Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Catlettsburg KY

How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Catlettsburg Kentucky

Catlettsburg KY vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Catlettsburg KY may at first feel like a challenging task. 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 reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Catlettsburg KY

cat with cone after surgery in Catlettsburg KY One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Catlettsburg KY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed 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 vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, 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 get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Catlettsburg KY labs or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Catlettsburg

student attending online vet tech school in Catlettsburg KY An option that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Catlettsburg KY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program 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 complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Catlettsburg KY Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Catlettsburg KY vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Catlettsburg KY area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among 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 confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Catlettsburg KY area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Kentucky school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Catlettsburg KY veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Catlettsburg KY veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Catlettsburg KY vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Catlettsburg KY programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Catlettsburg KY home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are exploring 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 in the evenings near Catlettsburg KY. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Catlettsburg KY?

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

Catlettsburg, Kentucky

Catlettsburg is a home rule-class city[3] in and the county seat of Boyd County, Kentucky, United States.[4] The city population was 1,856 at the 2010 census. Catlettsburg is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of 2013, new definitions from the United States Census, the MSA had a population of 361,000.

Catlettsburg's history begins in the decades directly following the American Revolution, as many frontiersmen passed through the area on their western trek along the Ohio River. Alexander Catlett, the first landowner of the area, came to the site in 1798. His son, Horatio Catlett, opened a post office on December 5, 1810, with himself being the postmaster. This was the first known use of the name Catlettsburg being used officially as it had been previously known as Mouth of Sandy. In 1849, James Wilson Fry, a landowner who purchased the site from the Catlett family in 1833, sold off town lots of what was soon to be the town of Catlettsburg. (The Kentucky Encyclopedia says the Catletts settled the area in 1798.[5]) and Catletts resided at the location until 1847. After establishing this settlement, the Catletts operated a business that consisted of a tavern, post office, trading post, and inn, out of a log structure they built from virgin timber about 1811. Due to its location along the route of the American frontier, the Catletts provided hospitality to such notable patrons as General Stonewall Jackson, Henry Clay, Felix Grundy, and future U.S. President James Garfield. Catering to the ever-growing river traffic, the Catlett business flourished and the present-day town grew up around it. Collis P. Huntington operated the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. Its line to Cincinnati was built from Huntington in 1888. This required the construction of the railroad bridge that crosses the Big Sandy River at Catlettsburg, which carries an average of 80 trains daily.

The Catlett House is still standing two hundred years later and has long been used as the "servants' quarters" of Beechmoor Place, a large home located on Walnut Street (U.S. Routes 23 and 60). C.W. Culver bought the property from the Catlett heirs and built a large home of the Georgian style on the right of the Catletts' original dwelling. About 1868, Col. Laban T. Moore bought the estate from C.W. Culver for $10,000 ($171,000 in 2011). Col. Moore was noted as a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and had previously served as a captain in the Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. He named his home Beechmoor, a portmanteau of his surname and that of a magnificent beech that stood on the fertile grounds at the time. Ownership of Beechmoor has remained in the Moore family since 1868. Beechmoor's eastern wing, being 200 years old and built by the Catletts, is cited as the oldest known building in a 300-mile radius. Built of Kentucky's virgin hemlock maple (now virtually extinct), the exterior walls are between 9 and 12 inches thick. The main portion has a stone foundation, and is held up by the same virgin timber, each 64 feet (20 m) in diameter, and running the entire 42-foot (13 m) width of the house. Beechmoor's last full-time resident, Rebecca Patton, Col. L.T. Moore's granddaughter, was dedicated to Beechmoor's preservation during her lifetime. In 1973, she had her lifelong home listed on the National Register of Historic Places and made provisions to ensure the home would be maintained in the event of her demise. She died in 1986. Since then, it has been maintained by proceeds from a trust fund and rental property income. A paid caretaker lives on the property full-time as of 2011. Several attempts have been made by local civic groups to acquire the property as a museum or civic use property due to its historical significance to the area but have not been successful as of this time, due to the family's desire to retain ownership.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech School near Catlettsburg KY

Catlettsburg KY vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech colleges must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Catlettsburg KY.