Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Summersville KY

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Summersville Kentucky

Summersville KY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Summersville KY might at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Summersville KY

cat with cone after surgery in Summersville KY One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Summersville KY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually earn a two 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 fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So 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 opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Summersville

student attending online vet tech school in Summersville KY An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Summersville KY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Summersville KY Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Summersville KY vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Summersville KY area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Summersville KY area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian 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 checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations 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 pointer, phone some Summersville KY veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Summersville KY veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Summersville KY veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective 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 Summersville KY colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Summersville KY home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with 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 in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Summersville KY. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Summersville KY?

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

Kentucky Route 323

KY 323 begins at an intersection with KY 566 (Eve Road) in Eve, within Green County. This intersection is along the southwestern edge of Vance Cemetery. It travels to the south-southeast and curves to the northeast until it meets the northern terminus of its southern segment, an intersection with Graham Cemetery Road, at a point south-southeast of Lobb. Here, the roadway continues as H. Milby–Oak Grove Road. This intersection is on the western bank of Big Brush Creek.[1]

KY 323 resumes on the eastern back of the creek, at a dirt road located southeast of Lobb. It travels to the southeast and passes Milby Cemetery before curving to the east-southeast. The highway enters Gabe, where it curves to the northeast. It passes Bennett Cemetery and then enters Summersville, where it intersects KY 61 (Hodgenville Road / Greenburge Road). It curves to the east-northeast and intersects the southern terminus of KY 2763 (Summersville–Coakley Road). The highway curves to the east-southeast and then to the northeast before it crosses over Sand Lick Creek.

The highway then enters Taylor County. It crosses over Big Pitman Creek before curving to the south to travel through Bengal. KY 323 travels in an easterly direction and curves to the southeast before it crosses over Middle Pitman Creek. It enters Sweeneyville, where it intersects KY 883 (Fairview Road). It crosses over Little Pitman Creek and enters the western part of Campbellsville. The highway intersects US 68/KY 70 (Greensburg Road). It curves to the east-northeast and crosses over KY 55 (New Columbia Road). It passes Brookside Cemetery and Campbellsville High School. It crosses over Buck Horn Creek and turns left, to the north-northwest, onto Columbia Avenue. Two blocks later, it meets its northern terminus, an intersection with US 68/KY 55/KY 70 (East Broadway Street). This intersection is on the southeastern edge of Campbellsville University. At this intersection, the roadway continues as North Columbia Avenue.[2]

Pick the Best Vet Tech Program near Summersville KY

Summersville KY vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Summersville KY.