Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Wood River NE

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Wood River Nebraska

Wood River NE vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Wood River NE may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Wood River NE

cat with cone after surgery in Wood River NE Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Wood River NE veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Wood River NE laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Wood River

student attending online vet tech school in Wood River NE An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study 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 most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Wood River NE veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Wood River NE Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Wood River NE vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Wood River NE area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Wood River NE area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Nebraska school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Wood River NE veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs 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 clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Wood River NE veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Wood River NE veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Wood River NE colleges you are considering 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 students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Wood River NE home, you have to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with 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 campus is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Wood River NE. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Wood River NE?

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

Wood River, Nebraska

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,325 people, 478 households, and 345 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,677.2 inhabitants per square mile (647.6/km2). There were 495 housing units at an average density of 626.6 per square mile (241.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.3% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 9.6% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.7% of the population.

There were 478 households of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.8% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age in the city was 37.5 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

Select the Ideal Vet Tech School near Wood River NE

Wood River NE vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when 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 vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Wood River NE.