Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Curdsville KY

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Curdsville Kentucky

Curdsville KY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Curdsville KY may initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you must locate 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 colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Curdsville KY

cat with cone after surgery in Curdsville 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 decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Curdsville KY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the main 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 options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Curdsville KY laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Curdsville

student attending online vet tech school in Curdsville KY An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Curdsville KY veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Curdsville KY Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Curdsville KY vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree 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 vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Curdsville KY area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies 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 programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Curdsville KY area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Kentucky school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Curdsville KY vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Curdsville KY veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Curdsville KY veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well 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 larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Curdsville KY schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Curdsville KY home, you must confirm 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 close by or within a large city. Also, 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 especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate 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 Curdsville KY. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Curdsville KY?

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

List of Kentucky supplemental roads and rural secondary highways (400–499)

Kentucky supplemental roads and rural secondary highways are the lesser two of the four functional classes of highways constructed and maintained by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the state-level agency that constructs and maintains highways in Kentucky. The agency splits its inventory of state highway mileage into four categories:[1]

The same-numbered highway can comprise sections of road under different categories. This list contains descriptions of Supplemental Roads and highways in the Rural Secondary System numbered 400 to 499 that do not have portions within the State Primary and State Secondary systems.

Kentucky Route 400 is a 1.377-mile-long (2.216 km) supplemental road in the city of Oak Grove in southern Christian County. The highway begins at US 41 Alt. (Fort Campbell Boulevard) at the eastern edge of Fort Campbell just north of the Tennessee state line. KY 400 heads east along State Line Road, which runs immediately north of the state line. The highway turns north away from the state line and veers east again to its terminus at KY 115 (Pembroke–Oak Grove Road).[1][2] The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet established KY 400 through a March 30, 1987, official order. The route was added as a rural secondary highway; however, the highway was reclassified as a supplemental road at an unknown date, returned to the rural secondary system through an October 26, 2004, official order, and returned to the supplemental road system after a December 9, 2010, official order.[3]

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech College near Curdsville KY

Curdsville KY vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on multiple key issues. 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 animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Curdsville KY.