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How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Lehigh Kansas

Lehigh KS vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Lehigh KS might at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing 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. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Lehigh KS

cat with cone after surgery in Lehigh KS One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Lehigh KS veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally 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 vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also 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 emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lehigh KS laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Lehigh

student attending online vet tech school in Lehigh KS An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Lehigh KS veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. 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 independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Lehigh KS Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Lehigh KS vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Lehigh KS area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 rigorous review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Lehigh KS area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet 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 infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Lehigh KS veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Lehigh KS veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low 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, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Lehigh KS veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean 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 receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lehigh KS programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Lehigh KS home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by 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 especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 Lehigh KS. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lehigh KS?

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

Lehigh, 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 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Lehigh.[7]

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech School near Lehigh KS

Lehigh KS vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lehigh KS.