How to Select a Veterinary Assistant College near Edwardsville Illinois
Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary school near Edwardsville IL might initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. After they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the various responsibilities of vet assistants and techs and the training options offered.
The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Tech and Assistant
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can carry out within the Edwardsville IL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured 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 trade school near Edwardsville IL. 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 undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Edwardsville IL area research facilities also.
Online Veterinarian Programs
An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Edwardsville IL veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. 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 perfect option for you.
Things to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Technologist Colleges
At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Illinois as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the Edwardsville IL vet technician and assistant programs that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech or assistant college 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Edwardsville IL veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Illinois school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Edwardsville IL vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet assistant or tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with regional veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local Edwardsville IL veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary assistant or tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the Edwardsville IL school has an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly regarded 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 most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Edwardsville IL programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary tech classes from home or work, you have 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 Edwardsville IL campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option 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 Illinois vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered near Edwardsville IL prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.
Why Did You Want to Become a Veterinary Assistant?
When getting ready to interview for a veterinary job, it's important to review questions you might be asked. Among the questions that interviewers typically ask veterinary candidates is "What compelled you to select veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not just the personal reasons you might have for becoming a vet assistant, but additionally what qualities and skills you have that make you good at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining specifically to veterinary care, in addition to a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to ready several ideas about how you want to answer them. Considering there are several variables that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you in addition to the strengths you have that make you an outstanding vet tech and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but jot down some ideas and topics that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample responses can help you to develop your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.Choose the Best Vet Technologist Training Program near Edwardsville IL
Choosing the ideal veterinary assistant or tech school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary assistant or tech colleges must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Vet assistants, techs and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet assistant, tech or technologist in Edwardsville IL.
A Little Bit About Edwardsville IL
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County[3] and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois Territory.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the Edwardsville Arts Center, the Edwardsville Journal, the Madison County Record, and the Edwardsville Intelligencer are located here. Edwardsville High School and Metro-East Lutheran High School serve students in the area.
Edwardsville is a part of Southern Illinois, the Metro East region, and Greater St. Louis. It is part of the Edwardsville School District, which also includes the villages of Glen Carbon, Hamel, and Moro, as well as the townships areas around them.
More Cities of Interest in Illinois