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

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Dover North Carolina

Dover NC vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Dover NC could at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Dover NC

cat with cone after surgery in Dover NC One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Dover NC veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Dover

student attending online vet tech school in Dover NC An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Dover NC veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Dover NC Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Dover NC vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Dover NC area as well as across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Dover NC area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Dover NC veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Dover NC veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify 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 Dover NC veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Dover NC schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to 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? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Dover NC home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Dover NC. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Dover NC?

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

Dover, North Carolina

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 443 people, 185 households, and 135 families residing in the town. The population density was 466.3 people per square mile (180.0/km²). There were 214 housing units at an average density of 225.3 per square mile (87.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 45.82% White, 53.95% African American and 0.23% Native American.

There were 185 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the town, the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.

Pick the Right Vet Tech Program near Dover NC

Dover NC vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech programs must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Dover NC.