Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Kendallville IN

How to Select a Vet Tech School near Kendallville Indiana

Kendallville IN vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Kendallville IN might initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Kendallville IN

cat with cone after surgery in Kendallville IN One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Kendallville IN veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for instance 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 controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Kendallville IN laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Kendallville

student attending online vet tech school in Kendallville IN An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Kendallville IN veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Kendallville IN Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Kendallville IN vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer 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 Kendallville IN area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important 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 school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Kendallville IN area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Indiana school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Kendallville IN veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Kendallville IN veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Kendallville IN vet community and has a substantial 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 placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Kendallville IN schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Kendallville IN home, you need to make sure that the driving 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 campus is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Kendallville IN. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Kendallville IN?

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

Kendallville, Indiana

According to the 2010 census, Kendallville has a total area of 6.264 square miles (16.22 km2), of which 6.04 square miles (15.64 km2) (or 96.42%) is land and 0.224 square miles (0.58 km2) (or 3.58%) is water.[11]

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 9,862 people, 3,940 households, and 2,483 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,630.1 inhabitants per square mile (629.4/km2). There were 4,382 housing units at an average density of 724.3 per square mile (279.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.1% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 2.9% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.1% of the population.

There were 3,940 households of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.06.

Choose the Ideal Vet Tech School near Kendallville IN

Kendallville IN vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges 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 choice. And by selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Kendallville IN.