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How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Drew Mississippi

Drew MS vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Drew MS could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Drew MS

cat with cone after surgery in Drew MS Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Drew MS veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Drew MS labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Drew

student attending online vet tech school in Drew MS An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Drew MS veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Drew MS Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Drew MS vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Drew MS area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Drew MS area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Mississippi school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Drew MS veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Drew MS veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. 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 exceptional reputation within the Drew MS veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Drew MS colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Drew MS home, you must make certain 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 in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Drew MS. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Drew MS?

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

Drew, Mississippi

Drew is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi. The population was 2,434 at the 2000 census. Drew is in the vicinity of several plantations and the Mississippi State Penitentiary, a Mississippi Department of Corrections prison for men.

When the Yellow Dog Railroad was extended through what is now Drew, the post office was moved from the Promised Land Plantation to the Drew location. The settlement and Post Office for Miss Drew Daniel, daughter of Andrew Jackson Daniel.[2]

One historian wrote that the white residents of Drew had "traditionally been regarded as the most recalcitrant in the county on racial matters."[4] The author wrote that whites in Drew were "considered the most recalcitrant of Sunflower County, and perhaps the state."[3] He also claimed that Drew's proximity to the Mississippi State Penitentiary made Drew "a dangerous place to be black", and claimed that during the 1930s and 1940s many police officers arbitrarily shot blacks, saying that they appeared to look like escaped prisoners.[3] That historian also claimed that during the Civil Rights Movement, when attempts were made to move Fannie Lou Hamer's movement for poor people from Ruleville to Drew, the organizers "faced stiff resistance". Mae Bertha Carter, a major figure in the area civil rights movement, was from Drew.[4]

Pick the Right Vet Tech College near Drew MS

Drew MS vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, 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 schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Drew MS.