Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Burlington WV

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Burlington West Virginia

Burlington WV vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Burlington WV may at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Burlington WV

cat with cone after surgery in Burlington WV One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Burlington WV veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone 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 vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire 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 fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Burlington WV laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Burlington

student attending online vet tech school in Burlington WV An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various 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 typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Burlington WV veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be lower 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 courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Burlington WV Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Burlington WV vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Burlington WV area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a program 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 colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Burlington WV area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the West Virginia school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Burlington WV vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Burlington WV veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Burlington WV veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well 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 sized, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Burlington WV colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Burlington WV home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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 college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Burlington WV. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Burlington WV?

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

Burlington, West Virginia

Burlington is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mineral County, West Virginia located along U.S. Route 50 (also known as the Northwestern Turnpike) where it crosses Pattersons Creek. As of the 2010 census, its population was 182.[2] It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The ZIP code for Burlington is 26710.

Burlington is the home of the Old Fashioned Apple Harvest Festival (started in 1973), which has grown into the biggest celebration of its kind in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. It is held annually on the first weekend of October.

Burlington is situated along the old Northwestern Turnpike (US 50) in southeastern Mineral County, West Virginia. German and English settlers began to populate the area of Burlington in the second quarter of the 18th century following the surveying of Patterson Creek Manor by Thomas, Lord Fairfax in 1738.

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Burlington WV

Burlington WV vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key issues. 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 when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided 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 right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Burlington WV.