Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools West Helena AR

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near West Helena Arkansas

West Helena AR vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near West Helena AR might initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in West Helena AR

cat with cone after surgery in West Helena AR One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the West Helena AR veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in West Helena AR labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in West Helena

student attending online vet tech school in West Helena AR An option that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local West Helena AR veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. 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 self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask West Helena AR Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask West Helena AR vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the West Helena AR area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of West Helena AR area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arkansas school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some West Helena AR vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with West Helena AR veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the West Helena AR vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the West Helena AR programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations 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 School Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your West Helena AR home, you must confirm 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 college is located in or near 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 higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near West Helena AR. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near West Helena AR?

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

Helena–West Helena, Arkansas

Helena–West Helena is the county seat of and the largest city within Phillips County, Arkansas, United States.[3] The current city was consolidated, effective January 1, 2006, from the two Arkansas cities of Helena and West Helena. Helena is sited on lowlands between the Mississippi River and the eastern side of Crowley's Ridge. West Helena is located on the western side of Crowley's Ridge, a geographic anomaly in the typically flat Arkansas Delta. The Helena Bridge, one of Arkansas' four Mississippi River bridges, carries U.S. Route 49 across to Mississippi. The combined population of the two cities was 15,012 at the 2000 census and at the 2010 census, the official population was 12,282.[4]

The municipality traces its historical roots to the founding of the port town of Helena on the Mississippi River by European Americans in 1833. As the county seat, Helena was the center of a prosperous cotton plantation region in the antebellum years. Helena was occupied by the Union Army early in the American Civil War. The city was the site of the Battle of Helena fought in 1863. Confederate forces unsuccessfully tried to expel Union forces from Helena in order to help relieve pressure on the strategic river town of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Later in the year, Helena served as the launching point for the Union Army in the capture of Little Rock, the state capital.

A thriving blues community developed here in the 1940s and 1950s as rural musicians relocated for city jobs. Mechanization had reduced the need for farm workers. The city continued to grow until the closing of the Mohawk Rubber Company, a subsidiary of Yokohama Rubber Company, in the 1970s. Unemployment surged shortly after.[5]

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician College near West Helena AR

West Helena AR vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in West Helena AR.