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How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Wichita Kansas

Wichita KS vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Wichita KS might initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Wichita KS

cat with cone after surgery in Wichita KS Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Wichita KS veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Wichita KS laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Wichita

student attending online vet tech school in Wichita KS An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Wichita KS veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Wichita KS Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Wichita KS vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Wichita KS area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Wichita KS area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Kansas school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Wichita KS veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Wichita KS veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Wichita KS veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Wichita KS schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications 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 subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Wichita KS home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger 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 community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Wichita KS. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Wichita KS?

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

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita (/ˈwɪtʃɪtɔː/ WITCH-i-taw)[8] is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.[9][5] Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, it is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area[3][5][10] which had an estimated population of 644,610 in 2015.[11] As of 2017, the city of Wichita had an estimated population of 391,586.[6]

The city began as a trading post on the Chisholm Trail in the 1860s and was incorporated in 1870. It subsequently became a destination for cattle drives north from Texas to railroads, earning it the nickname "Cowtown".[12][13] In the 1920s and '30s, businessmen and aeronautical engineers established aircraft manufacturing companies in Wichita, including Beechcraft, Cessna, and Stearman Aircraft. The city became a U.S. aircraft production hub and became known as "The Air Capital of the World".[14]Textron Aviation, Learjet, Airbus, and Spirit AeroSystems continue to operate design and manufacturing facilities in Wichita, and the city remains a major center of the American aircraft industry. Wichita is also home to McConnell Air Force Base.[15][16]

As an industrial hub, Wichita is a center of culture, media, and trade. It hosts several large museums, theaters, parks, and entertainment venues, notably Intrust Bank Arena. Wichita State University is the third-largest post-secondary institution in the state. Wichita is also home to the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center and Kansas's largest airport, Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech School near Wichita KS

Wichita KS vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on a number of 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 very important that you pick 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 narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Wichita KS.