Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lillington NC

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Lillington North Carolina

Lillington NC vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Lillington NC might initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. When they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Lillington NC

cat with cone after surgery in Lillington NC One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Lillington NC veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function 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 exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lillington NC laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Lillington

student attending online vet tech school in Lillington NC An option that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Lillington NC veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you choose 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 ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Lillington NC Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Lillington NC vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lillington NC area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Lillington NC area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Lillington NC veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some schools 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 schools you are considering have internship programs established with Lillington NC veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Lillington NC vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lillington NC schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lillington NC home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with 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, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lillington NC. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lillington NC?

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

Lillington, North Carolina

Lillington is a town in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,194 at the 2010 census,[2] and was estimated in 2016 to be 3,581.[1] It is the county seat of Harnett County.[5] Lillington is a part of the Dunn Micropolitan Area, which is also a part of the greater Raleigh–Durham–Cary Combined Statistical Area (CSA) as defined by the United States Census Bureau.

Lillington is located near the geographic center of Harnett County.[6]U.S. Route 401 (Main Street) passes through the center of town, leading north 31 miles (50 km) to Raleigh, the state capital, and south 27 miles (43 km) to Fayetteville. U.S. Route 421 follows US-401 along North Main Street through the town, but turns west out of town via West Front Street, leading 22 miles (35 km) to Sanford. US-421 turns east from US-401 near the northern end of town and leads southeast 14 miles (23 km) to Dunn.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Lillington has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.68%, are water.[2] The Cape Fear River crosses the northern part of the town.

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Lillington NC

Lillington NC vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lillington NC.