Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Leavenworth KS

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Leavenworth Kansas

Leavenworth KS vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Leavenworth KS may initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. When they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Leavenworth KS

cat with cone after surgery in Leavenworth KS Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably 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 practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Leavenworth KS veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Leavenworth

student attending online vet tech school in Leavenworth KS An approach that might 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 offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Leavenworth KS 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 instance for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Leavenworth KS Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Leavenworth KS vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Leavenworth KS area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for many Leavenworth KS area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Kansas school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Leavenworth KS veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Leavenworth KS veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Leavenworth KS veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Leavenworth KS programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Leavenworth KS home, you must 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, especially 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 fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit 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 Leavenworth KS. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Leavenworth KS?

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

Fort Leavenworth

Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth, in the northeast part of the state. Built in 1827, it is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, DC, and the oldest permanent settlement in Kansas.[1] Fort Leavenworth has been historically known as the "Intellectual Center of the Army."[2]

Fort Leavenworth was also the base of African-American soldiers of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on 21 September 1866 at Fort Leavenworth. They became known as Buffalo Soldiers, nicknamed by the Native American tribes whom they fought. The term eventually was applied to all of the African-American regiments formed in 1866.

During the country's westward expansion, Fort Leavenworth was a forward destination for thousands of soldiers, surveyors, immigrants, American Indians, preachers and settlers who passed through. On August 1, 1846, a Mormon Battalion, led by Col. James Allen, arrived at Fort Leavenworth. Colonel Allen became ill and died at the fort; his headstone marks his grave at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Pick the Best Vet Tech Program near Leavenworth KS

Leavenworth KS vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Leavenworth KS.