Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Claremont NC - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Claremont North Carolina

Claremont NC vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Claremont NC might at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Claremont NC

cat with cone after surgery in Claremont NC One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Claremont NC veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Claremont NC laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Claremont

student attending online vet tech school in Claremont NC An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Claremont NC veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for travel and study materials, can 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 recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Claremont NC Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Claremont NC vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Claremont NC area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 thorough screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Claremont NC area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Claremont NC veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Claremont NC veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Claremont NC veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate 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 sized, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Claremont NC colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously discussed 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 Claremont NC home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into 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 school is located in or close by a large city. Also, 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 fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the vet schools you are looking at 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 in the evenings near Claremont NC. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Claremont NC?

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

Claremont, North Carolina

Claremont is located east of the center of Catawba County at 35°42′50″N 81°9′2″W / 35.71389°N 81.15056°W / 35.71389; -81.15056 (35.713752, -81.150661).[6]U.S. Route 70 passes through the center of town, leading west 4 miles (6 km) to Conover and east 4 miles (6 km) to Catawba. Interstate 40 passes just north of the town, with access from Exit 135. I-40 leads west 12 miles (19 km) to Hickory and east 16 miles (26 km) to Statesville.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,355 people, 456 households, and 300 families residing in the city. The population density was 542.0 people per square mile (159.7/km²). There were 492 housing units at an average density of 196.3 per square mile (75.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.66% White, 2.22% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.67% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% of the population.

There were 456 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.79.

Choose the Best Veterinary Technician College near Claremont NC

Claremont NC vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech schools must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, 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 applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Claremont NC.