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How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Athens West Virginia

Athens WV vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Athens WV may initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have located some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Athens WV

cat with cone after surgery in Athens WV Among 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 determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Athens WV veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all 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 vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Athens

student attending online vet tech school in Athens WV An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Athens WV veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Athens WV Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Athens WV vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Athens WV area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you select 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 gone through a rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Athens WV area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the West Virginia school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Athens WV 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 most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Athens WV veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging 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 mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Athens WV veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded 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 most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Athens WV colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Athens WV home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Athens WV. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Athens WV?

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

Athens, West Virginia

Athens is a town in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,048 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578. Athens is the home of Concord University.

Athens is located at 37°25′26″N 81°00′48″W / 37.423849°N 81.013363°W / 37.423849; -81.013363 (37.423849, -81.013363).[9] The town is situated on a bluff above Laurel Creek, a tributary of the Bluestone River. The campus of Concord University lies at the eastern end of town. West Virginia Route 20 (State Street) traverses Athens, connecting the town with Princeton to the southwest and the rural towns along New River to the northeast.

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Athens has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.[10]

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Athens WV

Athens WV vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech colleges must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Athens WV.