Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Valley Park MO

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician Program near Valley Park Missouri

Valley Park MO vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Valley Park MO could initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Valley Park MO

cat with cone after surgery in Valley Park MO One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Valley Park MO veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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 Valley Park MO laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Valley Park

student attending online vet tech school in Valley Park MO An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Valley Park MO veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school 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 provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Valley Park MO Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Valley Park MO vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Valley Park MO area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among 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 review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Valley Park MO area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Missouri school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Valley Park MO vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Valley Park MO veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Valley Park MO veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Valley Park MO schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Valley Park MO home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Valley Park MO. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Valley Park MO?

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

Valley Park, Missouri

Descendants of the Mississippian culture still had a settlement along the Meramec River in the mid-18th century, until the Native Americans were pushed out by colonial French and German immigrant farmers in the 1760s.[citation needed] The developing village over time was known as Nasby, Sulphur Springs, Quinette, Meramec, and finally Valley Park by around 1890. It had one of the first post offices established in St. Louis County. It developed as a railroad hub for the Missouri Pacific and St. Louis-San Francisco rail lines.

In 1894, the town became the site of the first lynching in St. Louis County. A black man named John Buckner was lynched when accused of raping a local black woman and a white teenager. He was taken from the authorities by several local residents and farmers and hanged from the main bridge in town overlooking the Meramec River. The lynchers were never prosecuted.

However, Valley Park began to boom with development. It had railroads, the Meramec River, and what even then were considered main roads. Railroads played a big role in the town in the late 19th century and early 20th century. At the time, the St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) and Missouri Pacific served Valley Park; now it is Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. At one time, the Meramec River had barge traffic.

Choose the Right Vet Tech School near Valley Park MO

Valley Park MO vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Valley Park MO.