Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Dover KY - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Dover Kentucky

Dover KY vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Dover KY might at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. After they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Dover KY

cat with cone after surgery in Dover KY One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Dover KY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. 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 involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Dover KY laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Dover

student attending online vet tech school in Dover KY An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Dover KY veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Dover KY Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Dover KY vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Dover KY area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Dover KY area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Kentucky school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Dover KY veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Dover KY veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Dover KY veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Dover KY programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to 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 School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Dover KY home, you need to make certain that the driving 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, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating 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 Dover KY. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Dover KY?

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

Dover, Kentucky

The town of Dover was laid out by Arthur Fox Jr. in 1818 and possibly named for Dover, England, his father's hometown.[3] A post office was established at Dover in 1833.[4] Dover was incorporated in 1836.[5]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 316 people, 115 households, and 93 families residing in the city. The population density was 640.8 people per square mile (249.0/km²). There were 124 housing units at an average density of 251.4 per square mile (97.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.15% White, 0.63% African American, 0.32% Native American, and 1.90% from two or more races.

There were 115 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.00.

Choose the Best Vet Tech Program near Dover KY

Dover KY vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients 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 applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Dover KY.