Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Shreveport LA

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Shreveport Louisiana

Shreveport LA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Shreveport LA may initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. When they have located some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Shreveport LA

cat with cone after surgery in Shreveport LA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet 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 main determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Shreveport LA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

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 trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Shreveport

student attending online vet tech school in Shreveport LA An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic 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 attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Shreveport LA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for travel and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Shreveport LA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Shreveport LA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Shreveport LA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Shreveport LA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Louisiana school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Shreveport LA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Shreveport LA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Shreveport LA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Shreveport LA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Shreveport LA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose 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 attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Shreveport LA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Shreveport LA?

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

Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport (/ˈʃriːvpɔːrt/ SHREEV-port) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the most populous city in the Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area. Shreveport ranks third in population in Louisiana after New Orleans and Baton Rouge and 126th in the U.S. The bulk of the city is in Caddo Parish, of which it is the parish seat.[5] Shreveport extends along the west bank of the Red River (most notably at Wright Island, the Charles and Marie Hamel Memorial Park, and Bagley Island) into neighboring Bossier Parish. Shreveport and Bossier City are separated by the Red River. The population of Shreveport was 199,311 as of the 2010 U.S. Census.[6] The United States Census Bureau's 2017 estimate for the city's population decreased to 192,036.[7]

Shreveport was founded in 1836 by the Shreve Town Company, a corporation established to develop a town at the juncture of the newly navigable Red River and the Texas Trail, an overland route into the newly independent Republic of Texas. Prior to Texas becoming independent, this trail entered Mexico.[8] The city grew throughout the 20th century and, after the discovery of oil in Louisiana, became a national center for the oil industry. Standard Oil of Louisiana (absorbed by Standard Oil of New Jersey and now part of ExxonMobil) and United Gas Corporation (now part of Pennzoil) were headquartered in the city.

Shreveport is the educational, commercial and cultural center of the Ark-La-Tex region, where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet. It is the location of Centenary College of Louisiana, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana Tech University Shreveport, Southern University at Shreveport, and Louisiana Baptist University. Its neighboring city Bossier is the location of Bossier Parish Community College. Companies with significant operations or headquarters in Shreveport are AT&T, Chase Bank, Regions Financial Corporation and APS Payroll.

Select the Right Veterinary Technician School near Shreveport LA

Shreveport LA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Shreveport LA.