Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Morgantown WV

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Morgantown West Virginia

Morgantown WV vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Morgantown WV might at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Morgantown WV

cat with cone after surgery in Morgantown WV One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Morgantown WV veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances 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 trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist 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 required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Morgantown WV labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Morgantown

student attending online vet tech school in Morgantown WV An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Morgantown WV veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. 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 independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Morgantown WV Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Morgantown WV vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Morgantown WV area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, 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 an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for many Morgantown WV area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the West Virginia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Morgantown WV vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Morgantown WV veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Morgantown WV veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly 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 larger in size, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Morgantown WV schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Morgantown WV home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into 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 school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Morgantown WV. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Morgantown WV?

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

Morgantown, West Virginia

Morgantown is a city in and the county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, situated along the banks of the Monongahela River. It is known as the home of West Virginia University and the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system. With a permanent population of 31,073 per the 2015 U.S. Census estimates, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia. The Morgantown metropolitan area has a population of 138,176.

Morgantown is closely tied to the Anglo-French struggle for this territory. Until the Treaty of Paris in 1763, what is now known as Morgantown was greatly contested by white settlers and Native Americans, and by British and French soldiers. The treaty decided the issue in favor of the British, but Indian fighting continued almost to the beginning of the American Revolutionary War in 1775.

Zackquill Morgan, son of Morgan Morgan, and his brother David entered the area of Virginia that would become Morgantown around 1767, although others such as Thomas Decker are recorded as attempting settlements in the area a decade earlier. As well, several forts were built in the area during this time: Fort Pierpont near the Cheat River, in 1769; Fort Coburn, near Dorsey's Knob, in 1770. Fort Morgan, at the present site of Morgantown, in 1772; Fort Dinwiddie, north several miles at Stewartstown, in 1772; Fort Martin, several miles north on the Monongahela River, in 1773; Fort Burris in the present-day Suncrest area of Morgantown, in 1774; and Fort Kern in the present-day Greenmont area of Morgantown, in 1774, in addition to other, smaller forts.

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Morgantown WV

Morgantown WV vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Morgantown WV.