Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Shepardsville IN

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Shepardsville Indiana

Shepardsville IN vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Shepardsville IN may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Shepardsville IN

cat with cone after surgery in Shepardsville IN Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Shepardsville IN veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic 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 functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Shepardsville IN labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Shepardsville

student attending online vet tech school in Shepardsville IN An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Shepardsville IN veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school 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 comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Shepardsville IN Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Shepardsville IN vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer 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 Shepardsville IN area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for a number of Shepardsville IN area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Indiana school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Shepardsville IN vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Shepardsville IN veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Shepardsville IN vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Shepardsville IN programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Shepardsville IN home, you need to confirm that the driving 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, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may 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 imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Shepardsville IN. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Shepardsville IN?

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

Ovid Township, Clinton County, Michigan

Ovid Township is located in eastern Clinton County, bordered by Shiawassee County to the east. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.0 square miles (93.2 km2), of which 35.8 square miles (92.8 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 0.44%, is water.[3]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,490 people, 1,225 households, and 927 families residing in the township. The population density was 97.4 per square mile (37.6/km²). There were 1,279 housing units at an average density of 35.7 per square mile (13.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.05% White, 0.17% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.15% of the population.

There were 1,225 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.19.

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician School near Shepardsville IN

Shepardsville IN vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech programs need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech 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 selection. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Shepardsville IN.