Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Moundsville WV

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Moundsville West Virginia

Moundsville WV vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Moundsville WV could initially feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near 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 significant considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Moundsville WV

cat with cone after surgery in Moundsville WV One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Moundsville WV veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Moundsville WV labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Moundsville

student attending online vet tech school in Moundsville WV An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Moundsville WV veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Moundsville WV Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Moundsville WV vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Moundsville WV area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College 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 discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for a number of Moundsville WV area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the West Virginia school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Moundsville WV vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Moundsville WV veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Moundsville WV veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Moundsville WV schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Moundsville WV home, you must confirm 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school 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, taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Moundsville WV. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Moundsville WV?

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

Moundsville, West Virginia

Moundsville is a city in Marshall County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia metropolitan area. The population was 9,318 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County.[5] The city was named for the nearby ancient Grave Creek Mound, constructed 250 to 100 BC by indigenous people of the Adena culture.[6]

Moundsville was settled in 1771 by English colonists Samuel and James Tomlinson. (Elizabethtown, as Tomlinson's community was called, was incorporated in 1830. Nearby, the town of Mound City was incorporated in 1832. The two towns combined in 1865.) [7] Fostoria Glass Company (specializing in hand-blown glassworks) was headquartered in Moundsville from 1891 to 1986. The retired West Virginia State Penitentiary operated in Moundsville from 1867 to 1995.[8] On August 4, 1927, Charles Lindbergh landed The Spirit of St. Louis at Langin Field in Moundsville. [9]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 9,318 people, 4,016 households, and 2,445 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,202.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,236.3/km2). There were 4,458 housing units at an average density of 1,532.0 per square mile (591.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.5% White, 0.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

Choose the Best Vet Tech Program near Moundsville WV

Moundsville WV vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Moundsville WV.