Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Kansas City MO

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Kansas City Missouri

Kansas City MO vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Kansas City MO could at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Kansas City MO

cat with cone after surgery in Kansas City MO Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Kansas City MO veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational 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. Normally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 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 opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Kansas City MO laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Kansas City

student attending online vet tech school in Kansas City MO An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Kansas City MO veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Kansas City MO Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Kansas City MO vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Kansas City MO area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for a number of Kansas City MO area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Missouri school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Kansas City MO vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Kansas City MO veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Kansas City MO veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Kansas City MO colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Kansas City MO home, you have to make certain 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 near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Kansas City MO. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Kansas City MO?

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

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had an estimated population of 488,943 in 2017,[6] making it the 37th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central city of the Kansas City metropolitan area, which straddles the Kansas–Missouri state line. Kansas City was founded in the 1830s as a Missouri River port at its confluence with the Kansas River coming in from the west. On June 1, 1850 the town of Kansas was incorporated; shortly after came the establishment of the Kansas Territory. Confusion between the two ensued and the name Kansas City was assigned to distinguish them soon after.

Sitting on Missouri's western boundary, with Downtown near the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, the modern city encompasses some 319.03 square miles (826.3 km2), making it the 23rd largest city by total area in the United States. Most of the city lies within Jackson County, but portions spill into Clay, Cass, and Platte counties. Along with Independence, one of its major suburbs, it serves as one of the two county seats of Jackson County. Other major suburbs include the Missouri cities of Blue Springs and Lee's Summit and the Kansas cities of Overland Park, Olathe, and Kansas City.

The city is composed of several neighborhoods, including the River Market District in the north, the 18th and Vine District in the east, and the Country Club Plaza in the south. Kansas City is known for its long tradition of jazz music and culture, for its cuisine (including its distinctive style of barbecue), and its craft breweries.

Select the Ideal Vet Tech College near Kansas City MO

Kansas City MO vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative 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 colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Kansas City MO.