Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Water Valley MS

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Water Valley Mississippi

Water Valley MS vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Water Valley MS might initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Water Valley MS

cat with cone after surgery in Water Valley MS Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Water Valley MS veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases 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 community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive 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 general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Water Valley MS laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Water Valley

student attending online vet tech school in Water Valley MS An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Water Valley MS veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Water Valley MS Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Water Valley MS vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Water Valley MS area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech 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 organization. As previously discussed, 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 get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Water Valley MS area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Mississippi school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Water Valley MS veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Water Valley MS veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied 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 might indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Water Valley MS vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Water Valley MS colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might 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 teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Water Valley MS home, you need 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 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 costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Water Valley MS. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure 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 illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Water Valley MS?

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

Water Valley, Mississippi

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 3,677 people, 1,470 households, and 961 families residing in the city. The population density was 523.2 people per square mile (201.9/km²). There were 1,675 housing units at an average density of 238.3 per square mile (92.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.87% White, 40.74% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 1,470 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 23.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Water Valley MS

Water Valley MS vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Water Valley MS.