How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Warrensburg Illinois
Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet school near Warrensburg IL might initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of veterinary techs and assistants and the training alternatives offered.
The Function of a Veterinary Assistant and Tech
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Warrensburg IL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college near Warrensburg IL. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced 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 licensing, registration or certification.
Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in laboratories or Warrensburg IL area research facilities as well.
Online Veterinary Training Programs
An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at an area Warrensburg IL veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech or assistant school may be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Vet Assistant and Technician Programs
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Illinois and across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the Warrensburg IL vet technician and assistant colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet assistant or tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Warrensburg IL veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Illinois school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Warrensburg IL veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet assistant or technician is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with regional veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local Warrensburg IL vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet assistant or tech college 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 considering. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the Warrensburg IL college has an excellent reputation within the veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Warrensburg IL programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet assistant classes from work or home, you need to make certain that the commuting 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 Warrensburg IL school is located in or close by a large 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 costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the Illinois veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available near Warrensburg IL before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.
Why Did You Choose to Be a Vet Assistant?
When prepping to interview for a veterinary job, it's advantageous to review questions you could be asked. One of the things that interviewers frequently ask veterinary candidates is "What made you choose veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not just the private reasons you might have for becoming a vet tech, but also what qualities and skills you possess that make you good at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining primarily to veterinary care, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you need to organize several approaches about how you would like to address them. Considering there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the talents you have that make you an excellent vet tech and the best choice for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but jot down some concepts and topics that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.Choose the Ideal Vet Technician School near Warrensburg IL
Selecting the ideal vet technician college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering veterinary tech or assistant schools must make their decision based on several key issues. Vet assistants, techs and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools 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 choice. And by picking the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet assistant, tech or technologist in Warrensburg IL.
A Little Bit About Warrensburg IL
Warrensburg, Illinois
Warrensburg is a village in Macon County, Illinois, United States whose population was 1,289 at the 2000 census, and 1,160 in 2009. It is included in the Decatur, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. Warrensburg was established in 1841.
Warrensburg is located at 39°55′52″N 89°3′41″W / 39.93111°N 89.06139°W / 39.93111; -89.06139 (39.931102, -89.061326).[3]
According to the 2010 census, Warrensburg has a total area of 0.69 square miles (1.79 km2), all land.[4]
More Cities of Interest in Illinois