Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools New Albany MS

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near New Albany Mississippi

New Albany MS vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near New Albany MS might initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have located some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in New Albany MS

cat with cone after surgery in New Albany MS Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan 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 training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the New Albany MS veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in New Albany MS laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in New Albany

student attending online vet tech school in New Albany MS An option that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local New Albany MS veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for travel and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm 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 furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask New Albany MS Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask New Albany MS vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the New Albany MS area and across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools 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 agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of New Albany MS area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Mississippi school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some New Albany MS veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with New Albany MS veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the New Albany MS veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could 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 probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the New Albany MS programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your New Albany MS home, you must make certain that the commuting 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, particularly if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near New Albany MS. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near New Albany MS?

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

New Albany, Mississippi

New Albany is a city in Union County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 8,526 at the 2010 census. New Albany is the county seat of Union County.[2] New Albany was first organized in 1840 at the site of a grist mill and saw mill on the Tallahatchie River and was developed as a river port. New Albany is the birthplace of author William Faulkner as well as Eli Whiteside and Bettie Wilson and the adopted home of Morris Futorian, father of the Northeast Mississippi furniture industry. As of 2010 New Albany has a population of 8,526 and is known for its education system, well-educated labor force and strong work ethic. The city houses modern factories, robust neighborhoods and vibrant shopping centers, while at the same time preserving its historic downtown area.

Organized in 1840 at the site of a grist mill and a saw mill on the Tallahatchie River near the intersection of two historic Chickasaw Indian trade trails, the town developed as a river port and as a regional center for agriculture and commerce. The Civil War interrupted this progress, however, as Union troops swept through the city and burned all but a few buildings.

Union County was formed from parts of neighboring Lee, Pontotoc, and Tippah Counties in 1870, with New Albany designated as county seat. The city’s new role as a center of government led to renewed economic activity. Citizens’ efforts in the late 1880s to secure a railroad through New Albany were rewarded with two railroads connecting the community to points north, south, east and west. A depot clerk for one of the railroads was the father of William Faulkner. Born in 1897 in a single-story clapboard house, Faulkner went on to write 19 novels and 75 short stories, winning the Nobel Prize and two Pulitzer Prizes for his work.

Choose the Best Veterinary Technician School near New Albany MS

New Albany MS vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in New Albany MS.