How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Thornton Kentucky
Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Thornton KY might initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. When they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.
The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Thornton KY
Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish 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 primary factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can perform within the Thornton 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 assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary 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 required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Thornton KY laboratories or research facilities also.
Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Thornton
An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Thornton KY veterinarian practice 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 traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes 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 veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Thornton KY Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Thornton KY area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose 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 a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Thornton KY area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting 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 targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Thornton KY vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Thornton KY veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Thornton KY veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Thornton KY programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about 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 Thornton KY home, you need to make sure 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Thornton KY. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Thornton KY?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Thornton Kentucky area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
Thorntons Inc.
Thorntons Inc. is a gasoline and convenience store chain with locations in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.[1] It was founded on November 1, 1971 by James H. Thornton. Thorntons is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
Thornton, a 1946 graduate of New Albany High School, first gained entry into the gasoline industry working at a station owned by his stepfather. In 1951, at the age of 24, he became one of the partners of Dixie Dance gas stations. Thornton eventually joined Ashland Inc. in 1955 maintaining a relationship with them until 1970. The first "Thorntons" location opened in 1971 in Clarksville, Indiana. The original site featured a kiosk building and a full-service attendant. In the 1980s Thorntons transitioned from kiosk locations to convenience stores and grew to over 100 locations.
In 2013 Thorntons introduced a larger store with an expanded food program in select Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana stores.[2] In 2016, this platform was expanded in select Chicago metropolitan area stores along with the roll out of Unleaded15TM. Unleaded15 provides an octane rating of 88 and contains approximately 15% ethanol.[3]
Pick the Right Vet Tech College near Thornton KY
Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech programs must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. 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 reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Thornton KY.
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