Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Glen Ferris WV

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Glen Ferris West Virginia

Glen Ferris WV vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Glen Ferris WV might initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Glen Ferris WV

cat with cone after surgery in Glen Ferris WV One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Glen Ferris WV veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian 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 most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade 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. Normally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Glen Ferris WV labs or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Glen Ferris

student attending online vet tech school in Glen Ferris WV An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Glen Ferris WV veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain 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 provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Glen Ferris WV Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Glen Ferris WV vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Glen Ferris WV area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Glen Ferris WV area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the West Virginia school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Glen Ferris WV vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Glen Ferris WV veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means 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 assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Glen Ferris WV vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Glen Ferris WV colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Glen Ferris WV home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger 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 especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Glen Ferris WV. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Glen Ferris WV?

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

Glen Ferris, West Virginia

Glen Ferris is a census-designated place (CDP) on the western bank of the Kanawha River in Fayette County, West Virginia. It is situated approximately one mile south of the town of Gauley Bridge. The sole highway linking Glen Ferris to the area is U.S. Route 60, known also as the Midland Trail. As of the 2010 census, its population was 203; the community had 104 housing units, 87 of which were occupied.[2] The village is roughly a mile and a half in length. Glen Ferris is home to two churches, one Apostolic and one Methodist. A railway owned by Norfolk Southern runs parallel to US Route 60 through the village.

The first permanent building to be constructed in Glen Ferris was the Glen Ferris Inn (originally a private residence) which was built in 1810. It served as a private home from 1810 until 1839 when it began operation as a hotel [1]. In 1839, the home was purchased by Aaron Stockton who acquired a license from Fayette County to "open a common room", at which point, the building began to serve as an inn. The inn received several famous guests: Andrew Jackson, John Tyler, Henry Clay, and John James Audubon. During the Civil War, the inn, at different times, served as the host to officers from both sides including Confederate generals Henry A. Wise and John B. Floyd. Two Union generals stayed at the inn—Jacob D. Cox and William S. Rosecrans. At one point during the war, Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley, who were encamped across the Kanawha River, spent time at the inn. After falling into disrepair, the inn was renovated and an addition was built in the 1960s (date uncertain). A further addition of a dining hall was completed in the 1980s (date uncertain). In 1996, the Inn was purchased from Elkem Metals by a local family. The new proprietors added a glass walled Dining Room that overlooks the Kanawha Falls. It continues to operate as a hotel. The Glen Ferris Inn overlooks the Kanawha Falls. On the east bank of the river, across from the inn, lay the remnants of Camp Reynolds, a Union Army camp and gun embankment used in the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the area began to grow as coal production escalated in the state of West Virginia and abundant water made the generation of power inexpensive. In the early part of the 1900s, a dam was constructed across the river from Glen Ferris. Trains operated on both sides of the river, carrying passengers as well as coal. In 1917, Union Carbide purchased a small hydro electrice plant in Glen Ferris, the brick remains of which can still be seen on the edge of the Kanawha River and which is being presently renovated. While continuing to operate this small plant, in 1929-30, Carbide built a much larger ferro-alloys plant at Alloy, a few miles downriver from Glen Ferris, which, at that time, was the world's largest ferro-alloys plant, employing some 2800 people, during its heyday from the time of its construction through the early 1960s. In order to generate power for the larger plant by diverting water from the New River, the company had a 3-mile long tunnel built through the mountain at Hawks Nest. The rock through which the tunnel was built consisted of 98% pure silica and caused acute silica poisoning among hundreds of unprotected workers, many of whom died. Many who died were buried close by in mass graves on the property which is now the Hawks Nest Country Club. At the time, the nearby town of Gauley Bridge became known as "the town of the walking dead". The disaster became the focus of Congressional hearings in Washington, D.C., in the mid-thirties, and acute silicosis was identified as an occupational illness for the first time. The town of Glen Ferris followed the pattern already set by mine companies in the area. Union Carbide built a majority of the homes in Glen Ferris, as well as in other towns in the Upper Kanawha Valley and leased them to workers and their families. During its heyday, Union Carbide also provided a recreation hall in the upper end of the village. A post office/general store, an elementary school, a tennis court, a bowling alley, and a playground also served the residents. After the 1950s, as plant production declined, Union Carbide began to sell the houses to their occupants. In the 1970s, several homes were constructed on the mountainside above Glen Ferris in the north end of town; these would be Glen Ferris' largest homes and lead to its continued development as a place where people chose to live, primarily for its scenic views and in contrast to surrounding towns along Route 60. In recent years, several even larger homes have been built on the northern edge of Glen Ferris, close to Gauley Bridge. The elementary school was closed in 1961; the apostolic church stands there now. The town remains a picturesque spot for photographers. Views of the falls at the northern end of town and views of the Kanawha River and Gauley Bridge at the southern end of the village offer exceptionally scenic "photo ops" during every season. Nearby whitewater rafting on the New River Gorge has brought many tourists to the town.

Choose the Best Vet Tech College near Glen Ferris WV

Glen Ferris WV vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed 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 discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools 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 choice. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Glen Ferris WV.