Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Louisville KY

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Louisville Kentucky

Louisville KY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Louisville KY may initially feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. When they have located some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Louisville KY

cat with cone after surgery in Louisville KY Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Louisville KY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions 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 with assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So 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 work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Louisville

student attending online vet tech school in Louisville KY An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Louisville KY veterinarian 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 example for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified 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 self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Louisville KY Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Louisville KY vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Louisville KY area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Louisville KY area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Kentucky school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Louisville KY veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Louisville KY veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Louisville KY veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Louisville KY programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Louisville KY home, you must 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, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Louisville KY. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Louisville KY?

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

Louisville, Kentucky

| image_skyline = Louisville montage.jpg | image_caption = From top: Louisville downtown skyline at night, Cathedral of the Assumption, Thunder Over Louisville fireworks during the Kentucky Derby Festival, Kentucky Derby, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Fourth Street Live!, The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts | image_flag = Louisville Metro Flag.png | image_seal = 200px-Louisville Kentucky seal.png | image_map = File:Jefferson County Kentucky Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Louisville-Jefferson County metro government (balance) Highlighted 2148006.svg | map_caption = highlighted portion of Jefferson County represents the “balance” population of Louisville. Also seen is the location of Louisville in the state of Kentucky. | pushpin_map = USA | pushpin_label = Louisville | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_name1 = Kentucky | subdivision_name2 = Jefferson | established_title = Established | established_date = 1778[3] | established_title2 = Incorporated | established_date2 = 1828[3] | founder = George Rogers Clark | named_for = Louis XVI | government_type = Mayor–council | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Greg Fischer (D) | leader_title1 = Metro Council | leader_name1 = 26 council members | area_footnotes = [4] | area_magnitude = 1 E9 | unit_pref = Imperial | area_total_sq_mi = 397.68 | area_land_sq_mi = 380.46 | area_water_sq_mi = 17.23 | area_total_km2 = 1030 | area_land_km2 = 985.4 | area_water_km2 = 44.6 | population_as_of = 2017 | population_total = 771,158[5] (consolidated)621,349[6] (balance) | population_rank = US: 29th[a]KY: 1st | population_urban = 972,546[b] (US: 43rd) | population_metro = 1,293,953[7] (US: 45th[c]) | population_blank1_title = CSA | population_blank1 = 1,522,112 [7] (US: 35th[d]) | population_blank2_title = GMP | population_blank2 = $67.3 billion (US: 48th) | population_density_km2 = 743.0 | population_demonym = Louisvillian | population_footnotes = | timezone = EST | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = -4 | postal_code_type = ZIP code prefixes | postal_code = major: 402xxminor: 400xx, 401xx | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 502 | elevation_m = 142 | elevation_ft = 466 | coordinates = 38°13.52′N 85°44.5′W / 38.22533°N 85.7417°W / 38.22533; -85.7417Coordinates: 38°13.52′N 85°44.5′W / 38.22533°N 85.7417°W / 38.22533; -85.7417 | blank1_name_sec1 = FIPS code | blank1_info_sec1 = 21-48006 | blank2_name_sec1 = GNIS feature ID | blank2_info_sec1 = 0509453[8] | blank3_name_sec1 = USDA hardiness zones | blank3_info_sec1 = 6b, 7a[9] | blank1_name_sec2 = Interstates | blank1_info_sec2 = | blank2_name_sec2 = Airports | blank2_info_sec2 = Louisville International Airport, Bowman Field | blank3_name_sec2 = Waterways | blank3_info_sec2 = Ohio River, Beargrass Creek, Floyds Fork, Harrods Creek | blank4_name_sec2 = Public transit | blank4_info_sec2 = | website = LouisvilleKy.gov | footnotes = }}

Louisville (/ˈluːəvəl/ (listen) LOO-ə-vəl, /ˈluːivɪl/ (listen) LOO-ee-vil, /ˈlʊvəl/ (listen) LUUV-əl) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 29th most-populous city in the United States.[a][6] It is one of two cities in Kentucky designated as first-class, the other being Lexington, the state's second-largest city.[e] Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County.

Louisville was founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark, making it one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachian Mountains. It is named after King Louis XVI of France. Sited beside the Falls of the Ohio, the only major obstruction to river traffic between the upper Ohio River and the Gulf of Mexico, the settlement first grew as a portage site. It was the founding city of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, which grew into a 6,000-mile (9,700 km) system across 13 states. Today, the city is known as the home of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), the University of Louisville and its Louisville Cardinals athletic teams, Louisville Slugger baseball bats, and three of Kentucky's six Fortune 500 companies.[11] Its main airport is also the site of United Parcel Service's worldwide air hub.

Select the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Louisville KY

Louisville KY vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Louisville KY.