How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near New Orleans Louisiana
Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near New Orleans LA might at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.
The Function of a Vet Tech in New Orleans LA
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the New Orleans LA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 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 work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in New Orleans LA laboratories or research facilities also.
Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in New Orleans
An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local New Orleans LA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.
Questions to Ask New Orleans LA Vet Tech Colleges
By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the New Orleans LA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 a rigorous screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many New Orleans LA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Louisiana school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some New Orleans LA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with New Orleans LA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the New Orleans LA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well 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, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the New Orleans LA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your New Orleans LA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near New Orleans LA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near New Orleans LA?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the New Orleans Louisiana area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
New Orleans
New Orleans (/ˈɔːrl(i)ənz, ɔːrˈliːnz/,[3][4]locally /ˈnɔːrlənz/; French: La Nouvelle-Orléans [la nuvɛlɔʁleɑ̃] (listen)) is a consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Louisiana. With an estimated population of 393,292 in 2017,[5] it is the most populous city in Louisiana. A major port, New Orleans is considered an economic and commercial hub for the broader Gulf Coast region of the United States.
New Orleans is world-renowned for its distinct music, Creole cuisine, unique dialect, and its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras. The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street. The city has been described as the "most unique"[6] in the United States,[7][8][9][10][11] owing in large part to its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage.[12] Founded in 1718 by French colonists, New Orleans was once the territorial capital of French Louisiana before being traded to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. New Orleans was once the third-most populous city in the United States,[13] and it was the largest city in the American South from the Antebellum era until after World War II. The city's location and low elevation have historically made it very vulnerable to flooding, leading to the installation of a complex system of levees and drainage pumps.[14]
New Orleans was severely affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, flooding over 80% of the city and causing a population decline of over 50%.[15] Since Katrina, major redevelopment efforts have led to a rebound in the city's population. Although, concerns about gentrification, new residents buying property in closely knit communities, and displacement of longtime residents have been voiced .[16]
Pick the Best Veterinary Technician Program near New Orleans LA
Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in New Orleans LA.
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