Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Kernersville NC

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Kernersville North Carolina

Kernersville NC vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Kernersville NC could at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Kernersville NC

cat with cone after surgery in Kernersville NC One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Kernersville NC veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally earn 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 fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. So 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Kernersville

student attending online vet tech school in Kernersville NC An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Kernersville NC veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm 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 comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Kernersville NC Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Kernersville NC vet tech schools At this point 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 veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Kernersville NC area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Kernersville NC area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Kernersville NC veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Kernersville NC veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Kernersville NC veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Kernersville NC colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Kernersville NC home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with 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 school is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Kernersville NC. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Kernersville NC?

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

Kernersville, North Carolina

Kernersville is a town in Forsyth County, in the U.S. state of North Carolina. A small portion of the town is also in Guilford County. The population was 23,123 at the 2010 census,[5] up from 17,126 at the 2000 census. Kernersville is located at the center of the Piedmont Triad metropolitan area, between Greensboro to the east, High Point to the south, and Winston-Salem to the west. Some of the rural farmland surrounding the town has been sold and turned into large middle-to-upper-class housing developments, and numerous large shopping centers have been built in the town over the past few years. Flue-cured tobacco was the major crop grown in the area and is still grown in some areas today. While Kernersville went through a growth spurt in the first decade of the 21st century, it has leveled off and farms are doing well for the most part in an attempt to revitalize the agricultural community.[citation needed]

Kernersville is located 10 miles (16 km) east of Winston-Salem and 17 miles (27 km) west of Greensboro. U.S. Route 421 is a four-lane freeway through the town, following the prior routing of Interstate 40 before that highway was moved to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.4 square miles (45.1 km2), of which 17.3 square miles (44.9 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.63%, is water.[5]

Select the Right Veterinary Technician College near Kernersville NC

Kernersville NC vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided 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 picking the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Kernersville NC.