Veterinary Technician Program
How to Find the Right One Near Laramie Wyoming
Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Laramie WY could at first seem like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. After they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.
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Vet Technician Education Options
One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish 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 devote to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Laramie WY veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental 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 involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Laramie WY laboratories or research facilities also.
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Laramie WY area and across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Laramie WY area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wyoming school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Laramie WY veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Laramie WY veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Laramie WY vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean 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 bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Laramie WY colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning 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 School Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Laramie WY home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt 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 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 last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Laramie WY. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.
Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Laramie
Enroll in the Best Laramie Veterinary Technologist School
Picking the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to 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 assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Laramie Wyoming.