Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Parkersburg WV

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Parkersburg West Virginia

Parkersburg WV vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Parkersburg WV could at first feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Parkersburg WV

cat with cone after surgery in Parkersburg WV One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Parkersburg WV veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet 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 activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Parkersburg

student attending online vet tech school in Parkersburg WV An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. 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 normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Parkersburg WV veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Parkersburg WV Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Parkersburg WV vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Parkersburg WV area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Parkersburg WV area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the West Virginia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Parkersburg WV vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Parkersburg WV veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Parkersburg WV vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Parkersburg WV schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Parkersburg WV home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Parkersburg WV. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Parkersburg WV?

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

Parkersburg, West Virginia

Parkersburg is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, West Virginia, United States.[5] Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's third-largest city and the largest city in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna metropolitan area. The population was 31,492 at the 2010 census. Its peak population was 44,797 in 1960. The city is about 14 miles south of Marietta, Ohio.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reached Parkersburg in 1857, but lacked a crossing over the Ohio River until after the American Civil War. When the B&O completed the Parkersburg Bridge (CSX) 1868–1870 to Belpre, it was the longest railroad bridge in the world.

The Bureau of the Public Debt, an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, was relocated from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in the late 20th century and headquartered in Parkersburg. In October 2012, it was merged with the Financial Management Service to form the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech School near Parkersburg WV

Parkersburg WV vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. 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 choice. And by picking the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Parkersburg WV.