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How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Lafitte Louisiana

Lafitte LA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Lafitte LA could at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Lafitte LA

cat with cone after surgery in Lafitte LA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Lafitte LA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. 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 complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction 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 examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lafitte LA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Lafitte

student attending online vet tech school in Lafitte LA An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Lafitte LA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Lafitte LA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Lafitte LA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lafitte LA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Lafitte LA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Louisiana school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Lafitte LA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Lafitte LA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Lafitte LA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Lafitte LA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lafitte LA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in 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. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools 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 Lafitte LA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lafitte LA?

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

Jean Lafitte

Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 – c. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He and his elder brother, Pierre, spelled their last name Laffite, but English-language documents of the time used "Lafitte". The latter has become the common spelling in the United States, including for places named after him.[1]

Lafitte is believed to have been born either in Basque-France or the French colony of Saint-Domingue. By 1805, he operated a warehouse in New Orleans to help disperse the goods smuggled by his brother Pierre Lafitte. After the United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807, the Lafittes moved their operations to an island in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. By 1810, their new port was very successful; the Lafittes had a profitable smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy.

Though Lafitte warned the other Baratarians of a possible military attack on their base of operations, a United States naval force successfully invaded in September 1814 and captured most of Lafitte's fleet. Later, in return for a legal pardon for the smugglers, Lafitte and his comrades helped General Andrew Jackson defend New Orleans from the British in the final battle of the War of 1812.

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech School near Lafitte LA

Lafitte LA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative 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 colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lafitte LA.