Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Fort Riley KS

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Fort Riley Kansas

Fort Riley KS vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Fort Riley KS could at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Fort Riley KS

cat with cone after surgery in Fort Riley KS One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Fort Riley KS veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty 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 tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs 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 Fort Riley KS laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Fort Riley

student attending online vet tech school in Fort Riley KS An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Fort Riley KS veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized 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 independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Fort Riley KS Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Fort Riley KS vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Fort Riley KS area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous 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 many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Fort Riley KS area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Kansas school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Fort Riley KS veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Fort Riley KS veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech 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 reviewing. A low rate might signify 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 schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Fort Riley KS veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Fort Riley KS colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Fort Riley KS home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large 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 increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Fort Riley KS. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require 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 might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Fort Riley KS?

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

Fort Riley

Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Geary and Riley counties.[1] The portion of the fort that contains housing development is part of the Fort Riley census-designated place, with a residential population of 7,761 as of the 2010 census.[2] The fort has a daytime population of nearly 25,000. The ZIP Code is 66442.

Fort Riley is named in honor of Major General Bennet C. Riley, who led the first military escort along the Santa Fe Trail. The fort was established in 1853 as a military post to protect the movement of people and trade over the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe trails. In the years after the Civil War, Fort Riley served as a major United States Cavalry post and school for cavalry tactics and practice. The post was a base for skirmishes with Native Americans after the Civil War ended in 1865, during which time George A. Custer was stationed at the fort.

In 1887, Fort Riley became the site of the United States Cavalry School. The famous all-black 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, the soldiers of which were called "Buffalo Soldiers", were stationed at Fort Riley at various times in the 19th and early 20th centuries. During World War I, the fort was home to 50,000 soldiers, and it is sometimes identified as ground zero for the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which its soldiers were said to have spread all over the world. Since the end of World War II, various infantry divisions have been assigned there. Most notably, from 1955 to 1996 the post was home to the famed 1st Infantry Division, also called "Big Red One". Between 1999–2006, the post was headquarters to the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and known as "America's Warfighting Center". In August 2006, the Big Red One relocated its headquarters to Fort Riley from Leighton Barracks, Germany.

Choose the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Fort Riley KS

Fort Riley KS vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fort Riley KS.