Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Hattiesburg MS

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech Program near Hattiesburg Mississippi

Hattiesburg MS vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Hattiesburg MS could at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Hattiesburg MS

cat with cone after surgery in Hattiesburg MS One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Hattiesburg MS veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. 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 possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians 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 Hattiesburg MS laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Hattiesburg

student attending online vet tech school in Hattiesburg MS An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Hattiesburg MS veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Hattiesburg MS Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Hattiesburg MS vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Hattiesburg MS area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among 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 rigorous review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Hattiesburg MS area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Mississippi school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Hattiesburg MS veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Hattiesburg MS veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Hattiesburg MS vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may 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 bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Hattiesburg MS colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Hattiesburg MS 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, especially if the college is located in or near 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 especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Hattiesburg MS. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Hattiesburg MS?

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

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, primarily in Forrest County (where it is the county seat)[2] and extending west into Lamar County. The city population was 45,989 at the 2010 census,[3] with an estimated population of 46,805 in 2015.[4] It is the principal city of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses Forrest, Lamar and Perry counties.

Development of the interior of Mississippi by European Americans took place primarily after the American Civil War. Before that time, only properties along the major rivers were developed as plantations. Founded in 1882 by civil engineer William H. Hardy, Hattiesburg was named in honor of Hardy's wife Hattie. The town was incorporated two years later with a population of 400. Hattiesburg's population first expanded as a center of the lumber and railroad industries, from which was derived the nickname "The Hub City". It now attracts newcomers because of the diversity of its economy, strong neighborhoods, and the central location in South Mississippi.

Hattiesburg is home to The University of Southern Mississippi (founded as Mississippi Normal College, for the training of teachers) and William Carey University (formerly William Carey College). South of Hattiesburg is Camp Shelby, the largest US National Guard training base east of the Mississippi River.

Select the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Hattiesburg MS

Hattiesburg MS vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select 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 assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Hattiesburg MS.