Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Shepherdstown WV

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Shepherdstown West Virginia

Shepherdstown WV vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Shepherdstown WV may at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. After they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Shepherdstown WV

cat with cone after surgery in Shepherdstown WV One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Shepherdstown WV veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Shepherdstown

student attending online vet tech school in Shepherdstown WV An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Shepherdstown WV veterinarian clinic 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 traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure 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 included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Shepherdstown WV Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Shepherdstown WV vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian degree 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 veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Shepherdstown WV area and across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of 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 many Shepherdstown WV area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online 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 complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Shepherdstown WV veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Shepherdstown WV veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Shepherdstown WV veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Shepherdstown WV colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Shepherdstown WV home, you need to make certain that the driving 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, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, 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 especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Shepherdstown WV. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Shepherdstown WV?

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

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherdstown is a town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, in the United States, located in the lower Shenandoah Valley along the Potomac River. Home to Shepherd University, the town's population was 1,734 at the 2010 census.

Shepherdstown is located at 39°25′55″N 77°48′22″W / 39.43194°N 77.80611°W / 39.43194; -77.80611 (39.432005, −77.806108),[5] in the lower Shenandoah Valley along the Potomac River in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,734 people, 518 households, and 192 families residing in the town. The population density was 4,686.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,809.5/km2). There were 583 housing units at an average density of 1,575.7 per square mile (608.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 85.5% White, 9.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

Select the Best Vet Tech College near Shepherdstown WV

Shepherdstown WV vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options 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 Shepherdstown WV.