Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Connersville IN

How to Select a Vet Tech School near Connersville Indiana

Connersville IN vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Connersville IN could initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Connersville IN

cat with cone after surgery in Connersville IN Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Connersville IN veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets 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 sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets 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 surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. So 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Connersville IN laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Connersville

student attending online vet tech school in Connersville IN An option that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Connersville IN veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for commuting and study materials, can 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 organization. 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 independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Connersville IN Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Connersville IN vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Connersville IN area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of 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 demanding screening process that verifies you will get 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 colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Connersville IN area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Indiana school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Connersville IN vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Connersville IN veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Connersville IN vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Connersville IN programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously talked about 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 Connersville IN home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Connersville IN. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Connersville IN?

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

Connersville, Indiana

Connersville is a city in Fayette County, east central Indiana, United States, 66 miles (106 km) east by southeast of Indianapolis. The population was 13,481 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of and the largest and only incorporated town in Fayette County.[6] The city is in the center of a large rural area of east central Indiana; the nearest significant city is Richmond, 26 miles (42 km) to the northeast by road. It is home to the county's one and only high school. The economy is supported by local manufacturing, retail and healthcare. Employment and population have been declining since the 1960's and it is among the poorest areas of the state in median household income and other economic measures.

Connersville is located at 39°39′14″N 85°8′16″W / 39.65389°N 85.13778°W / 39.65389; -85.13778 (39.653931, -85.137709).[7] The town is oriented roughly north-south, extending 5 miles (8.0 km) north-south and 3 miles (4.8 km) east-west from center of town, with most of the town located in the southern 2/3. The center of town is roughly Central Ave and 5th street in the southern portion. Annexations have pushed the city limits of Connersville north along Indiana 1 (Western Avenue) to the county line.

According to the 2010 census, Connersville has a total area of 7.755 square miles (20.09 km2), of which 7.74 square miles (20.05 km2) (or 99.81%) is land and 0.015 square miles (0.04 km2) (or 0.19%) is water.[8]

Pick the Right Vet Tech Program near Connersville IN

Connersville IN vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs 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 best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Connersville IN.