Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Holly Springs MS

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Holly Springs Mississippi

Holly Springs MS vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Holly Springs MS could at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. When they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Holly Springs MS

cat with cone after surgery in Holly Springs MS One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Holly Springs MS veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Holly Springs MS laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Holly Springs

student attending online vet tech school in Holly Springs MS An option that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Holly Springs MS veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Holly Springs MS Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Holly Springs MS vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Holly Springs MS area as well as across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that confirms you will get 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 colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Holly Springs MS area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Mississippi school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Holly Springs MS veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Holly Springs MS veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Holly Springs MS veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Holly Springs MS colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Holly Springs MS home, you must make sure that the commuting 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 college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Holly Springs MS. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Holly Springs MS?

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

Holly Springs, Mississippi

Holly Springs is a city in and county seat of Marshall County, Mississippi, United States at the border with southern Tennessee. Near the Mississippi Delta, the area was developed by European Americans for cotton plantations and was dependent on enslaved Africans. After the American Civil War, many freedmen continued to work in agriculture but as sharecroppers and tenant farmers.

As the county seat, the city is a center of trade and court sessions. The population was 7,957 at the 2000 census. A slight decrease in population was calculated in the 2010 census.[2] The community includes several National Register of Historic Places listed properties and historic districts including Southwest Holly Springs Historic District, Holly Springs Courthouse Square Historic District, Depot-Compress Historic District, and East Holly Springs Historic District.[3]Hillcrest Cemetery in Holly Springs contains the graves of five Confederate generals, and has been referred to as "Little Arlington of the South".[4]

Holly Springs was founded by European Americans in 1836, on territory occupied by Chickasaw Indians for centuries before Indian Removal. Most of their land was ceded under the Treaty of Pontotoc Creek of 1832.[5][6][7] Many early U.S. migrants were from Virginia,[6] supplemented by migrants from Georgia and the Carolinas.[7]

Pick the Right Vet Tech College near Holly Springs MS

Holly Springs MS vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech schools must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Holly Springs MS.