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How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Frankfort Kentucky

Frankfort KY vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Frankfort KY could initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Frankfort KY

cat with cone after surgery in Frankfort KY Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Frankfort KY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone 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 vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense 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 involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore 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 work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Frankfort

student attending online vet tech school in Frankfort KY An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Frankfort KY veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Frankfort KY Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Frankfort KY vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Frankfort KY area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Frankfort KY area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Kentucky school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Frankfort KY veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Frankfort KY veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means 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 vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might signify 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 schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Frankfort KY veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Frankfort KY schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Frankfort KY home, you need to make certain that the commuting 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, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Frankfort KY. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Frankfort KY?

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

Frankfort, Kentucky

Frankfort is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the seat of Franklin County.[2] It is a home rule-class city[3] in Kentucky; the population was 25,527 at the 2010 census. Located along the Kentucky River, Frankfort is the principal city of the Frankfort, Kentucky Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Franklin and Anderson counties.

The town of Frankfort likely received its name from an event that took place in the 1780s. American Indians attacked a group of early European-American pioneers from Bryan Station, who were making salt at a ford in the Kentucky River. Pioneer Stephen Frank was killed, and the settlers thereafter called the crossing "Frank's Ford." This name was later elided to Frankfort.[4]

In 1786, James Wilkinson purchased the 260-acre (1.1 km2) tract of land on the north side of the Kentucky River, which developed as downtown Frankfort. He was an early promoter of Frankfort as the state capital.

Choose the Ideal Vet Tech School near Frankfort KY

Frankfort KY vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. 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 choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Frankfort KY.