Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Fort Leavenworth KS

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Fort Leavenworth Kansas

Fort Leavenworth KS vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Fort Leavenworth KS could initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Fort Leavenworth KS

cat with cone after surgery in Fort Leavenworth KS Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Fort Leavenworth KS veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through 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 veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Fort Leavenworth KS labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Fort Leavenworth

student attending online vet tech school in Fort Leavenworth KS An option that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Fort Leavenworth KS veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Fort Leavenworth KS Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Fort Leavenworth KS vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Fort Leavenworth KS area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Fort Leavenworth KS area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating 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 infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Fort Leavenworth KS veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Fort Leavenworth KS veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Fort Leavenworth KS veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance 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 individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Fort Leavenworth KS colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Fort Leavenworth KS home, you need to confirm 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 large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Fort Leavenworth KS. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Fort Leavenworth KS?

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

Fort Leavenworth

Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth, in the northeast part of the state. Built in 1827, it is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, DC, and the oldest permanent settlement in Kansas.[1] Fort Leavenworth has been historically known as the "Intellectual Center of the Army."[2]

Fort Leavenworth was also the base of African-American soldiers of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on 21 September 1866 at Fort Leavenworth. They became known as Buffalo Soldiers, nicknamed by the Native American tribes whom they fought. The term eventually was applied to all of the African-American regiments formed in 1866.

During the country's westward expansion, Fort Leavenworth was a forward destination for thousands of soldiers, surveyors, immigrants, American Indians, preachers and settlers who passed through. On August 1, 1846, a Mormon Battalion, led by Col. James Allen, arrived at Fort Leavenworth. Colonel Allen became ill and died at the fort; his headstone marks his grave at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Pick the Best Veterinary Technician College near Fort Leavenworth KS

Fort Leavenworth KS vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, 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 provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fort Leavenworth KS.