Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools High Springs FL

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near High Springs Florida

High Springs FL vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near High Springs FL might initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in High Springs FL

cat with cone after surgery in High Springs FL Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the High Springs FL veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in High Springs FL labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in High Springs

student attending online vet tech school in High Springs FL An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local High Springs FL veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included 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 choice for you.

Questions to Ask High Springs FL Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask High Springs FL vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the High Springs FL area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of High Springs FL area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Florida school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some High Springs FL veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with High Springs FL veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the High Springs FL veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the High Springs FL colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your High Springs FL home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a large 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 higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the vet schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near High Springs FL. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near High Springs FL?

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

High Springs, Florida

The present-day area of High Springs was first settled on a permanent basis by English-speaking people during the late 1830s. One of the earliest settlements in the vicinity was at Crockett Springs, located about three miles east of present-day High Springs. Settlers who were living there during the 1840s included Fernando Underwood and Marshal Blanton. A discernible town began to develop in the early 1880s after the Savannah, Florida & Western Railway was constructed and several phosphate mines were established. In 1888 the local post office changed its name from Orion to High Springs, and the town was officially incorporated in 1892.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.0 square miles (57.1 km2), of which 22.0 square miles (56.9 km2) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km2) (0.36%) is water.[5]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 3,863 people, 1,539 households, and 1,063 families residing in the city. The population density was 209.3 inhabitants per square mile (80.8/km²). There were 1,668 housing units at an average density of 90.4 per square mile (34.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.42% White, 21.18% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were .02% and Cubans were 4.1 of the population.

Choose the Best Veterinary Technician Program near High Springs FL

High Springs FL vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech programs need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in High Springs FL.