Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Yellow Springs OH

How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Yellow Springs Ohio

Yellow Springs OH vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Yellow Springs OH might initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Yellow Springs OH

cat with cone after surgery in Yellow Springs OH One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want 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 commit to your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Yellow Springs OH veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. 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 complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire 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 general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Yellow Springs OH laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Yellow Springs

student attending online vet tech school in Yellow Springs OH An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Yellow Springs OH veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Yellow Springs OH Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Yellow Springs OH vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Yellow Springs OH area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, 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 demanding screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Yellow Springs OH area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Ohio school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Yellow Springs OH veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Yellow Springs OH veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Yellow Springs OH vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Yellow Springs OH colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Yellow Springs OH home, you need to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger 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 state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative 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 working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Yellow Springs OH. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain 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 illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Yellow Springs OH?

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

Yellow Springs, Ohio

Yellow Springs is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,487 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is home of Antioch College and Antioch University Midwest.

In 1825, the village was founded by William Mills and approximately 100 families, followers of Robert Owen, who wanted to emulate the utopian community at New Harmony, Indiana. The communitarian efforts dissolved due to internal conflicts. The Little Miami Railroad was completed in 1846 and brought increased commerce, inhabitants, and tourism. The village was incorporated in 1856.[4]

Antioch College was founded in 1850 by the Christian Connection, and began operating in 1853 with the distinguished scholar Horace Mann as its first president. In 1920, Arthur E. Morgan became the innovative president of Antioch College, implementing a much-imitated work-study program for students. An engineer by training, Morgan left Antioch to become head of the Tennessee Valley Authority in Franklin D. Roosevelt's Administration. Upon his return to Yellow Springs, Morgan was a key leader of Quaker intentional community developments in Ohio and North Carolina. Antioch College was closed by Antioch University in 2008 but reopened, as an independent college, in 2011.[5]

Pick the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Yellow Springs OH

Yellow Springs OH vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students considering vet tech programs must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. 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 school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Yellow Springs OH.