How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near New Martinsville West Virginia
Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near New Martinsville WV may at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering 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 explore the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.
The Role of a Veterinary Technician in New Martinsville WV
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might 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 specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can perform within the New Martinsville WV veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain 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 fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. So the main difference 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, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in New Martinsville WV labs or research facilities also.
Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in New Martinsville
An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local New Martinsville WV veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.
What to Ask New Martinsville WV Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the New Martinsville 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 mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important 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 regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will get a superior 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 schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many New Martinsville WV area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate 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 online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the West Virginia school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some New Martinsville WV vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with New Martinsville WV veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the New Martinsville WV vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of 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 probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the New Martinsville WV schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your New Martinsville WV home, you must 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, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near New Martinsville WV. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near New Martinsville WV?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the New Martinsville West Virginia area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
New Martinsville, West Virginia
New Martinsville is located at 39°39′27″N 80°51′34″W / 39.65750°N 80.85944°W / 39.65750; -80.85944 (39.657465, -80.859504).[7]Big Fishing Creek/ Fishing Creek is located downstream nearby, just South of town.[8][9]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 5,366 people, 2,340 households, and 1,477 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,009.7 inhabitants per square mile (775.9/km2). There were 2,632 housing units at an average density of 985.8 per square mile (380.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.2% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.
There were 2,340 households of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.78.
Pick the Right Veterinary Technician College near New Martinsville WV
Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in New Martinsville WV.
Other Doggone Good Cities in West Virginia
Business Results 1 - 10 of 5
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 2 Reviews 