Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Junction City KS

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Junction City Kansas

Junction City KS vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Junction City KS may initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Junction City KS

cat with cone after surgery in Junction City KS One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Junction City KS veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education 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 trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn 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 basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Junction City KS laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Junction City

student attending online vet tech school in Junction City KS An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet college 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 accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Junction City KS veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Junction City KS Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Junction City KS vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Junction City KS area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 rigorous review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Junction City KS area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Kansas school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Junction City KS veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Junction City KS veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Junction City KS vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Junction City KS colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few 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 determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Junction City KS home, you must make sure 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college 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 especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you find out 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 working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Junction City KS. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Junction City KS?

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

Junction City, Kansas

In 1854, Andrew J. Mead of New York of the Cincinnati-Manhattan Company, Free Staters connected to the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company planned a community there called Manhattan (there was also a discussion to call it New Cincinnati).[9] When the steamship Hartford delivering the immigrants could not reach the community because of low water on the Kansas River, the Free Staters settled 20 miles east in what today is Manhattan, Kansas. The community was renamed Millard City for Captain Millard of the Hartford on October 3, 1855. It was renamed briefly Humboldt in 1857 by local farmers and renamed again later that year to Junction City.[10] It was formally incorporated in 1859.[9]

In 1923, John R. Brinkley established Radio Station KFKB (which stood for ‘’Kansas First, Kansas Best’’) using a 1 kW transmitter. It is one of the first—if not the very first—radio stations in Kansas. Brinkley used the station to espouse his belief that goat testicles could be implanted in men to enhance their virility.[11]

Among Junction City's residents is film director Kevin Wilmott, whose movies, including Ninth Street, are set in Junction City. Ninth Street specifically refers to a bawdy area of the community that was frequented by Fort Riley soldiers in the 1960s.[12] In the 1980s a major initiative was undertaken to clean up the Ninth St. area.[citation needed]

Pick the Right Vet Tech College near Junction City KS

Junction City KS vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech schools must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Junction City KS.