How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Alexandria Kentucky

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Alexandria KY could at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. When they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Alexandria KY 

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can perform within the Alexandria KY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Alexandria KY labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Alexandria

An option that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can study 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 veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Alexandria KY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Alexandria KY Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Alexandria KY area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It’s important that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among 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 ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Alexandria KY area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Kentucky school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Alexandria KY vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Alexandria KY veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Alexandria KY vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well 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 in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Alexandria KY programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Alexandria KY 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Alexandria KY. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Alexandria KY?

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

Pick the Best Vet Tech College near Alexandria KY

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you choose 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 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 choosing the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Alexandria KY.

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