How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Jacksonville North Carolina

Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Jacksonville NC may initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. Once they have located some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Jacksonville NC 

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the Jacksonville NC veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Jacksonville NC labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Jacksonville

An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Jacksonville NC veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain 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 practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Jacksonville NC Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Jacksonville NC area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Jacksonville NC area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Jacksonville NC vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Jacksonville NC veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Jacksonville NC veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well 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, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Jacksonville NC schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Jacksonville NC home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Jacksonville NC. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Jacksonville NC?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Jacksonville North Carolina area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Select the Right Vet Tech School near Jacksonville NC

Choosing the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks 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 outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Jacksonville NC.

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