Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Sellersburg IN

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Sellersburg Indiana

Sellersburg IN vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Sellersburg IN may initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Sellersburg IN

cat with cone after surgery in Sellersburg IN Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Sellersburg IN veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties 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 compared with assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist 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 additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Sellersburg

student attending online vet tech school in Sellersburg IN An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Sellersburg IN veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school 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 furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Sellersburg IN Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Sellersburg IN vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Sellersburg IN area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among 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 screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Sellersburg IN area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Indiana school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Sellersburg IN veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Sellersburg IN veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Sellersburg IN veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Sellersburg IN colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Sellersburg IN home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Sellersburg IN. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Sellersburg IN?

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

Sellersburg, Indiana

Sellersburg is a town located within Silver Creek Township, Clark County, Indiana, United States. It had a population of 6,128 at time of the 2010 census. Sellersburg is located along Interstate 65, about 15 minutes north of Louisville.

Sellersburg takes its name from its founder, Moses Sellers, who laid out the town in 1846.[7][8] Sellersburg incorporated in 1890.[1] The first post office at Sellersburg was established in 1854, at which time the name was spelled Sellersburgh.[9]

Sellersburg grew up at 38°23′13″N 85°45′27″W / 38.38694°N 85.75750°W / 38.38694; -85.75750 (38.386823, -85.757543).[10] According to the 2010 census, Sellersburg has a total area of 3.97 square miles (10.28 km2), of which 3.94 square miles (10.20 km2) (or 99.24%) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) (or 0.76%) is water.[11]

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech College near Sellersburg IN

Sellersburg IN vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. 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 narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Sellersburg IN.