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

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Conover North Carolina

Conover NC vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Conover NC could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Conover NC

cat with cone after surgery in Conover NC Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Conover NC veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Conover

student attending online vet tech school in Conover NC An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Conover NC veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Conover NC Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Conover NC vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Conover NC area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech program you choose 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 undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Conover NC area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Conover NC veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Conover NC veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Conover NC vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Conover NC schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors 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 College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Conover NC home, you must 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, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Conover NC. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Conover NC?

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

Conover, North Carolina

Conover is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,165 at the 2010 census,[4] with an estimated population of 8,236 in 2013, making Conover the fastest growing city in the Hickory Metro Area.[5] It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area and Charlotte Metropolitan Area.

The City of Conover began to develop in the mid 1800s as a “Y” intersection of the railroad traversing North Carolina. Although originally called Wye Town, legend says the name Canova was adopted, but transposed to Conover, over several years. The City of Conover was chartered in 1876 and incorporated in 1877.[6]

Conover is located in the geographic center, as well as the population center, of Catawba County and is bordered by the City of Hickory to the west, the City of Newton to the south, and the City of Claremont to the east. Interstate 40 traverses Conover, with access from four major exits (128, 130, 132, and 133). U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 321, and North Carolina Highway 16 all pass through Conover, making Conover one of the most easily accessible cities in the Charlotte Metro Region.

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech Program near Conover NC

Conover NC vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Conover NC.