Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Stony Point NC

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Stony Point North Carolina

Stony Point NC vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Stony Point NC may at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so 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 best choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. After they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Stony Point NC

cat with cone after surgery in Stony Point NC One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Stony Point NC veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Stony Point

student attending online vet tech school in Stony Point NC An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Stony Point NC veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Stony Point NC Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Stony Point NC vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Stony Point NC area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously 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 rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Stony Point NC area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Stony Point NC veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical 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 arranged with Stony Point NC veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Stony Point NC vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly 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 in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Stony Point NC programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Stony Point NC home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large 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 charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Stony Point NC. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Stony Point NC?

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

Stony Point, North Carolina

Stony Point is a census-designated place (CDP) in Alexander and Iredell counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 1,317 at the 2010 census.[3] It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,380 people, 552 households, and 399 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 462.5 people per square mile (178.8/km²). There were 601 housing units at an average density of 201.4 per square mile (77.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.03% White, 3.77% African American, 0.72% Native American, 2.03% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.19% of the population.

There were 552 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.92.

Select the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Stony Point NC

Stony Point NC vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Stony Point NC.