Albans

student attending online vet tech school in Saint Albans MO An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Saint Albans 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 costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified 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 self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Saint Albans MO Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Saint Albans MO vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Saint Albans MO area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Saint Albans MO area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must 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 assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Missouri school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Saint Albans MO veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Saint Albans MO veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Saint Albans MO veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify 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 bigger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Saint Albans MO colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Saint Albans MO home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Saint Albans MO. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Saint Albans MO?

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

St. Albans Raid

The St. Albans Raid was the northernmost land action of the American Civil War. It was a controversial raid from Canada by Confederate soldiers who had recently failed in engagements with the Union Army and evaded subsequent capture in the United States. Meant to rob banks to raise money, and to trick the Union Army into diverting troops to defend their northern border against further raids, it took place in St. Albans, Vermont, on October 19, 1864.[1]

In this wartime incident, Kentuckian Bennett H. Young led the Confederate army forces. Young had been captured after the Battle of Salineville in Ohio ended Morgan's Raid the year before. He managed to escape to Canada, then part of the British Empire. After meeting with Confederate agents there, he returned to the Confederacy, where he proposed raids on the Union from the Canada–US border to build the Confederate treasury and force the Union Army to divert troops from the South. Young was commissioned as a lieutenant and returned to Canada, where he recruited other escaped Confederates for a raid on St. Albans, Vermont, a quiet city just 15 miles (24 km) from the Canada–U.S. border.

Young and two others checked into a local hotel on October 10, saying they had come from St. John's, Canada East, for a "sporting vacation". Two or three more men arrived daily, until by October 19, 21 Confederate cavalrymen had assembled. Shortly before 3 p.m. the men staged simultaneous robberies of the city's three banks. They identified themselves as Confederate soldiers and took a total of $208,000 (US$ 3,260,000 in 2018). During the robberies, eight or nine Confederates held the villagers at gunpoint on the village green, taking their horses to prevent pursuit. Several armed villagers tried to resist, and one was killed and another wounded. Young ordered his men to burn the city, but the 4-US-fluid-ounce (120 ml) bottles of Greek fire they used failed to ignite, and only one shed was destroyed by fire.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician College near Saint Albans MO

Saint Albans MO vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges 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 commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Saint Albans MO.