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How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Southside West Virginia

Southside WV vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Southside WV may at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Southside WV

cat with cone after surgery in Southside WV One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Southside WV veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 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 opportunities, increased salaries and possible 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 earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Southside WV labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Southside

student attending online vet tech school in Southside WV An option that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Southside WV veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Southside WV Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Southside WV vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Southside WV area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of 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 review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Southside WV area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking 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 complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Southside WV veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Southside WV veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Southside WV veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Southside WV programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding 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 College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Southside WV home, you must confirm that the driving 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, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit 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 Southside WV. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Southside WV?

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

West Virginia Route 817

West Virginia Route 817 follows the former path of U.S. Route 35 along the Kanawha River from St. Albans, West Virginia to near Fraziers Bottom, West Virginia and resumes again between near Southside to near Henderson. As such it is actually two separate roads, connected by the 12 mile "gap" in US 35, which will, when US 35 is finished, become WV 817 as well, making the eventual route of the road from St. Albans to Henderson. The route was first signed on October 10, 2008, the day when a new section of US 35 opened to replace this stretch of road.[1] It was extended from Winfield to the current end of the four-lane US 35 near Fraziers Bottom on June 15, 2009 when the section of US 35 that replaced it was opened. The separate section was added on November 1, 2010, when another section of US 35 opened. While US 35 formerly ended at U.S. Route 60, its new path ends at Interstate 64.[3]

Prior to 1969, the route that is now WV 817 was numbered as the original West Virginia Route 17. Following the collapse of the Silver Bridge at Point Pleasant, a new bridge (the Silver Memorial Bridge) was built to carry U.S. Route 35 across the Ohio River. The new bridge was built slightly downstream, now south of the mouth of the Kanawha River. With the new location, West Virginia moved US 35 from the northern bank of the Kanawha River to southern bank, replacing old WV 17. The old path on the northern side of the Kanawha was numbered as West Virginia Route 62.

With its new designation at US 35, this highway became the primary travel route between Charleston and Point Pleasant, and continuing in to Ohio, Columbus and Dayton. Travel on the route continued to build, overwhelming the original 2-lane corridor. The state began planning to construct a replacement 4-lane route, but insufficient funding continually prevented the project. As the state looked to develop land near Buffalo, the old 2-lane US 35 and its slow access to Interstate 64 became a major issue, further increasing the need for a new highway.[4]

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Southside WV

Southside WV vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you choose 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 reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Southside WV.