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FAQsWhat is the difference between a CVT / RVT / LVT / AHT / Animal Nurse? Will I be able to find a job after I graduate? Do you offer any online classes? How long will it take me to finish the Bel-Rea Institute program? Do you offer financial aid, grants, or scholarships? What kind of assistance do you offer to students with disabilities? What are the requirements for attending Bel-Rea Institute? How many students attend Bel-Rea Institute and how big are the classes? When do school terms start and how long is each term? What is the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) and how will my degree from Bel-Rea Institute prepare me for it? If I decide to go on for an additional degree, will my credits transfer to other schools? What are the job placement statisics for graduates? (LINK to Degree Program Info Page) Are background checks required in veterinary medicine like they are in human medicine? (PDF) Q: What is the difference between a CVT / RVT / LVT / AHT / Animal Nurse?A: The different credentials/titles for veterinary technicians are based on the laws for where you will be working as a credentialed veterinary technician. Graduation from an AVMA-accredited program like Bel-Rea Institute's qualifies you to take the board exams in any state in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom. The title will vary based on the legislation, but your degree and the subsequent exams will qualify you to work as a veterinary technician in any of these locations. CVT = Certified Vet Tech, RVT = Registered, LVT = Licensed, AHT = Animal Health Tech, AN = Animal Nurse. Q: Will I be able to find a job after I graduate?A: Bel-Rea graduates are employed across the country and internationally. Veterinary technicians are in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, veterinary technicians are listed in the top 20 occupations projected to grow the fastest during 2010-2020, with a 52% projected nationwide job growth for that 10 year period. Job placement assistance, including help with resumes and interviewing skills, is available to students and graduates. Salary and competition will vary by location, so we do recommend that graduates actively search a wide variety of locations before deciding where they want to live and work. Q: Do you offer any online classes?A: We do not offer online classes since the majority of our courses involve a hands-on component. Our program is academic and laboratory-oriented, so our students can learn about the material in the classroom and then utilize that knowledge in an application setting. We also believe that much of the learning that takes place in the classroom goes beyond the technical, and is hard to teach without direct and consistent interaction with the faculty. Q: How long will it take me to finish the Bel-Rea Institute program?A: To obtain your Associate of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology from the Bel-Rea Institute, you need to complete 125 credit hours, including your internship quarter. Over half of our students complete the program in 24 months, although some can complete it in less if their prior college credit can be applied. We also understand that many of our students must work. Part time schedules are available for those who need a lighter school load. Federal Financial Aid allows up to 36 months to complete the program. Q: Do you offer financial aid, grants, or scholarships? A: At Bel-Rea Institute, we are dedicated to making our veterinary technician program affordable to students who need help paying for college. In fact, more than 80-85% of our students receive some type of financial aid each year. Bel-Rea offers two scholarships each year to prospective students and many of our students may be eligible to receive federal and private grants and scholarships. For more information, contact financialaid@bel-rea.com at 303-751-8700 or toll-free at 1-800-950-8001. Q: What kind of assistance do you offer to students with disabilities?A: Bel-Rea offers a variety of support services to students with disabilities. Assistance is based on type of disability and specific needs related to that disability. Please discuss your needs with/provide documentation to an Admissions Representative so that we can share what is available for you. We can also provide you with lists of essential tasks so that you can work with your health care/support professionals to determine your needs. Q: What are the requirements for attending Bel-Rea Institute?A: Bel-Rea Institute requires applicants to have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Applicants that have prior college experience may be eligible to apply some of their college credits to the Bel-Rea Institute program. Applicants with less than a 2.4 high school cumulative GPA will need to pass an assessment test for admission. Contact admissions@bel-rea.com for more information. Q: How many students are there at Bel-Rea Institute and how big are the classes?A: Although Bel-Rea Institute is one of the largest veterinary technician schools in the U.S., we only focus on one thing – offering students the opportunity to achieve their dream of becoming a veterinary technician. Our entire student body ranges from 600-800 students at any given time. This size enables us to keep our classes and labs small enough so that our students receive the best training possible. The average lecture class size at Bel-Rea Institute is 65 students and our typical lab class size is 25-35 students with two lab instructors. Q: When do school terms start and how long is each term?A: The Bel-Rea Institute is on the quarter system, with terms starting four times per year in January, March, June and September. Quarters run in 10-week segments, plus finals, with four breaks per year, one between each quarter. These breaks are typically around two weeks long, with a longer break during the holiday season. Students typically attend classes year round but it is possible to take a quarter off annually if desired. Q: What is the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) and how will my degree from Bel-Rea Institute prepare me for it?A: The Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) is an exam administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) to evaluate entry-level veterinary technicians' competency to practice and to be credentialed. You qualify to take this exam with a degree from an AVMA accredited veterinary technician program. Bel-Rea is fully accredited by the AVMA. The Bel-Rea Institute program provides our students with all of the information and experience they need to know to achieve a successful exam outcome. In fact, Bel-Rea students consistently perform better than the national average on the board exams for Certification/Registration/Licensure across the United States. From 2008-April 2013, Bel-Rea graduates had a first try passing percentage of 82-90%, as compared to the 71-77% nationwide for graduates of all AVMA accredited programs. Q: If I decide to go on for an additional degree, will my credits transfer to other schools?A: The amount of credit one college will accept from another program will vary from school to school - from transferring in all the credits to accepting none of the credits. It depends on the type of program you are entering, the type of accreditation the school has, and whether it is public or private. The amount accepted is up to the other school - not Bel-Rea. The amount of transferrable credit may even vary from department to department. Bel-Rea has articulation agreements set up with Colorado Christian University, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and the University of Phoenix, which have already set up what these schools will accept of your Bel-Rea credits. If you are interested in another school, you can check with their Admissions Department and the specific program you are wanting to attend to find out what credits they will accept. Q: What makes the Bel-Rea Institute program different and better than other veterinary technician programs?A: Bel-Rea is one of the largest veterinary technology schools in the U.S. Since we have been offering training for those who want to help animals medically for over 40 years, we are recognized across the country by the industry. Bel-Rea was founded in 1971 and has been fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) since 1975. Bel-Rea was awarded a "School of Excellence Award" in 2007-2008 and a "School of Distinction Award" in 2002 from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT). These awards are presented to schools that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to delivering quality education programs, have been successful in meeting and exceeding the expectations and criteria of the ACCSCT, and have high levels of student success. Bel-Rea students receive excellent academic and practical training from the faculty, which gives them a solid foundation of knowledge for their board exams and to continue to build upon in the field. At Bel-Rea Institute, we believe the best way to learn is by doing. Along with classroom lectures, students spend much of their time in the labs and animal facilities. Whether it's preparing a cat for surgery or restraining a horse during an examination, Bel-Rea's academic and hands-on learning techniques lead to confidence and superior skills when our graduates go to work. Bel-Rea students spend the last quarter of the program interning at one of our over 100-approved veterinary hospitals and facilities where they receive full-time hands-on experience in an approved facility that matches their interest areas. |