Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Choose the Right One Near Cheyenne Wyoming

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Cheyenne WY to achieve your passionate desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially seem like an enormous challenge. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Cheyenne WY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore the only real 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 additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Cheyenne WY laboratories or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Cheyenne WY area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 rigorous review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Cheyenne WY area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Wyoming school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Cheyenne WY veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Cheyenne WY veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Cheyenne WY vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Cheyenne WY programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Cheyenne WY home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Cheyenne WY. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Cheyenne

Chosse the Best Cheyenne Vet Technologist School

Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Cheyenne Wyoming.

 

Cheyenne Vet Tech Colleges | Cheyenne Veterinary Technician Schools