Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools New Athens OH

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near New Athens Ohio

New Athens OH vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near New Athens OH may at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in New Athens OH

cat with cone after surgery in New Athens OH Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary 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 education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the New Athens OH veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and usually 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 vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in New Athens OH labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in New Athens

student attending online vet tech school in New Athens OH An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local New Athens OH veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses 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 perfect choice for you.

What to Ask New Athens OH Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask New Athens OH vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the New Athens OH area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many New Athens OH area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials 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 Ohio school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some New Athens OH veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools 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 medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with New Athens OH veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical 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 can also help develop associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the New Athens OH veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the New Athens OH schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your New Athens OH home, you need to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near New Athens OH. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near New Athens OH?

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

Athens, Ohio

Athens is a city in and the county seat of Athens County, Ohio, United States. Athens is most widely known as the home of Ohio University, a large public research university with an enrollment of more than 36,800 students across all campuses. Located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio about 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Columbus, Athens is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. The official population of Athens in the 2010 U.S. Census was 23,832, with a daytime population of over 40,000 [6]

Athens is located in what was once the eastern region of two major Native American mound-building groups, the Adena culture from c. 1000 BC to 200 AD and the Ohio Hopewell tradition, c. 300 BC to 700 AD.[8][9] By the middle of the eighteenth century, the Shawnee, an Algonquian tribe, were the primary tribe of Native Americans living in what would become Athens County. According to a 1794 map by Thomas Kitchin, no settlement existed in the Athens area during the time immediately prior to the founding of the city.[10]

The first permanent European settlers arrived in Athens in 1797, more than a decade after the United States victory in the American Revolutionary War. In 1800, the town site was first surveyed and plotted, but it was not incorporated as a village until 1811. In the meantime, Ohio had become a state in 1803. Ohio University was chartered in 1804, the first public institution of higher learning in the Northwest Territory. Previously part of Washington County, Ohio, Athens County was formed in 1805, named for the ancient center of learning, Athens, Greece. Ohio University in Athens was established with the first federal endowment of an educational institution in the United States. In July 1787, the Congress of the Confederation gave to the Ohio Company of Associates "two townships of good land for the support of a literary institution" in the newly created Northwest Territory.[11] During The First Session of the Second Territorial General Assembly, held in Chillicothe from November 23, 1801 to January 23, 1802, the General Assembly passed an act establishing the "American Western University" at Athens. The act was approved by Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory on January 9, 1802.[12] However, no university with the name of American Western University would be established. Ohio became a state in 1803 and on February 18, 1804, the state legislature passed an act establishing the "Ohio University" in the town of Athens.[13] Athens received city status in 1912, following the 1910 census showing the population had passed 5,000 residents, the requirement for city status in Ohio.

Select the Right Vet Tech School near New Athens OH

New Athens OH vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in New Athens OH.