How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Ashland Kansas
Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Ashland KS may at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. After they have located some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied duties of vet techs and the training options offered.
The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Ashland KS
One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician 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 undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Ashland KS veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone 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 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. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So the main difference 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, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Ashland KS labs or research facilities also.
Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Ashland
An option that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because 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 various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Ashland KS veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.
What to Ask Ashland KS Vet Tech Schools
By now you should have determined which veterinary degree 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 Ashland KS area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of 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 thorough screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Ashland KS area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Kansas school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Ashland KS veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Ashland KS veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical 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 build associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Ashland KS vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Ashland KS colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Ashland KS home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Ashland KS. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Ashland KS?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Ashland Kansas area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
Ashland, Kansas
Ashland lies along what was once a military road from Fort Dodge (now Dodge City, Kansas) to the north and Fort Supply in the Indian Territory to the south. In 1870, during the Comanche Campaign against the Native Americans, the Army built two redoubts along the Dodge/Supply trail near the current site of Ashland: the Bear Creek Redoubt, five miles to the north,[9] and the Cimarron Redoubt, nine miles to the south.[10]
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $32,721, and the median income for a family was $40,682. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $20,313 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,183. About 9.5% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 867 people, 381 households, and 239 families residing in the city. The population density was 516.1 inhabitants per square mile (199.3/km2). There were 465 housing units at an average density of 276.8 per square mile (106.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.7% White, 0.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.8% of the population.
Pick the Right Vet Tech College near Ashland KS
Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools 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 selection. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Ashland KS.
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