Vet Tech Schools in West Virginia

How to Select a Vet Assistant School in West Virginia

West Virginia vet tech holding dog during examFulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet school in West Virginia might at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different roles of veterinary techs and assistants and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Tech and Assistant

West Virginia vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyOne of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the West Virginia veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school in West Virginia. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
  • Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in laboratories or West Virginia research facilities as well.

Online Vet Programs

attending vet tech school online in West VirginiaAn option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local West Virginia veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. 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 mode, an online vet tech or assistant school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Technician Degree Programs

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in West VirginiaBy now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in West Virginia and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet assistant and technician schools that you are reveiwing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician or assistant program you enroll in 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of West Virginia veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in 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 department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet assistant or tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with local veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local West Virginia veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician or assistant program 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 lower rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the West Virginia college has an excellent reputation within the veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might 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 in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the West Virginia schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet technician classes from work or home, you must make certain that the driving 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 West Virginia campus is located near or in a larger 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 fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the West Virginia vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require 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 find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Select the Right Vet Technician College in West Virginia

Picking the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech or assistant schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary assistants, techs and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist.

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