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How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Lafayette Louisiana

Lafayette LA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Lafayette LA may at first seem like a daunting task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. When they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Lafayette LA

cat with cone after surgery in Lafayette LA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Lafayette LA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. 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 also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Lafayette

student attending online vet tech school in Lafayette LA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Lafayette LA veterinarian clinic 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 commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Lafayette LA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Lafayette LA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lafayette LA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Lafayette LA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary 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 checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Louisiana school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Lafayette LA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Lafayette LA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Lafayette LA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lafayette LA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Lafayette LA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian colleges 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 go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lafayette LA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm 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 illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lafayette LA?

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

Lafayette, Louisiana

Lafayette (/ˌlæfiˈjɛt/; French: [lafajɛt]) is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana,[4] located along the Vermilion River in the southwestern part of the state. The city of Lafayette is the fourth-largest in the state, with a population of 127,657 according to 2015 U.S. Census estimates.[5] It is the principal city of the Lafayette, Louisiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, with a 2015 estimated population of 490,488. The larger trade area or Combined Statistical Area of Lafayette-Opelousas-Morgan City CSA was 627,146 in 2015.[5] Its nickname is The Hub City.

The Attakapas Native Americans inhabited this area at the time of European encounter. French colonists founded the first European settlement, Petit Manchac, a trading post along the Vermilion River.[6] In the late eighteenth century, numerous Acadian refugees settled in this area, after being expelled from Canada after Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War. They intermarried with other settlers, forming what is known as Cajun culture, which continued as strongly French language and Catholic religion.

Jean Mouton, of Acadian descent, donated land to the Catholic church for construction of a small Catholic chapel at this site. In 1824 this area was selected for the Lafayette Parish seat and known as Vermilionville, for its location on the river. In 1836 the Louisiana Legislature granted it incorporation.

Select the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Lafayette LA

Lafayette LA vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lafayette LA.