How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Durham Kansas
Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Durham KS might initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.
The Role of a Vet Tech in Durham KS
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based 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 techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Durham KS veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Durham KS labs or research facilities as well.
Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Durham
An option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Durham KS veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure 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 dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Durham KS Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Durham KS area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Durham KS area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Kansas school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Durham KS veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Durham KS veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Durham KS veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify 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 larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Durham KS programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to 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 College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Durham KS home, you have to make sure that the driving 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 campus is located in or close by a larger city. Also, 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 costs 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 decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Durham KS. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Durham KS?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Durham Kansas area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
Durham, Kansas
For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through Marion County near the current cities of Florence, Marion, Durham.[8]
Pick the Right Veterinary Technician College near Durham KS
Choosing the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when 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 goes for vet tech online programs 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 decision. And by selecting the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Durham KS.
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