Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Grand Coteau LA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Grand Coteau Louisiana

Grand Coteau LA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Grand Coteau LA might at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Grand Coteau LA

cat with cone after surgery in Grand Coteau LA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Grand Coteau LA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration 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 takes four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Grand Coteau LA labs or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Grand Coteau

student attending online vet tech school in Grand Coteau LA An option that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Grand Coteau LA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Grand Coteau LA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Grand Coteau LA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Grand Coteau LA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Grand Coteau LA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at 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 Louisiana school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Grand Coteau LA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Grand Coteau LA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Grand Coteau LA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large 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 Grand Coteau LA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning 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? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Grand Coteau LA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large 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 increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Grand Coteau LA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Grand Coteau LA?

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

Grand Coteau, Louisiana

Grand Coteau is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,040 at the 2000 census. Grand Coteau is on Interstate 49 south of Opelousas and is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town is a center for local farming. As of 2013[update], the mayor is Virginia Pierre.

The first known land grant by the colonial Louisiana government was in 1776 in the area referred to as Buzzard Prairie.[3] In the early 19th century, Buzzard Prairie served as a stopping point for travelers between Washington, Louisiana, and St. Martinville, Louisiana. The thriving community had two bakeries, a cobbler, a millinery, a blacksmith shop, a post office, six bars, and nine brothels.

In 1821, Mrs. Charles Smith, widow of a wealthy planter in Opelousas, donated land, a two-story building, and funds to pay for the travel expenses of two nuns from St. Charles, Missouri. The two nuns of the Religious of the Sacred Heart founded a convent and a school that became the Academy of the Sacred Heart.[4][5]

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Grand Coteau LA

Grand Coteau LA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Grand Coteau LA.