Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Weirton WV - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech Program near Weirton West Virginia

Weirton WV vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Weirton WV could at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Weirton WV

cat with cone after surgery in Weirton WV One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Weirton WV veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, 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 standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. 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 undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. 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 career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Weirton

student attending online vet tech school in Weirton WV An approach that might make sense 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 offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Weirton 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 expenses, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Weirton WV Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Weirton WV vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Weirton WV area and across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously 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 review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Weirton WV area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the West Virginia school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Weirton WV veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Weirton WV veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed 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 may indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Weirton WV veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Weirton WV schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Weirton WV home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Weirton WV. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Weirton WV?

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

Weirton, West Virginia

Weirton (pron. WEER-ton) is a city in Brooke and Hancock counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located primarily in Hancock County, the city lies in the northern portions of the state's Northern Panhandle region. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 19,746. Weirton is a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2010 population of 124,454 residents. Additionally, Weirton is part of Greater Pittsburgh, the 20th largest combined statistical area in the United States with a 2016 estimated population of 2,635,228.

The small village called Holliday's Cove lanes — which is now most of downtown Weirton — was founded in 1793. (It eventually lost the apostrophe.) In 1909, Ernest T. Weir arrived from neighboring Pittsburgh and built a steel mill later known as Weirton Steel Corporation just north of Holliday's Cove.[5] An unincorporated settlement called Weirton grew up around the mill that, by 1940, was said to be the largest unincorporated city in the United States. By then Hollidays Cove and two other outlying areas, Weirton Heights and Marland Heights, which as their names suggest were on hilltops or ridges surrounding the "Weir–Cove" area, had also incorporated.

Hollidays Cove Fort was a Revolutionary War fortification constructed in 1774 by soldiers from Ft. Pitt. It was located in what is now downtown Weirton, along Harmons Creek (named for Harmon Greathouse), about three miles from its mouth on the Ohio River. It was commanded by Colonel Andrew Van Swearingen (1741–1793) and later by his son-in-law, Captain Samuel Brady (1756–1795), the famous leader of Brady's Rangers. In 1779, over 28 militia were garrisoned at Hollidays Cove. Two years earlier, Colonel Van Swearingen led a dozen soldiers by longboat down the Ohio to help rescue the inhabitants of Ft. Henry in Wheeling in a siege by the British and Indian tribes in 1777. That mission was memorialized in a WPA-era mural painted on the wall of the Cove Post Office by Charles S. Chapman (1879–1962). The mural features Col. John Bilderback, who later gained infamy as the leader of the massacre of the Moravian Indians in Gnadenhutten in 1782.[6]

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech School near Weirton WV

Weirton WV vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Weirton WV.