How to get ready for vet tech school?

[Jimmystt6]

Hello,

I recently enrolled in Veterinary Technician course. I am 29 and spent the last 8 years in the Army.
I grew up on a farm, so I have experience caring for and cleaning for horses, goats, cats and dogs.
My mother is a breeder of world champion quality European Boxers and I have a lot of experience with puppies.

So my question is what are some things I can do to get a head start on my schooling. I have about a month until classes start. Are there any things that would be particularly helpful to have an understanding of before I start?

I have begun studying the different breeds of dogs, and cats. I also plan on familiarizing myself with the most common ailments and conditions.

My goal is to attend a Veterinary school but I want to have a strong foundation. Anything you can suggest with be very much
appreciated.

Thank You!
Jimmy


here is the course outline:

Large, Small and Exotic Animal Handling and Restraint
Animal Behavior
Medical Terminology
Hospital Management & Office Procedures
Large and Small Animal Infectious & Non-Infectious Diseases
Equine and Large Animal Medicine
Avian and Pocket Pet's Veterinary Care
Parasitology
Comparative Anatomy & Physiology
Large and Small Physical Examinations
Surgery & Anesthesia
Emergency Medicine
Pharmacology
Radiographic Procedures
Clinical Pathology
Small Animal Nursing
Large and Small Animal Nursing
Dietary Evaluation
Laboratory Procedures
Dental Techniques
Ethics & Professionalism
Basic Computer Usage
Externship

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[twelvetigers]

Going to vet tech school with intentions of following it with veterinary school is kind of a waste of money - just take the pre-requisite courses (most of which won't be included in the curriculum you've listed) and prepare to apply to veterinary school. Unless you plan on being a tech for a while (more than 5 years) I'm not sure why you would want to pursue that as a first step.

However - to answer your question. I would perhaps get a book on medical terminology. Otherwise, chillax - enjoy what time you have.

 

[Jamr0ckin]

Going to vet tech school with intentions of following it with veterinary school is kind of a waste of money - just take the pre-requisite courses (most of which won't be included in the curriculum you've listed) and prepare to apply to veterinary school. Unless you plan on being a tech for a while (more than 5 years) I'm not sure why you would want to pursue that as a first step.

However - to answer your question. I would perhaps get a book on medical terminology. Otherwise, chillax - enjoy what time you have.

This. 👍

Sent from my DROID RAZR using SDN Mobile

 

[Angelus9]

Would you go to nursing school if you wanted to become a doctor?

No, you'd apply to medical schools.

A veterinarian is first a medical doctor; you need the hard sciences to become a doctor first. If you want to be a vet tech, great! and Godspeed, but if your ultimate goal is veterinarian, please listen to the people on here. Certainly some have gone the vet tech route first, but a veterinarian is not a more highly trained tech. They are two entirely different professions.

Good luck to you, and thank you for your military service.

 

[Emiloo4]

A "strong foundation" comes from the prerequisites required for veterinary school, not vet tech school. They are definitely not the same. You will need to gain experience hours to apply to veterinary school, and that usually gives you a decent foundation for the technical skills you are looking to build. But vet tech school is not necessary at all to attend to veterinary school. I personally think it's a waste of money, but I'm assuming you have the GI bill so it probably doesn't matter. Can you use the GI bill for professional school? If so, I would definitely save it for veterinary school and just gain some experience as a vet assistant for now, and look into applying to veterinary school

 

[Jimmystt6]

Thanks for the information everyone, the reason I am going to the tech school first is...
I don't have any college credits at this time. So I have to a lot of school left. Being a Vet tech will give me a means of supporting myself while I attend school. The program here is only 9 months.

 

[Jamr0ckin]

Thanks for the information everyone, the reason I am going to the tech school first is...
I don't have any college credits at this time. So I have to a lot of school left. Being a Vet tech will give me a means of supporting myself while I attend school. The program here is only 9 months.

That's awful fast. If you've not attended college before, that will be intense. I don't see how you can learn everything in that short amount of time, as well as get clinical experiences.

I think you'd be better off working as a vet assistant/kennel worker/receptionist while going to school.


Sent from my DROID RAZR using SDN Mobile

 

[kakurubird]

I think you'd be better off working as a vet assistant/kennel worker/receptionist while going to school.

👍

No use spending money on tech school when there's going to be more on pre-reqs and then vet school, especially when it doesn't really get you anywhere towards that vet school goal.

You'd be better off working something unrelated, making much better money, and shadowing/volunteering on the side.

 

[LetItSnow]

Ugh. If you really want vet school, there's not much reason to do tech school.

You will learn <some> things that will give you a leg up in vet school, but it's so minor as to be not a big deal. And since vet schools have to assume basically no knowledge so that they start at a common knowledge point, you'd just end up covering that (very limited) ground over again (which means paying for it twice).

I see money as the biggest drawback. Why spend money on vet tech school? The job doesn't pay so well that you can't find the same (or better) pay elsewhere. So essentially you're giving yourself a bigger hole to climb out of, either because you have less money to pay for vet school with, or a bigger debt when all is said and done.

You're going to have to do vet-school pre-reqs and pay that cost. No getting around that.

You're going to have to pay vet school tuition. No getting around that.

So why add in even more tuition cost for a career you don't intend to pursue?

It just doesn't make sense. If your goal is to make money will you do pre-reqs for vet school .... just go get a normal job.

 

[cowgirla]

Like others said, might not be the best stepping stone on the way to vet school.

If you decide to go ahead with it.... Is this a certificate program? If so, make sure that it is actually eligible for vet tech licensure in your state. In many states it is not - you need a 2 year AA degree to be eligible for licensure, not just a pretty piece of paper. If you dont become licensed, there's usually no salary benefit - you'll end up with a starting salary about the same as the kids in high school training on the job. You might be better off just trying to get your foot in the door at a vet clnic and learning that way while you start actual vet school prereqs.

 

[Emiloo4]

Like others said, might not be the best stepping stone on the way to vet school.

If you decide to go ahead with it.... Is this a certificate program? If so, make sure that it is actually eligible for vet tech licensure in your state. In many states it is not - you need a 2 year AA degree to be eligible for licensure, not just a pretty piece of paper. If you dont become licensed, there's usually no salary benefit - you'll end up with a starting salary about the same as the kids in high school training on the job.

Good point 👍

 

[bbeventer]

I am not going to repeat what others have said, because I agree with them all. I think the best most economical decision would be to start in on pre-reqs and get a job at the same time at a vet clinic working as a tech (a lot of clinics do in house training), or get another animal related job, just to kill two birds with one stone. You would then be supporting yourself while in school, knocking out pre-reqs, and getting animal/vet hours.

 

[Kpowell14]

Everyone has made some really good points!

Doing my own research on the GI bill... I found that after 6 years service, you get a ton of educational benefits- including substantial tuition funding to instate schools, and out of state schools ( but there is a limit to OOS funding) ..

If I were in your shoes, I would use the GI bill to fund the schooling for Vet school Prereqs and not a Vet Tech program bc you only get X amount of funding for school...

Using however much for the vet tech program for classes that will not count towards vet school is a waste of your hard earned and well deserved GI Bill, when it could fund the entire cost of Vet School Prereqs!

Good Luck to you!

You probably already have this webiste, but for anyone else, here is the GI Bill Site:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/

 

[heylodeb]

I am not going to repeat what others have said, because I agree with them all. I think the best most economical decision would be to start in on pre-reqs and get a job at the same time at a vet clinic working as a tech (a lot of clinics do in house training), or get another animal related job, just to kill two birds with one stone. You would then be supporting yourself while in school, knocking out pre-reqs, and getting animal/vet hours.

Great advice from everyone and this does sum it up pretty well ^^👍

 

[Trematode]

TI agree with what everyone is saying.
I assume you are from the states.
I will tell you that I have had NO luck getting employment at a vet clinic here in Canada over the past 6 years. 75% of the time, clinics are looking for RVTs, a handful are looking for assistants and very few don't mention "registered" but based on the requirements, that's what they are looking for.

I think it is a little easier to get a job down there as an unlicensed tech... if I was desperate for vet experience and nearby clinics were only interested in RVTs, then I'd consider going that route.

 

[kakurubird]

I think it is a little easier to get a job down there as an unlicensed tech... if I was desperate for vet experience and nearby clinics were only interested in RVTs, then I'd consider going that route.

It very much depends on the state, especially in terms of what you might be able to learn in terms of technical skills.
Some states you need to be licensed to do pretty much anything, other unlicensed techs can to quite a bit. Huge amount of variation.

 

[irrelephant23]

In my experience, I didn't have trouble finding a tech position for my year off, but I did just graduate with an animal sciences degree. Many vets would be willing to let you shadow. The only benefit I can see to getting a vet tech certification would be that you could get paid veterinary experience and the hours would rack up fast. With that said, you do not need to be certified to work as a tech.

Many people on this thread have mentioned that vet tech'ing will not adequately prepare you for being a veterinarian. This is absolutely true. As a current and non-certified tech, I can vouch for this. While I may be interested in what the vet is doing and constantly asking questions and learning, my work is in no way of the caliber of a vet. I answer calls, speak with clients, hold and restrain animals, take blood, take radiographs, etc etc. While that may sound great, my current job is in no way testing my intellectual capabilities. I think of tech'ing as more of the labor force whereas vets are the brains behind the operation. Yeah, i may be getting great client interaction and medical experience, but I would personally not be happy being a tech for more than this year off. I am looking forward to challenging my knowledge. If you feel the same way, tech'ing may not be for you.

 

[pigsatuga]

Also, if you are worried about getting into a 4 year college right away, then start with a few classes at a community college. I took several pre-reqs at a smaller school and then transferred in to a university. Just MAKE SURE that the university accepts those credits as actual classes and not just transfer credits! The place I went offered Gen Chem I and II, Pre-Calc and Calc, Bio I and II etc. Plus the classes are usually smaller which is nice when you haven't been in school for a while AND they are cheaper. 😀

Just my 2 cents.