Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Clarksdale MS

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Clarksdale Mississippi

Clarksdale MS vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Clarksdale MS may at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Clarksdale MS

cat with cone after surgery in Clarksdale MS One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Clarksdale MS veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. So 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 career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may 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 Clarksdale MS labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Clarksdale

student attending online vet tech school in Clarksdale MS An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Clarksdale MS veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Clarksdale MS Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Clarksdale MS vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Clarksdale MS area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, 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 thorough review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Clarksdale MS area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials 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 Mississippi school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Clarksdale MS veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Clarksdale MS veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Clarksdale MS vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well 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 in size, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Clarksdale MS programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. 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 methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Clarksdale MS home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Clarksdale MS. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Clarksdale MS?

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

Clarksdale, Mississippi

The western boundary of the county is formed by the Mississippi River. Located in the Mississippi Delta region, Clarksdale is an agricultural and trading center. It has been home to many blues musicians. Clarksdale is named after John Clark, who founded the city in the mid-19th century.

Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians occupied the Delta region prior to the arrival of European settlers. Clarksdale was developed at the former intersection of two Indian routes: the Lower Creek Trade Path, which extended westward from Augusta, Georgia, to New Mexico; and the Chakchiuma Trade Trail, which ran northeastward to the former village at present-day Pontotoc, Mississippi.[3]

The first removal treaty carried out under the Indian Removal Act was the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, by which the Choctaw people were robbed of 15 million acres in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). A similar forced removal of the Chickasaw Nation began in 1837; once in Indian Territory, the Choctaw were forced out of the westernmost part of their land.[citation needed]

Select the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Clarksdale MS

Clarksdale MS vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech schools must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, 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 schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Clarksdale MS.